FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Baptists in the United States and elsewhere in the world are responding with aid and prayers for their counterparts in the embattled former Soviet republic of Georgia.
It was unclear by midday Aug. 14 whether Russian troops and irregular bands of Russian sympathizers in the breakaway South Ossetia region of Georgia were obeying a cease-fire agreement that Russia and Georgia had reached the day before. But the conflict, which began a week earlier, has already cost hundreds of lives and displaced thousands of people on both sides.
“We pray that the conflict is peacefully resolved and opposing sides reconciled,” said Malkhaz Songulashvili, the archbishop of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia, in an Aug. 9 statement posted on the organization’s website. “We mourn about the death of soldiers, children, men, women, elderly from both sides who lose their lives even as I write this statement. We deplore injustice, aggression and the conflict resolution at the cost of civilian lives.”
Songulashivli called on Georgia’s Western allies to come to the aid of the tiny republic, wedged between Russia’s southern border, the Black Sea, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. “We call on the international community, religious leaders and all the people of goodwill for their support of the long-suffering people of Georgia,” he said.
Georgian and Russian leaders each contend that the other side provoked the conflict.
Russian troops responded with an overwhelming show of force to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s attempt to assert control over South Ossetia. The province is regarded by international law as officially part of Georgia, but many of its residents consider themselves Russians and hold Russian citizenship.
However, reports Aug. 13 and 14 suggested Russian troops were ransacking the city of Gori — outside of South Ossetia and not far from the Georgian capital, Tblisi. President Bush called on Russian leaders Aug. 13 to obey the terms of the cease-fire and withdraw from undisputed Georgian territory. He also said that U.S. military planes and warships would begin bringing humanitarian aid into Georgia.
Baptist World Aid, the humanitarian arm of the Baptist World Alliance, has provided an initial $10,000 grant to Georgian Baptists for relief work. “We condemn this wanton taking of human life, and mourn the death and suffering of all the peoples of this region,” said BWAid Director Paul Montacute, in a press statement. “Baptists of the world pledge their support for all in need with their prayers, expressions of concern and their giving.”
European Baptist Federation General Secretary Tony Peck said, “We are very concerned about the whole situation and urge a peaceful resolution of the conflict.” He called on all European Baptists to pray for peace in the Caucasus region.
International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches USA has also designated a $7,500 emergency grant for Georgian Baptists to use to relieve the suffering, according to the American Baptist News Service. Reid Trulson, executive director of International Ministries, and Charles Jones, the agency’s area director for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, have both been in contact with Georgian Baptist leaders. Trulson said, “We are deeply concerned about the destruction taking place in Georgia and are praying fervently for the people of Georgia as well as for those who are causing this chaos.”
Merab Gprindashvili, another Georgian Baptist leader, noted in an e-mail to Trulson that he had become a refugee himself even as he was trying to help others. Gprindashvili reported: “There are a lot of destroyed houses and many dead and wounded people in the villages. We do not know yet what has happened with our brothers and sisters. There are 35 baptized members living in the hottest spots in the conflict zone, and about 100 members in the neighborhood of Gori. Before the war broke out, we had started raising money [for a massive new “cathedral” church in Tblisi]. Of course, we have changed our mind and this collection will be used for the refugees. There are many things to be done.”
Gprindashvili said refugees from several areas are coming to the Beteli Center, a new Georgian Baptist benevolent institution in Tblisi. “We will be more than happy if you can contribute something for the benefit of the refugees,” he said.
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Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia
American Baptist International Ministries Georgia relief page