LWF member churches in the region and the LWF humanitarian arm World Service were among the first to respond to the war in Ukraine. A new LWF publication celebrates the communion-wide solidarity in pictures.
A woman serves food at a soup kitchen for refugees from Ukraine, at the Vyšné Nemecké border crossing between Slovakia and Ukraine. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
"Together. LWF responds to the war in Ukraine" celebrates solidarity of global communion
(LWI) - "The first weeks of the war uncovered not only the terrible fruit of the war atrocities but have also shown the immense power of goodness, of the capacity to oppose evil with an active form of help." The words of Bishop Peter Mihoc of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia (Eastern district) summarize the time since 24 February 2022. LWF member churches and the LWF humanitarian and development arm, World Service, came together quickly to help people affected by the war. A publication now celebrates that response in pictures.
What it means to be churches in communion
Titled Together: LWF responds to the war in Ukraine, it gives an impression of the extensive work of LWF member churches and two new country programs in Poland and Ukraine in the first year of the Ukraine war.
The Ukraine response has shown on a fundamental level what it means to be churches in communion, called to support people in need and work for peace.
Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt, LWF General Secretary
"The LWF member churches in the countries neighboring Ukraine opened churches and parish houses to refugees fleeing the war, offering food, shelter, and pastoral care; member churches worldwide mobilized resources to support this work. In addition, LWF World Service opened two humanitarian programs, building on its experience of helping people in need," says LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt in her introduction. "The Ukraine response has shown on a fundamental level what it means to be churches in communion, called to support people in need and work for peace."
"Stand firm as messengers for peace"
Next to professional images, the publication also features amateur photos taken in parishes by volunteers. Again, however, Burghardt emphasizes that the scope is much more significant: "This report shows a glimpse of the work the LWF and its member churches have done."
LWF shares it in gratitude with donors and partners, and as inspiration for continued collaboration in work for justice and peace, Burghardt concludes: "I pray that we hold strong onto our hope and stand firm as messengers for peace and reconciliation in the world.
