Since the beginning of the war-as bombs devasted Ukraine forcing millions from their homes-Global Partners in Peace and Development has been aggressively working with European churches – churches helping refugees in Ukraine as millions flee the brutality of war.
Canbeyes spoke with Jonathan Grooms. Grooms is the president of Global Partners in Peace and Development. They’re working with European churches that are helping refugees in Ukraine.
I know you all have been doing amazing work for years in India and Haiti. There’s devastation all over the world, why Ukraine?
We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus and step into their broken world, just as Jesus stepped into our brokenness
Jonathan Grooms, President Global Partners in Peace and Development
We decided to help in Ukraine because God’s love compels us to bring help and hope to those in need. Since we have partners and long-term relationships in Slovakia, it made it simple to come along side of them to help with the areas where they were actively serving the Ukrainian people. My family served in Amman, Jordan for 6 years, loving and helping refugees from Iraq and Syria. Refugees hold a very special place in my heart, knowing the heartache and pain that they have endured and what it is like for them to leave everything behind and be in a new country. We want to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus and step into their broken world, just as Jesus stepped into our brokenness.
How is the organization specifically providing aid to those in Ukraine? How did you decide what sort of aid you’d provide? Are you working with churches in Ukraine?
Global Partners has sent funds to our partners who are coordinating mainly with pastors and seminaries in Ukraine. We believe it is best to work through the local churches as they have infrastructure in place, accountability and a passion to help those in need. Initially the churches in Slovakia were housing refugees who were fleeing. Since the flow of refugees has slowed down and many have moved to our neighboring European countries the churches in Slovakia have focused their efforts on providing aid to internally displaced persons within Ukraine, as well as helping to rescue people from places in Eastern Ukraine where it is very unsafe and food is scarce. Our decisions of where and what aid to send is based on people who are on the ground in Ukraine that know the greatest needs. We have helped provide funds for housing for refugees, food and aid being sent into Ukraine from Slovakia, both the western and eastern parts of the country, helped to purchase vehicles that are being used to rescue families and provide food in Eastern Ukraine, provided a generator, tools and other equipment to help fix homes in Western Ukraine that had been damaged.
You recently traveled to Slovakia. How was that experience?
I had the privilege of spending a good amount of time with Ukrainian refugees …
Two of the families are from Kiev and another family we spent a good amount of time with is from the Eastern part of Ukraine that has been under constant attack the last few months. This family, with 3 young children, showed pictures of what their town formerly looked like, now most of it has been totally destroyed. Two of the moms are here without their husbands and one of them has a 23 year old son who is fighting in the war.
What brought you hope?
One of the main purposes of my visit here was to spend time with some of the pastors and leaders that we have been partnering with since the start of the Ukraine war. I am amazed at the response of Slovak churches across this small country. They have gone above and beyond to love and care for the Ukrainian people. Some Ukrainians have traveled to other countries within Europe, some have traveled back into places where they feel safe in Ukraine and others have begun to find work and are getting settled here. The church provided much needed assistance to those who have stayed for a short period of time and they are continuing to serve those who will continue to live in this country…
I enjoyed playing with their children the last few days when we were not traveling or in meetings. We went on walks, played soccer, and today we went on a long hike up a ski slope. At the very top there was a beautiful 360 view of the mountains. Afterwards, we went to a small ice cream shop. Children are so resilient, but at the same time there is a lot of fear, anxiety and disruption to their daily life. Some of the children who are from larger cities have been able to continue doing school online.
On Friday night God gave me the privilege of being able to share the Gospel with a number of families and individuals who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. I pray that the Word of God would take root in their hearts and lives and they would truly understand God’s love for them and their need of a Savior.
Grooms says with the help of donors they’ve been able to purchase a vehicle that has helped get dozens of people safely out of Ukraine. He says it’s a blessing to be able to work with churches that are helping refugees in Ukraine, but there’s still much more that needs to be done. If you’d like to know more about how you can partner with Global Partners in Peace and Development please visit www.gpartners.org. 95 cents of every dollar will directly help the Ukranian people.