Following and Fishing

What the people have been facing since the full-scale war broke out at their doorsteps is challenging to fathom. What we are sure of is they need our help. The needs are significant. In the same way, Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fishes (Matthew 14:13-21), together we can trust God to multiply and supply for the multitudes as we offer our help. Ukraine Relief Fund provides humanitarian aid to meet the fundamental needs of those facing the desolation of war. We know their names, their faces, their hearts. They are brothers and sisters who have been within our partnering organization’s fellowship of churches across all four corners of Ukraine. Some are sheltering in place or evacuating to nearby countries or taking in refugees. Please consider bringing what you can, as He uses the Body of Christ to love and show compassion to His people. 

100% of donations will be given to the relief effort.

There is no overhead fees or payment made towards a person’s salary.

To give in the United States, you can use this link: reliant.org/ukraine.relief.fund

To give in Europe, you can donate through Stichting GC Europe:
Acct: 62.80.52.049
ABN AMRO Bank Amsterdam
IBAN: NL29 ABNA 0628 0520 49

Please continue to pray:

• Pray for strength as many have not slept, for endurance
• Pray for the leaders as they look to aid multitudes as well as communicate with others in how to help
• Pray for communication. Pray that any attempt to take out communication sources by the Russians would not succeed.
• Pray for the Russians to decide not to fight and return home
• Pray for the women and children that have fled for safety, leaving behind their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons.
• Pray for us in western Europe to aid in finding homes for them to be welcomed into, to be available to assist with practical items, and for wisdom in taking steps forward

Two nights ago I was able to join on a prayer call with a few people leading the church in Ukraine. It is sobering to feel the weight of war. While our American staff have evacuated, there is still the opportunity to help the local leaders on the ground for those that are fleeing and seeking refuge. Please join us in praying for this country, its people and the churches.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2

If you would like to like support the church in Kyiv, Spring of Hope, the leaders there are working with the network to help provide basic needs for the families.

Yesterday I woke up to an email from the family that received me in Germany this week nine years ago. Time is an interesting concept, regardless of how concrete it is, there will always be a bit of abstract reality to it! But yes, celebrating nine years getting to serve on the field! In reflecting on what has happened, what has been successful, what have I learned, there is certainly an obvious objective that stands out.

Making disciples. Over these years, this ministry has gotten to host at least twenty different teams that have come from different churches, different states and different countries. As my passion is in equipping, there isn’t much surprise that I am excited about how God continues to use our work and location to build a type of cross-cultural training center. With COVID restrictions lessening and getting to engage the work full-time, we are gearing up for more teams and equipping opportunities this next year.

I recently had an email from a team I hosted from Poland three years ago:

Our stay at your home and your church was a great experience for us. We actually didn’t know at the beginning why we should go but the things we could experience with you started giving fruit after our come back home. I don’t even know how to put it, but a lot of good things have already happened and I hope still are going to happen in our lives. Your community is a kind of model for us – how to work and live and let God lead us. We are very grateful for all this to you.

– Poland Team

Financial Update. Last year, leaving the teaching job meant taking some time to re-engage raising support so that I could continue to walk out this ministry with full-time energy and availability. There were eight new people that joined team ranging from gifts fo $15 to $80. The end of year ask was the amount of $18000 in order to cover expenses for 2022. There was $15750 donated in one-time gifts! If you add what the new recurring gifts would bring in, the grand total is $18210!!!! So much to give praise for!!!

Still need prayer. Yes the need was met with a little extra! Yet in the process, there is also a reality that some monthly givers, will need to end their support this year. Please continue to pray for God to bring new financial partners so that the account can continue to be sustainable. And if you want to be an answer to that prayer, or know someone, just use this link: www.reliant.org/sarah.bedi

With everything that has happened this past couple of years, Covid, the political climate, personal loss, there is renewed reality that our time is short. Let us walk into this new year with a determination to live purposefully, love intentionally, and serve willingly.

Thank you for making this work possible!!!