Aurora Calvary Church members travel to Ukraine border to help families – CBS Denver

AURORA, Colorado (CBS4)– While hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing Ukraine’s invasion of Russia, a faith-based team of Coloradans have decided to head into the crisis to help those displaced. Within days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a team of four from Calvary Church Aurora bought plane tickets, packed their bags, and flew to the Ukrainian border.

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Lead Pastor Ed Taylor said Aurora’s diverse population and church staff with roots in Ukraine worked together to create a swift call to action.

“Aurora is such a multicultural city, we’re a multicultural church,” Taylor told CBS4’s Dillon Thomas. “We have to do something.”

During the first weekend of worship after the invasion, Taylor asked his congregation if there were any families with ties to the crisis.

“15 families stood up, including one family where brothers are fighting brothers in this war,” Taylor said. “So, something over there isn’t just over there. We have personal connections.”

A pastor on the staff of Calvary Church Aurora formerly resided in Ukraine while serving as a pastor at a sister church.

“He came up to me after our Saturday night service and said, ‘I really think I have to go. And my answer was, ‘I think you have to go.’”

A woman and three men from the Church recently left Denver International Airport on a mission to ferry three families safely across the Ukrainian border. CBS4 has agreed not to share their goal to protect the team and families involved.

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“They have arrived, they are on their way. They should be at the border within hours,” Taylor said just moments after exchanging texts with the team.

Calvary Church Aurora is working with missionaries in Ukraine to rescue three women and their children from Ukraine. Those already on duty in Ukraine were tasked with guiding the three families safely to the border, avoiding winter weather and other challenging conditions.

The Colorado team is then tasked with helping the three families make a new life in a new country while their husbands and fathers are held in Ukraine to possibly fight the war.

“We will be there to help not only with their practical needs but also with their spiritual needs,” Taylor said.

Many across the United States have donated clothing, food, and other items. However, shipping and delivery fees and delays have pushed back the immediate nature of the aid.

Taylor said his church is considering sending goods and continuing to pray. However, they felt that there was a calling not only to see but to broadcast.

“We’re running into danger to save, rather than just sitting idly by and waiting for things to unfold,” Taylor said.

Taylor has been to Ukraine before, serving as a missionary and pastor during pre-war travels. In light of the invasion and the devastation that followed, Taylor said he was disheartened.

(Image credit: CBS)

“It’s super heartbreaking,” Taylor said. “I walked this road. I’ve been in these high-rise buildings and now they’re full of holes.”

The Calvary Church Congregation has launched a fundraiser to help the first three families get on their feet in their new, hopefully temporary country.

Those hoping to help with the effort are encouraged to donate to calvaryco.church/give under the tabs “Aid Fund to Ukraine”.

“We have to do something,” Taylor said. “We can’t do everything, but we can do something. So let’s start with something.”