Helping Your Brother in Need: Crates for Ukraine
Grace Chung, a member of OPC Franklin Square in New York, felt inspired by 1 John 3:17: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” as she and her church family packed four crates with medical supplies for the Crates for Ukraine-Winter Edition.
“The congregation at OPC Franklin Square watched a video update that Pastor Lloyd Sterrett shared from Lviv, Ukraine at one of our Sunday School times. We were moved by the ongoing support efforts and how God was clearly working in this war-torn country. Upon quick glance at the website detailing the Crates for Ukraine effort, I felt I could volunteer to help coordinate at our church,” Grace said.
In all, the OPC delivered an amazing 307 crates to Dallas and Chattanooga as part of Mission to the World’s Crates for Ukraine Winter Edition. Seventy-two OP Churches from 16 presbyteries in 24 states participated! MTW L’viv team leader, Doug Shepherd, is hugely grateful for the OPC’s participation in the relief efforts here. We are “punching way above our weight class”, he says. A recent reports for the overall MTW CFU Winter Effort came in at over 1300 crates! Praise the Lord for the connected church and for His work during this horrific time!
Deacon Dave Askey from Trinity OPC in Hatboro, PA and his church family spearheaded a massive collaboration. Not only was his church, in cooperation with seven other local OP Churches, able to pack 43 crates (worth over $40,000.), Trinity OPC also enabled fourteen other OP Churches, who may not have been able to make their way to the Dallas or Chattanooga delivery warehouses, to be able to pack and deliver to Hatboro. Trinity members made two trips to the Chattanooga warehouse, dropping off a total of 109 crates, even stopping along the way in Virginia, to grab Staunton OPC’s four crates!
We are so thankful to each OP Church who participated:
| Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church | San Jose | CA |
| Corona Presbyterian Church | Corona | CA |
| Grace OPC | Middletown | DE |
| Emmanuel OPC | Wilmington | DE |
| Redemption OPC | Gainesville | FL |
| Providence OPC | Bradenton | FL |
| Christ OPC | Marietta | GA |
| Grace Reformed Presbyterian | Des Moines | IA |
| Hope Reformed Presbyterian Church | Pella | IA |
| Covenant OPC | Cedar Falls | IA |
| New Covenant Community Church | Joliet | IL |
| Grace OPC | Elburn | IL |
| Covenant OPC | Orland Park | IL |
| Bethel Presbyterian Church | Wheaton | IL |
| Grace OPC | Hanover Park | IL |
| Westminster Presbyterian Church | Countryside | IL |
| Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church | Crystal Lake | IL |
| Presbyterian Church of Cape Cod | West Barnstable | MA |
| Merrimack Valley Presbyterian Church | North Andover | MA |
| Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church | California | MD |
| Trinity Reformed Church | Lanham | MD |
| Knox OPC | Silver Springs | MD |
| Limington OPC | Limington | ME |
| Second Parish OPC | Scarborough | ME |
| Lakeview Orthodox Presbyterian Church | Rockport | ME |
| Living Hope Presbyterian Church | Brunswick | ME |
| Harvest OPC | Wyoming | MI |
| Pilgrim Presbyterian Church | Metamora | MI |
| Sovereign Grace Reformed Church | Doniphan | MO |
| Covenant Reformed Church | West Plains | MO |
| Faith OPC | Lincoln | NE |
| Amoskeag Presbyterian Church | Manchester | NH |
| Jaffrey OPC | Jaffrey | NH |
| New Hope Presbyterian Church | Bridgeton | NJ |
| Faith Orthodox Presbyterian | Elmer | NJ |
| OPC Franklin Square | Franklin Square | NY |
| The Haven at Commack (OPC) | Commack | NY |
| Hope Presbyterian Church | Syracuse | NY |
| Grace OPC | Lisbon | NY |
| Wellsville OPC | Wellsville | NY |
| Covenant Presbyterian Church | Vandalia | OH |
| Knox OPC | Mt. Vernon | OH |
| Providence OPC | Pataskala | OH |
| Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church | Columbus | OH |
| Redeemer OPC | Dayton | OH |
| Good Shepherd OPC | Cincinnati | OH |
| Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church | Tulsa | OK |
| Westminster Presbyterian Church | Corvallis | OR |
| Trinity OPC | Medford | OR |
| First OPC | Portland | OR |
| Living Hope Presbyterian Church | Gettysburg | PA |
| Trinity Church | Hatboro | PA |
| Calvary OPC | Middletown | PA |
| Redeemer Orthodox Presbyterian Church | Carlisle | PA |
| Resurrection Orthodox Presbyterian Church | State College | PA |
| Covenant Church (OPC) | Sinking Spring | PA |
| Calvary OPC | Glenside | PA |
| Grace OPC | Sewickley | PA |
| First Presbyterian OPC | Perkasie | PA |
| Park OPC | Doylestown | PA |
| Cornerstone OPC | Ambler | PA |
| Westminster Presbyterian Church | Hollidaysburg | PA |
| Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church | Amarillo | TX |
| Providence Presbyterian Church | Chilhowie | VA |
| Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church | Vienna | VA |
| Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church | Purcellville | VA |
| Staunton OPC | Staunton | VA |
| Cornerstone OPC | Fairfax | VA |
| Bethel OPC | Leesburg | VA |
| Sovereign Grace OPC | Oak Harbor | WA |
| Redeeming Grace OPC | Port Angeles | WA |
| Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church | Madison | WI |
David Nakhla, administrator for the Committee on Diaconal Ministries just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he and two others from the OPC along with MTW Ukraine director, Jon Eide, visited to encourage pastors and missionaries in the region. Joining David and Jon were OPC deacon and CDM member, John Voss (Covenant OPC, Orland Park, IL) and OPC Communications Coordinator, Jamie Dean (Resurrection OPC, Matthews, NC). While in L’viv, they were also able to meet and observe the logistical coordinating team for Crates for Ukraine. Taped to the top of each crate, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10. David conveyed from Ukraine, “What a blessing to hear stories of God’s care and grace amidst awful circumstances…which are not yet over! (Lots of atrocities being carried out in this awful war.)” Lord willing, a full report of the trip will be available in the weeks to come.