Texas Baptist pastors and ministry leaders learned more about a four-phase plan for partnership between Texas and Ukrainian Baptist churches during a Dec. 18 Zoom call. The partnership launched Nov. 18 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Texas Baptists and the Ukrainian Baptist Union.
The Healing Path Initiative is designed to connect congregations in Texas with churches across Ukraine through relationships, prayer, shared mission and eventual expansion.
Brent Gentzel, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Kaufman, said 42 churches “committed and are on board for the launch” of the partnership.
The partnership begins with a strong emphasis on relationships and encouragement. Texas pastors are paired directly with Ukrainian pastors, many of whom have been leading congregations through years of conflict, displacement and uncertainty.
Churches in Texas and Ukraine also are forming prayer teams, committing to daily prayer at synchronized times—7:07 a.m. in Texas and 3:07 p.m. in Ukraine.
In between the prayers, Matthew 7:7 and John 15:7 are to be considered for reading and reflection.
Later phases include plans for in-person gatherings, joint spiritual growth campaigns centered on the Great Commandment and Great Commission, and monthly financial support for community-based projects identified by Ukrainian churches.
Funds will be distributed through established denominational channels to ensure transparency and accountability.
Organizers also emphasized cultural similarities between Texans and Ukrainians, encouraging participants to focus on authentic relationships while being mindful of security and language differences.
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
Igor Bandura, vice president for international affairs with the Baptist Union of Ukraine, said Ukrainian pastors are eager to begin building relationships immediately. He noted while the realities of war remain serious, churches continue worshipping, serving and caring for their communities.
To learn more about the Texas-Ukrainian church partnership, visit https://www.healingpathmovement.com.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.