The Power of Ukrainian Church-to-Church Partnerships

"We can see the missiles flying over us." These are the words of Sascha Yakimenko, Pastor of the Baptist Union Church in Ananyev, the rural county seat of the northernmost county of Ukraine's Odesa Province, during a live international call at Converge Church's May 15 worship service. Sascha moved his wife and three children to safety in Moldova. Though he has legal permission to join his family in safety, Sascha sacrificially remains in his hometown of Ananyev, prayerfully shepherding his church and overseeing six other rural churches in providing humanitarian aid to hundreds of displaced Ukrainians. Over many years, Pastor Mike and Carolyn Friesen of Converge Church in Omaha have fostered an enduring relationship with the Yakimenko family. Together with a matching grant from Converge Heartland, Converge Church is raising and sending $20,000 to assist the church-led efforts in Ananyev, Ukraine. 

The generous outpouring of Converge Heartland congregations has now raised nearly $100,000 for Ukraine relief.  While all relief contributions have been given out of a heart to address the urgent needs of Ukrainians, many contributions represent established partnerships. 20% of Converge Heartland churches have had a historic Ukrainian church-to-church partnership. Several Converge Heartland churches have maintained and supported these relationships over time. Known district churches having ongoing support relationships with Ukrainian ministries include Wescott Baptist Church in Comstock, NE, Calvary Baptist Church in Yankton, SD, GracePoint Church in Ogallala, NE, Northridge Baptist Church in Mitchell, SD, and Converge Church in Omaha, NE.   When the war subsides, Converge Heartland plans to organize mission trips into Ukraine to strengthen and establish church-to-church partnerships. When considering your 2023 church ministry plans and budgets, please keep this in mind.