With the war in Ukraine pushing residents around the globe, Texas Baptist Men volunteers are seeking to live out Christ’s call to show God’s love to “the ends of the earth.”
In recent weeks, TBM has responded in Poland, Ukraine, Israel and Mexico, in addition to meeting needs created by fires in New Mexico.
“Christ commands his people to go share his love,” TBM Executive Director/CEO Mickey Lenamon said. “That’s exactly what TBM volunteers are doing. They are serving in the name of Christ.”
The war in Ukraine has created the largest movement of people in Europe since World War II, with people seeking safety across Western Europe and beyond.
Since shortly after the conflict started, TBM has provided financial support to five church-based shelters in Poland and Ukraine. For two months, TBM volunteers distributed supplies across both countries and served in the shelter in Chelm, Poland.
As refugees have dispersed, so has TBM relief
As Ukrainians have dispersed around the globe, so have TBM relief efforts. For several years, TBM has been building a partnership in Israel. The first fruits of that partnership are emerging now as a TBM feeding team helped feed Ukrainian refugees in Israel.
“It was a great trip to get to work with our partners in Israel,” said Gary Finley, who led the TBM team in Israel. “This is our first all-volunteer team to serve there in a crisis situation. We prepared more than 3,000 meals.”
Because of the setting, TBM volunteers cooked meals differently than ever before.
“I don’t see falafel machines on deployment much,” Finley said. “They don’t have the prepared food we have. The bread was made the day before. We picked up the meat the day we served it.”
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Working alongside Israelis was a joy, Finley said. Serving people in need brings people together.
“There were a lot of unknowns bringing our culture to their culture and how all that would work,” he said. “We found we’re really not all that different.”
‘Come together to serve’
TBM also delivered a truckload of supplies, including more than 2,000 First Step Kits—bags full of hygiene necessities—to the Rio Grande Valley where Hearts4Kids will use them to meet the needs of Ukrainians now in Matamoros.
“It brings me such joy to see the body of Christ come together to serve one another,” Sabrina Pinales, TBM ministry advancement coordinator. “With the help of many generous volunteers and donors, hygiene kits were packaged, prayed over and delivered to families fleeing Ukraine. Every kit not only helps to provide for basic needs, but they are also a reminder to every family that they are loved and prayed for.”
Closer to home, a TBM fire recovery team from Amarillo and Lubbock served in Ruidoso, N.M., which was hit hard by a wildfire. The team cleared lots and sifted through ash for residents’ mementos that may have survived the fires.
“I’m a part of this because it’s an opportunity for me to be able to give back to people that are in their darkest times,” TBM volunteer Jason Morton told KAMC-TV. “Thankfully, I have the opportunity to be able to go and volunteer and help people during this time.”
Whether serving overseas, in a neighboring state or in Texas, the mission remains the same for every TBM volunteer—to share God’s love with people, he said. That means providing practical help, an encouraging word and an opportunity to pray, he added.
“TBM is ready to go wherever we’re needed. We always stand ready to go where needed.”
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