BY KATHY M.
Since February 2022, Ukrainian refugees have been pouring into European countries. In the last three years, Ireland has accepted over 110,000 Ukrainians and thousands of refugees from African and Middle Eastern countries. We couldn’t resist the opportunities! “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15)
It all started years before, when my husband, Jim, saw supermarkets throwing out good food. He suggested we begin collecting such food and distributing it. As we went around to needy people, especially the Irish Traveller community, the food gave us an entry point to sharing about Christ. We began calling it kindness evangelism.
In early 2022, when we saw hundreds of Ukrainians landing at a hotel two streets away from our assembly, and other nationalities from Africa and the Middle East about a mile away in another hotel, we saw an additional opportunity for such kindness! The first step was to discuss and pray about it with our assembly. Then, we quickly took action.
I noticed that the arriving Ukrainian refugees were mostly women and children, leaving the able men to fight. Men who came had three or more children, had special needs, or were older than 60. These distressed Ukrainians were coming with only suitcases and maybe a beloved pet. So, besides offering food, we decided to open a clothing room in our church building.
With the generous help of CMML, I purchased new clothing for all ages and needed toiletries. (For that entire year, the supermarket I was buying the clothes from had great sales on!) The women in my assembly helped organize the clothing room’s layout.
We are registered with the national food redistribution organization and receive donations of leftover food daily. I have a team of over 10 people who help. So, three times per week, I go to the hotel with Ukrainians and distribute food.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we open our assembly to our community. I set out food for visitors to take, and then, a crowd of 30–50 Ukrainians, Africans, Jordanians, Irish Travellers, and homeless looks through the clothes, which ladies’ groups and individuals now donate. After that comes the Bible study. I am going through the 52 stories in the Simply the Story course combined with Ethnos360’s Firm Foundations: Creation to Christ visuals. Jim and sometimes special speakers take the Thursday slot.
Other meetings are the Friday night social evening put on by a few of the women in our fellowship and the monthly Sunday evening gospel meeting. The Christian bookshop we operate on our grounds also adds to the resources we offer internationals.
It’s wonderful that the Lord has given our assembly the desire and vision to reach refugees, and each of us does what he or she can. The community seems to appreciate what we are doing, and these ministries give us more of a profile.
Three different women on three separate occasions have gifted me a large red pepper—love gifts. We praise the Lord for this positive feedback and ask that He will continue to give us fruitful interactions. Even more, we ask for prayer that seeds sown will result in the salvation of these refugees. Pray especially for some Muslim women who are very interested regular attendees but face harassment for attending. n
Kathy and Jim M. are commended from Bible Believers Assembly in Chicago, Illinois.
Originally published in Missions magazine, June 2025. For more content, sign up for a free subscription (US) to Missions at CMML.us/magazine/subscribe
