As war continues in Ukraine, so does the outpouring of help — and hope — from Global Ministries and its partners

There’s a Ukrainian proverb that goes, “To see a friend, no road is too long.”

For Global Ministries, a joint mission between the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, there is no road too long to see — and help — the 6.9 million Ukrainians who have been displaced since Russia’s Feb. 24, 2022 invasion.

“As the war in Ukraine continues, our hearts remain heavy with the suffering of so many. Yet, even amid the devastation, we at Global Ministries remain steadfast in our commitment to walking alongside the Ukrainian people and all who are impacted by this conflict,” said the Rev. Dr. LaMarco Antonio Cable, President and CEO, Disciples Overseas Ministries and Co-Executive of Global Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and UCC.

With the fighting entering its fourth year, Cable stressed the continuing need to stand with “our partners in the region” — Reformed Church in Hungary, ACT Alliance, and Church World Service, to name a few. As well as “to support their tireless efforts in providing life-saving aid” — a need that has taken on a new urgency considering the current administration’s stance on military and humanitarian aid.

According to the latest report from the UN Refugee Agency, there are about 12.7 million Ukrainians — including nearly 2 million children — in need of humanitarian assistance in 2025.

“Now more than ever we must not grow weary,” Cable said. “The need is great and our call as followers of Jesus is clear.”

An ‘extraordinary outpouring of love’

The outpouring of love and support for Ukraine within both the UCC and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) over the past three years has been “extraordinary,” says Cable.

“We have witnessed churches and individuals come to together in solidarity to offer resources for food, shelter, medical care, and hope,” he said.

But as the needs of the Ukrainian people continue, so does the work of meeting those needs.

Since Russia’s invasion the UCC and Disciples have raised millions of dollars for Ukrainian aid through special appeals, as well as offerings, including Disciple’s Week of Compassion and UCC’s One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). The OGHS offering will be collected in UCC churches nationwide on Sunday, March 30. Click here to make a donation to OGHS.

According to Andrew Long-Higgins, team leader for UCC’s Global HOPE, UCC’s Ukrainian Appeal has raised a little over $3.3 million, with $909,000 disbursed in support of immediate needs of Global Ministries partners in Hungary and Greece; Church World Service’s response to Ukrainian refugees in Moldova; and, ACT Alliance’s humanitarian efforts across Ukraine.

A commitment to long-term recovery

Long-Higgins also stressed the importance of supporting the long-term needs that will exist for Ukrainians long after the much-hoped for and still-awaiting prospect of peace comes.

“When we engage in humanitarian response, one of our commitments is accompanying the people long-term. Even if there is a peace agreement tomorrow, the needs are going to persist for quite some time,” said Long-Higgins.

In a United Nations Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4) report, Ukraine reconstruction and recovery needs are the highest in housing, accounting for almost $84 billion. The report, covering damages incurred from Feb. 24, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2024, also stated that the regions closest to the frontline — Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kyiv — sustained about 72% of the total damage.

Dr. Peter E. Makari, Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and UCC, agrees with Long-Higgins’ emphasis on long-term support.

“The generosity of the UCC and its members has helped our continued engagement with our partners, and OGHS and Week of Compassion have contributed to the response in this ongoing emergency, while recognizing that the impact of the war will be long in scope,” Makari said.

Makari added, too, that while Global Ministries is “fully supportive” of a collaborative diplomatic effort to end the war, the Ukrainian people must be included.

“To do so without including the Ukrainians is against our decolonial approach,” Makari said.

Walking that long road — together

Since the fighting began, there have been two UCC delegations that have visited its partners overseas. One in January 2023 and the most recent last September to visit with leaders of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia (RCT).

The oldest Protestant church, founded in the 16th century, RCT, located in the Ukraine’s Western province, has felt the weight of war.

The Rev. Shari Prestemon, current Acting Associate General Minister and Co-Executive of Global Ministries was grateful to have the opportunity to spend time with RCT members, listening to their stories that reminded her “of the tragic toll of war and the urgent need for peace.” More on Prestemon’s visit can be found here on her blog, “Voices on the Journey.”

Prestemon, though, was grateful for the “faithful ministries” the RCT has continued, ministering to internally displaced people and attending to the trauma of soldiers returning from the frontlines, and their families.

“It’s a blessing to support their work,” she said, adding, “We join with them fervently praying for the end to this war, for the healing of their people, and for the restoration of their country.”

The power of faith in action

The Rev. Vy Nguyen, Executive Director of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Week of Compassion, noted that such stories of RCT’s faithful ministries is a “testament to the power of faith in action.”

“We are deeply grateful to our partners who have stood with Ukraine in so many ways,” said Nguyen, noting how recently $100,000 was sent to Hungarian Reformed Church Aid to continue their work in providing aid for Ukrainian refugees.

Through the Week of Compassion and Global HOPE, grants have been provided to help the displaced, especially children and the elderly.

In Budapest, money has helped create the Ukrainian Space, which offers after-school programs for primary and secondary students that include arts and crafts as well as Hungarian language courses. Seniors have their own space to gather in, meeting with the Ukrainian Elder’s Club to learn about and enjoy the culture in Budapest and its surrounding towns.

Helping displaced families in Ukraine and neighboring countries, like Hungary, with these programs provide a vital lifeline for people, says Nguyen.

“Political actions impact lives. Families are caught in the middle of this war and are trying to figure out how to move forward. It doesn’t feel like it will end, but if, and when, the war does finally end, families will have to start scratch and rebuild,” said Nguyen.

And when that time comes, Ukrainians will have friends from the UCC and the Disciples walking toward them, no matter how long the road.

“After all, when we come together, we shed light,” said Nguyen.

---

Content on ucc.org is copyrighted by the National Setting of the United Church of Christ and may be only shared according to the guidelines outlined here.