We are taking up an offering on behalf of the Polish church providing support to families fleeing the war in Ukraine.
If you would like to give towards this work, Banner of Love Church, Wicklow will be receiving donations and transferring the collection directly into the Polish church’s account. Currency in Poland is Polish Zloty. Offerings will be given in Euros benefiting the Polish church as the exchange rate will be in their favour.
Give through PayPal with the link here: http://www.banneroflovewicklow.org/donate/
In the notes, mark the offering for “Ukraine.”
(If you’d like to give a larger amount directly into the Polish church’s account, ask Kyle and he will provide you with their IBAN number.)
Read more about the ministry to Ukrainian families below…
Friends in Poland have decided to open the doors of their church to those who are in need of a shelter after fleeing the war in Ukraine. Społeczność Chrześcijańska Dąbrowa Górnicza (the Polish church) is able to accommodate up to 26 people at the same time in their church building. Many families in the church are also opening their homes to the Ukrainian people. The church is also working to help a few of the long time church members that are Ukrainian to bring their families to safety in Poland. There are currently 26 refugees staying in the church building – women with children and elderly. Most are born-again Christians. Some of them will be looking for permanent accommodation and work. Unless able to go back to Ukraine, most will be going to different parts of Poland and/ or further abroad. None of the refugees are able to access their finances back in Ukraine, so the church is covering all their living expenses and costs of petrol for those bringing them from the border to the church (350 km away). In Poland, prices of food and petrol have gone up 40% within a couple of days, but the Lord provides food for everyone in abundance! God has put it on the hearts of local shop owners and food companies to donate food. Upon arrival, each family gets a big starter pack containing food and water at the border along with clothing if needed. The biggest needs are toiletries (shampoos, body lotions, toothbrushes, hair combs, soaps for children, wet wipes etc.) and also items to keep children occupied (crayons, colouring books etc).
Future costs and needs as the situation continues will be as follows.
Long term project:
1. For those who will be staying in the area permanently:
- to find suitable accommodation, which the church is willing to take any unoccupied premises from City Council (covering costs of renovation and equipment)
- cover all living expenses until finding employment
- providing laptops/ tablets / school supplies for children returning to school
Short term project:
- For those in transit
- providing shelter, food and covering other day-to-day living expenses
- covering costs of transport to final destination
- accommodate new arrivals
It is still early days and needs will be changing as the time goes by.
We have been told that the financial reports will be available upon request at any time and will be updated every 3 months.
Facebook link for the church in Poland : https://www.facebook.com/schdabrowa/
Link for pastor’s page: https://www.facebook.com/jarek.sciwiarski