Posted by Paul Tautges, Pastor
March 10, 2022
The apostle John put feet to Christian love when he wrote,
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:16-18)
In light of this biblical admonition, it blesses my heart to hear the concern some of you have expressed for the people and churches under attack in Ukraine, and to respond to your request for specific recommendations as to how to help.
In addition to reminding you to pray daily for Ukraine, the Cornerstone mission team and I would like to give you three recommendations for financial giving if that is another way you want to get involved. We are providing this information so that you can give directly to these organizations, rather than through Cornerstone offerings. Gifts will not be funneled to Ukraine through our church offerings for two reasons: (1) This would complicate the process and slow down the aid getting to the places where it is needed immediately and (2) it would not be in accordance with IRS tax law. Instead, if you choose to give, you will receive a tax-deductible receipt directly from the organization(s) you choose to support in bringing relief to those who are suffering in Ukraine. Last Saturday, at their monthly meeting, the missions team decided to send $1000 gifts to two of these missionaries. However, we want to encourage you to consider giving on your own as well.
I am personally connected to all three of these missionaries and/or agencies due to numerous teaching trips to various locations in Ukraine and Russia since 2000. Therefore, I commend all three to you as faithful, gospel-preaching ministries who are doing boots-on-the-ground ministry in Ukraine. These are not listed in any specific order, so please visit each link, and pray for the Spirit’s guidance in your giving.
Grace Bible Church and Theological Seminary is in Irpin, a city of 60,000 people that was bombed early this week. The church is ministering daily to hundreds of people in need of food and water. The seminary is also helping many graduates and their churches in other cities including Pastor Igor and his wife Natasha whose church building was badly damaged by bombing (Chernihiv), Pastor Konstantin (Irpin and Bucha), Pastor Maxim (a former student of mine who pastors in Irpin), Pastor Oleg whose church is feeding 400 people/day, Pastor Andrea (Mariupol), and others. Please pray for four students in Kharkiv (first major city that was bombed) whom they have not heard from for a while: Alexander, Valera, Jakob, and Sergei. Please also pray for the faculty and staff at the seminary (pictured above). You may give to this Disaster Relief Fund through Grace Missions International.
Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) was founded in the 1920s by Rev. Peter Deyneka, a refugee from Belarus (then a part of the Soviet Union) who settled in Chicago. In the 1920s Peter traveled throughout the Soviet Union to preach the gospel and encourage Bible-believing churches. SGA prepares faithful pastors, teachers, youth leaders, and children’s workers for lifetimes of ministry. They are also helping to meet a great need for the church of today and tomorrow by sponsoring evangelical seminaries in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. SGA has created several ways you can immediately help pastors, churches, and families in Ukraine. Find out more about SGA and ways you can pray and give by visiting www.sga.org.
The Philippian Fellowship supports Ukrainian refugee families who are making their way to the Czech Republic and are being spread to churches by Radek Kolarik and Jonathan Moorhead (a U.S. missionary now serving in the Czech Republic after all missionaries were kicked out of Russia). The refugee situation is getting worse by the day, and requests for help are coming in by the hour. Radek and Jonathan are co-pastors and are coordinating with like-minded churches to spread families to faithful churches and raising funds to purchase essentials since all families are fleeing with only what they can carry. There are two ways to give (online or by mail) but be sure you note on your donation that it is for “Kolarik – Ukraine Family Support.” Give online at the Philippian Fellowship website. Or you may send your gift via mail to: The Philippian Fellowship, P.O. Box 213, Breman, ME 04551
May the Lord richly bless you!
Pastor Paul