Photos:
The church from Poland drives to the border zone to meet the pastors and church leaders from the Ukrainian churches. There, they load a van with relief supplies. They have already done three exchanges and will continue to bring relief at least once a week.

The Lodz Baptist Church in Poland has had a partnership with churches in two small Ukrainian towns for a while. Now, the partnership is even more important as these small churches are in a war zone. The relief help sent across the border has an impact not only for the church members, but also for the people in the towns. Years ago, when the churches began their relationship, they couldn't have known that this time would come and that God would use them to bring help to the towns.

Here are excerpts from reports from Pastor Leszek Wakula in Poland:

Prayers and needs

Please pray for the relief help and that God would continue to use this difficult situation to proclaim the Good News to many.

The church needs to purchase a used van to make the deliveries to the Ukrainian churches. Currently, they are using a church member's van, but it is not in good condition or available at any time. When they finish delivering goods to Ukraine, they will give the van to one of those churches.

If you would like to donate toward this ministry of helping refugees from Ukraine, please click here. Thank you!

As Poland continues to receive refugees from Ukraine, Manna Ministries Worldwide partner Leszek Wakula reports on how donations help the refugees, who not only need a place to sleep, but also a way to do laundry and exchange currency.

Around 1.3 million refugees have entered Poland, with more continuing to cross the border, and churches are playing a key role in providing shelter and basic needs. Leszek’s ministry served around 70 refugees last week, many of them children. As he reports, the church provides meals, clothes, toys, SIM cards and data packages for their phones, and hygiene and pharmacy items. 

Another important way they help is connecting the refugees with local health care and with schooling for the children. They have seen the need for children’s programs and activities, in order to allow the mothers to look for jobs.

We may not think about all the obstacles a refugee faces – for example, where to wash clothes or exchange money to the local currency. The Lodz Baptist Church purchased a washing machine and dryer so the refugees have a place to do laundry. The church also helps them exchange Ukrainian currency, which is hard to do in banks that have been flooded with the foreign currency. The church purchases some of the Ukrainian money, and then sends it with provisions to partner churches in Ukraine for needs there.

Church members have been volunteering to help with activities, as well as transportation, cooking, grocery shopping, and more. Please pray for strength and endurance for the volunteers, for conditions in Poland where fuel and commodity prices have risen drastically, for the church’s work to be efficient and fruitful to bring love and peace to many Ukrainians. Finally, pray for peace!   

We thank God for the church’s service, and for your donations to provide the resources needed. If you would like to donate toward this continuing ministry of helping refugees from Ukraine, please click here. Thank you!

Manna Ministries Worldwide partner in Poland Leszek Wakula is seeking emergency support to help Ukrainian refugees on the Ukraine-Poland border, and in his town of Lodz, Poland.

Pastor Leszek and his church want to serve together with supporters to "show the heart of God and be His acting hand among those in need." The ways in which they – and you, through your donations – can help the refugees are:

• Church volunteers driving necessary supplies to the Ukraine-Poland border. Thousands of people are waiting to cross, with wait times of 24-48 hours. These supplies include extension cords, blankets, food, warm clothing, hot water bottles and pots, and sanitary items.
  
  
• Provision, help, and care at the Baptist Church in Lodz. The church is preparing to host up to 30 people for at least two weeks, perhaps longer. Supplies needed include mobile beds, bedsheets, blankets, pillows, and daily meals.
  
  

These are the biggest and most urgent needs, and they are ways to help the refugees directly. If you would like to support this urgent ministry in Poland, please click here to donate through Manna Ministries. Your entire donation goes to this ministry for refugees. Thank you!