International Mission Board and Baptist Global Response offer help and hope to refugees

As she prepares to serve the hundreds of refugees waiting for hot soup, Guliko is thankful for the opportunity she has been given by God. Through the International Mission Board’s (IMB) presence in Georgia and their partnership with Baptist Global Response (BGR), a Southern Baptist entity, Guliko is helping her people get the food they need and hear about the love of Christ.

BGR intervened in Georgia soon after the recent conflict that left hundreds homeless. They brought in numerous disaster relief teams to teach church members how to prepare and serve food to large numbers of people. Although Guliko was only supposed to be visiting her home city for a short time, she is now planning to stay long-term, working with her local church to meet the needs of refugees.

Guliko’s Story

Guliko graduated from University in 2000 with a teaching degree. At the time, a teacher’s salary was $15 a month, so she decided to look elsewhere for work. Two years ago, she accepted the well-paying position of nanny for a couple living in Istanbul, where she remained until the weeks before the conflict between Georgia and Russia.

She returned to Georgia to renew her visa and took the time off as an opportunity to visit her mother and extended family living in the Gori region that borders South Ossetia, where the conflict broke out.

South Ossetia is a disputed land within the border of Georgia, though most people living there would prefer to be associated with Russia. A war in the early ’90s has since kept Russian peacekeepers in the South Ossetia region.

Guliko related that her nephew, who works for the Georgian Special Forces, was on patrol with his unit near the disputed area on August 1. As they were returning to their base, a roadside bomb exploded, injuring everyone in the patrol car.

Guliko’s immediate family was at the nephew’s bedside in Gori when the conflict broke out so they were out of harm’s way. The rest of the family soon joined them there. Guliko’s visit was becoming complicated.

Guliko desired to return to Turkey and prayed about the situation.

“The family I worked for (in Turkey) was a great family. They were very friendly, and the lady was like a sister to me, not an employer,” said Guliko. “She called every day during the conflict to check on me and to encourage me to return quickly.”

However, Guliko was willing to stay in Georgia if God had something for her to do.

“My pastor called me one day and said that there was work for me at the church,” Guliko said. “I was so excited!”

Guliko decided to stay with her family and work with the church to provide for the needs of her people.

New fruit

IMB’s and BGR’s presence have had a huge impact on the people of Gori. Through workers like Guliko, many are not only hearing about Christ but seeing His love for them in action.

The church has seen many new visitors to its Sunday services since the conflict ended. Six people recently professed Christ as Lord—many of them were people who came to the church looking for a hot meal.

Guliko is very thankful for the help received from these servants of God.

“It was important for me to see how (IMB and BGR) cared for my country and my people,” she said. “The people working at my church are like one big family. I am content and thank God for the opportunity.”

Guliko’s mother is now living in the tent city set up by the International Red Cross. At first, Guliko wanted her mom to live with her. However, she realized that God was providing through the arrangement.

“If she didn’t live at the tent city, she wouldn’t be considered a refugee and wouldn’t qualify for help. ” Guliko said.

The Georgian government is quickly building small homes on the edge of Gori to provide housing for many of the refugees. Guliko is hopeful that her mom will receive one of these homes.

During a recent church service, the Lord’s Supper was served to the congregation. Guliko’s mom was setting next to her, and she was filled with a sense of contentment. The Lord has heard and answered her prayers.

If you want to get involved or receive more information about ministry possibilities in Georgia, send us an email at hope4cee@pobox.org.

Posted Nov 9, 2008

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