Evangelical Christians and churches have raised well over £100,000 to resettle 44 refugees from Kharkiv City Church and Irpin Bible Church in Ukraine at All Saints, Preston. May 2023 marks the first anniversary of those first arrivals.
The Lancashire church, which has a regular congregation of up to 250, was deeply moved by the plight of those fleeing the Russian invasion of 24 February 2022. The Ukrainians had woken to the sound of bombs, and had packed their bags and left their homes, not knowing where they were going.
One group managed to get to Romania. It comprised some entire families, because fathers were allowed to leave Ukraine if they have three or more children. Some mothers arrived just with their children. Most, but not all, of the group are Christians. Half are children and five students came too. In God’s sovereignty they were welcomed by a Romanian church which led eventually to a contact with Debs Macaulay, who attends All Saints, Preston.
