As the world watches the Ukrainian people defend themselves against an onslaught of military attacks from Russia - devastation unseen in generations - Lynnville Heart of Worship Kidz are taking action.
The church youth accepted the challenge to raise money for Boys and Girls Missions Challenge (BGMC), and a competition between the boys and girls occurred during the service on Sunday, Mar. 20.
The money was weighed, and the girls won the challenge. In total, $700 was raised by the kids. The money will be given to Convoy of Hope, a nonprofit missions organization through the Assemblies of God that feeds the hungry and brings help and hope to communities that need it most, often in times of natural disaster or military conflict.
Pastor Tom Pool and his wife Rhonda connected with Greg Colegrove of Springfield, MO, who is a lifelong friend and missionary through Convoy of Hope Rural Compassion, to help get the church involved in outreach to the Ukranian people. Convoy of Hope takes almost $.93 of every dollar fundraised and gives it directly to the people in need. So, the money the Heart of Worship Kidz raised will be going directly to the Ukranian people as Convoy of Hope is already on the ground in the country.
The response from the church’s youth sparked a desire in the congregation to get involved in the Ukranian effort as well.
Colegrove’s ministry through Convoy of Hope Rural Compassion is geared toward helping small churches in rural areas better reach those in need. He will be traveling through the area to speak at a church in Oskaloosa, and the leadership at Lynnville Heart of Worship saw it as an opportunity to team up with others who are organizing aid and support for the people of Ukraine.
“The board met and decided to ask the congregation to put together hygiene kits for Ukranians in need,” said Rhonda Pool. The church has set a goal to put 100 kits together after next Sunday’s service.
To assist with the hygiene kits, please contact Lynnville Heart of Worship, 641-527-2758.
For more information about the Convoy of Hope Crisis Relief Fund to help the Ukranians, or to donate, go to convoyofhope.org/donate/disaster-services/ukraine.
An update from Convoy of Hope in Ukraine
The number of Ukrainian refugees continued to climb over the weekend, with approximately 3.5 million people seeking shelter in neighboring countries. More than two million of them are in Poland and at least six million more are displaced inside Ukraine. As the scope of this crisis increases, Convoy of Hope is providing food, water, sheltering supplies, and other necessities.
Within the first few weeks of Convoy’s response, tens of thousands of refugees received relief. Strategic partnerships across Europe proved vital to the procurement, transportation, and distribution of relief supplies. Convoy transported resources by land, air, and sea to overcome ever-present logistical challenges.
Meanwhile, team members from Convoy of Hope’s global headquarters traveled to Poland and facilitated relief efforts throughout Ukraine and seven adjacent countries. Another team is preparing to deploy this week.
“The plan is to keep using the model of us bringing tangible things to the table to help maintain hope for people that are living in a war situation,” said Chris Dudley of Convoy of Hope’s disaster services team. “They don’t know if they’re going to be here tomorrow; they don’t know if they’re going to survive today.”
Officials in Mariupol, Ukraine, reported that at least 2,300 people have lost their lives since Russia laid siege to the port city. Many are buried in mass graves, which are dug in long, narrow trenches. Survivors have spent weeks without reliable access to electricity, food, water, or the outside world.
Ukrainian authorities also warned of the potential for additional humanitarian crises, which may stem from large stores of wheat, corn, and barley being trapped in Ukraine. Additionally, damage to a chemical plant leaked toxic ammonia into the air, while Ukraine’s nuclear regulatory agency warned that radiation monitors around Chernobyl have stopped working. Some fear that a failure of these safety systems could escalate concerns and cause further displacement.
Convoy’s team members and partners throughout Europe will continue to meet people where they are in this crisis by providing food, water, sheltering supplies, hygiene items, emergency lighting, generators, shoes, socks, clothing, and resources for both transportation and accommodations.
Convoy of Hope is grateful for those who — despite inflation, pandemic concerns, and other mounting issues — have chosen to support this response by standing with Ukrainians in need. For many, the situation is incredibly dire. For some, life-or-death decisions are a daily routine. Still, Convoy is committed to providing immediate relief to Ukrainians across multiple countries.
