Home Christian News Joni and Friends Helps Evacuate Families With Special Needs Out of War...

Joni and Friends Helps Evacuate Families With Special Needs Out of War Zone

“This is a perfect vision of the global Church coming together to meet needs and share the Gospel,” Holden said. “I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve never seen the global Church come together better than at this time.”

The ministry did not stop once these families crossed the border into other countries. Joni and Friends made sure to connect families with representatives already working in that country and provide them with sanitation supplies, food and oftentimes a language translator.

Additionally, transporting people into surrounding safer countries allowed for more traditional Joni and Friends ministry events to be held, such as their International Family Retreats.

The retreats are camp-like events where the Gospel is shared with families affected by disabilities. Events have been held in Poland, Romania, Germany and the Netherlands.

The events in Germany and the Netherlands were held in August and September and were specifically designed for families displaced from Ukraine. More than 50 different families were served at some of the events.

RELATED: After 43 Days, Ohio Pastor Hears From Daughter Missing in Ukraine

“We want them to relax and have fun for the week, and really just experience God,” Holden said.

Even though ministry for Joni and Friends has looked much different since the conflict began, everything they do continues to support the ultimate mission.

“Our mission is to glorify God as we communicate the Gospel,” Holden said.

“In a world where people are questioning faith, or questioning is there a God or why does suffering happen, I think we do these things to show there is hope beyond suffering. These events help glorify God and I think it’s an opportunity to show there is hope in Jesus Christ.”

This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.