As the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Committee on Relief assists United Methodists and churches to become involved globally in direct ministry to persons in need.
Now, Global Ministries is asking for help in supporting the humanitarian response in Ukraine. Even when faced with uncertainties, the UM community in the US, Canada, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and elsewhere are rallying around the Ukrainians impacted by the attacks from Russia.
Rev. Üllas Tankler, who is based in Estonia, stressed that United Methodist congregations in Ukraine are few and small in membership. “We have 10 churches with combined communities of around 500 people,” he said. Most of the churches are in larger cities. There is also a student ministry in Kyiv that appeals primarily to foreign students. The church in Lviv has a strong student and young adult focus.
“I hear three issues of immediate concern in the messages from United Methodists in Ukraine,” Tankler said. “First, they want to help those in need immediately around them. The present emphasis is on internally displaced people, notably in the west, around Lviv. Then, general humanitarian concerns within the county, and third, doing something to help those leaving Ukraine, initially becoming refugees in adjoining Poland, Hungary, Romania or Slovakia.”
To support the UMCOR and the UM response in Ukraine, consider donating. There are a few ways to do this. First, you can visit the UMC website to learn more about the efforts in Ukraine and about UMCOR in general by clicking the button below.
You can also give directly to AUMC and we will designate those donated funds specifically for UMCOR. Please make checks payable to AUMC with “Ukraine” in the Memo line.
Thank you for your support of the UMC and of the Ukrainian people!
