Sexual Exploitation, Ukraine Refugee Care, & Leadership

Someone is watching your back when it comes to protecting people from sexual exploitation.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) named Missouri-based Kanakuk Kamps to the 2022 Dirty Dozen List of the top offenders accusing the nondenominational camp of hiding years of sexual abuse.

Among other organizations listed as putting people, especially children, at risk of sexual exploitation are Meta-owned Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Twitter, Netflix and Google are also on the list.

The full list of accusations and victories from previous campaigns is available at endsexualexploitation.org.

While the national news focuses on how Poland is working to help Ukrainian military forces, there are many Polish Christians leading the way in the humanitarian effort of caring for refugees.

Around 2 million people have left Ukraine because of the Russian invasion. Many of them are making their way across the border into Poland.

International Mission Board President spent several days at the border and witnessed first hand how God’s people are caring for those fleeing their homeland.

One example is Chelm Baptist Church where the church’s pews have been move to the pulpit area and the worship space is filled with 200 cots where refugees spend a night or two as they make their way to their new, temporary home.

The church’s fellowship hall has been transformed into a food pantry where Ukrainians get a hot meal and canned good to take with them as they continue their journey.

Efforts also include distributing clothes and finding ways to get food and supplies back into Ukraine. You can contribute directly to the effort through Send Relief.

Good News for Today is made possible through our friends at The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost. Find out more and sign up for their free monthly magazine at vom.org/goodnews.

In his news book, Texas Pastor Andrew Hebert says, “Leadership is a high-stress calling. There are no two ways about it. Pastors have all the stresses of any leader with the added weight of spiritual burdens.”

Among other things, the book called Shepherding Like Jesus calls pastors to be mindful of physical, mental, emotional and, even spiritual, fatigue.

He writes, “I never had a complete breakdown…but I often carried around a low-level depression. I often did my work without enjoying either the work, the people, or God in the process.

In retrospect, however, I realize that in my weariest seasons I deprived the church, my family, myself, and the Lord of my best ministry and my deepest joy.”

Find more stories at BaptistPress.com.