First Baptist Family,

Like me, you’ve watched the news with horror as you’ve seen the atrocities committed in Ukraine. The United Nations estimates that approximately 900,000 refugees have fled Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Perhaps you’ve been troubled to the point that you’re looking for ways to help. If so, there are three particular non-profit organizations that I want to commend to you. The first is UNICEF. You can find their information here: https://www.unicefusa.org/. The second is one of our partners, the Baptist General Association for Virginia. BGAV is currently accepting aid for Ukraine, and you can donate and designate your gift here: https://www.bgav.org/donate. And last, but certainly not least, is CBF’s Ukraine Relief Fund. You can find the link to donate to the CBF fund here: https://www.classy.org/give/394080/#!/donation/checkout. The primary commitment for CBF is funding the ongoing work of CBF Missionaries, Gennady and Mina Podgaisky, who have served in Kyiv, Ukraine for nearly twenty years. Because of our personal connection with the Podgaisky’s, I want to share more with you about what your gifts to the CBF fund would support.

Currently, Gennady and Mina are safe in the United States, but they remain in constant contact with local pastors and others to whom they minister in Ukraine. They’re conducting grief counseling sessions and leading prayers over the phone. They’re helping connect Ukrainians with others in the country so that they can move to safe locations within their country, and they’re helping financially support the travel needs of those who are fleeing it. In short, they’re remaining the hands and feet of Christ to people they love even though they are on the other side of the world. Tragically, it was just learned that the Village of Hope, the foster family ministry center run by the Podgaisky’s, has been destroyed by Russian artillery. I know that your heart breaks at hearing that news just like mine did.

We’re going to host Gennady and Mina in worship on Sunday, March 27. During the Sunday School hour, we’re going to have a church-wide breakfast in Rosser Hall, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about their work and ask them some questions. They’ll also be joining us in worship, where they will be speaking. Because of our direct connection with them, however, we’re also going to be doing more. I’ve been emailing Gennady and Mina back and forth all week asking about tangible ways we can help them here in Bristol, and Gennady told me that the following items are greatly needed: toothbrushes, antibiotic ointment, gauze, and medical tape. So, we’re going to collect them. If you would like to donate these items, you can drop them off at the church. Also, please share the news about this collection with your friends and family outside of our church. Because the need is so great and because we want to collect as many of these items as possible, we’ve also contacted the Bristol Herald Courier and WCYB so they can share this info with the wider Bristol community.

During times of crisis, it’s easy to feel helpless. It’s easy to be overwhelmed. It’s easy to feel like your actions are insignificant. Maybe we can’t do much, but we can do something. And this is something we can do, so I want to encourage you to join me in doing this.

Grace and Peace,

Kris

Prayer time begins at 5:30. Dinner is from 5:45-6:15. And, beginning at 6:15, we will have two study options for you: Devotions with Kris or a new book study, The Women of Easter, by Liz Curtis Higgins will begin on March 9, with Leigh. View Easter through the eyes of three women. If you choose to do the book study, please go ahead and purchase a copy of the book from your favorite book seller.

You can give online by going to our website and clicking on "Donate" in the upper right-hand corner. You can send your pledge, offering, or special gift by texting (all one word) fbcbristol to 73256. You can also mail your checks directly to the church. Our address is 125 Sedgefield Street, Bristol, VA 24201. Thank you, as always, for your generosity.