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<8/23/2025>

“All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.” Gal 2:10

Christmas offerings are received each year from UBF members to UBF Headquarters (HQ) according to policies set by the UBF International Executive Board (IEB) and International Advisory Members (IAM). Every three years the Christmas offering is for External (non-UBF) humanitarian relief. The 2022 Christmas Offering is for humanitarian aid to non-UBF Organizations and is disbursed in 2023, 2024, 2025.

The UBF General Director contacts continental & local chapter directors to ask for humanitarian relief needs. We also print reports on ubf.org after each Committee meeting and ask for ideas for non-UBF organizations to donate to. Based on feedback from UBF members, including missionaries in the countries where humanitarian aid is given, we then research the charitable agencies (and sometimes visit) to see if they fit the criteria of humanitarian relief. (using Charity Navigator)

From the 2022 Christmas Offerings, $95,000.00 of relief aid was disbursed in 2023 and 2024 to 14 different Non-UBF organizations.

Here is a list of humanitarian relief sent:

Natural Disasters Relief:

• UNHCR (United Nations Relief Agency) $5,000.00 (Earthquake in Turkey & Syria)
• World Health Organization (WHO) $5,000.00 (Earthquake in Turkey & Syria)
• American Red Cross $5,000.00 (Maui, Hawaii Wildfires)                                                                          
• Samaritan’s Purse $5,000.00 (Hurricane Idalia in the U.S.)
• American Red Cross $10,000.00  (Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the U.S.)
• UNHCR $5,000.00 (Relief for devastating flooding in Brazil)

Healthcare Relief:

• Doctors without Borders $5,000.00 (Earthquake in Turkey & Syria)                                  
• Feed My Starving Children $5,000.00 (Global Famine Relief)                                                
• World Health Organization Foundation $5,000.00 (Life-saving relief for emergency crisis in Gaza)
• Bring Them Home Now organization $5,000.00 (Israel hostage/missing persons support)
• A Cup of Water International, Inc. $5,000.00  (Global Clean Drinking Water Relief)
• CRAM Worldwide $5,000.00 (Christ Reaching Asia Mission)                                         
• Christian Friends of Korea $5,000.00 (Relief for North Korea)
• Samaritan's Purse $10,000.00 (Relieving starvation in famine in South Sudan)      
• Doctors Without Borders $5,000.00  (Humanitarian medical relief for civilians affected by the crisis in Lebanon) 

Ministry Humanitarian Relief:

• Non-UBF Ministry suggested by India UBF (name withheld for security reasons) $5,000.00 (Humanitarian relief for persecuted Christians who lost family members, houses, possessions in Manipur State India)                        
• Pacific Garden Mission $5,000.00 (Homeless Persons USA Relief)
• The upcoming 2024 Christmas offering will be dedicated to support a Namibia Bible Center and Nigeria Bible Center.

We thank God for the sacrificial donations of our UBF members, and that we could relieve suffering people of the world.
If anyone has suggestions for non-UBF relief organizations to be considered, or have any questions, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick: hrarick30@hotmail.com

Below are examples of THANK YOU Letters/Emails from other ministries:

<Pacific Garden Mission>

From: Pacific Garden Mission <robinsonm@pgm.org>
Date: Wed, Dec 20, 2023 at 6:34 PM

Dear HELEN,
Thank you for your gift of $5,000.00.

The work at Pacific Garden Mission would not exist without the love of Jesus Christ and your generous support. We are grateful for your partnership in this amazing ministry and the difference we are making in many lives together.

No goods or services were provided to the donor in exchange for this contribution. Pacific Garden Mission is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 36-2445391

Designation: PGM -Ministry Operations (Where Most Needed)
Company Name: University Bible Fellowship HQ
On behalf of our entire organization, thank you again for your generous gift.

<Feed My Starving Children>

<10/17/2024>

In October, 2024, the HQ UBF External International Relief Committee (which sends humanitarian aid to non-UBF organizations) sent $20,000 to: 1) the American Red Cross for humanitarian relief for those suffering from the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton; 2) Doctors without Borders Medecins Sans Frontieres), as suggested by our missionaries in Lebanon, to help provide medical aid for people afflicted by the humanitarian crisis there; and 3) the United Nations Disaster/Refugee agency for alleviating suffering of those affected by the devastating flooding in Brazil.

These donations are from the Christmas offerings collected and allotted for international relief outside of UBF.   We continually assess current world disasters/emergency situations and plan to meet next in December 2024. If anyone has ideas for disbursement of humanitarian relief aid to non-UBF organizations, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair, at hrarick30@hotmail.com.   

- Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

<7/2/2024>

HQ Relief Committee Sends Relief for Various Humanitarian Global Crises 

In May and June 2024, the HQ UBF External International Relief Committee (which sends humanitarian aid to non-UBF organizations) sent $20,000 to Samaritan’s Purse, Christian Friends of Korea, and Christ Reaching Asia Mission (CRAM) Worldwide.  

This supports humanitarian relief for the life-saving response for the emergency crisis in Sudan through Samaritan’s Purse (who has brought in 5,600 metric tons of food and 1,200 rolls of emergency shelter material). Also, this will support humanitarian relief for Asian nations, including food for North Korea, medical relief for leprosy, and support for orphans in Cambodia and the Philippines.

These donations are from the 2022 Christmas offerings collected for international relief outside of UBF.  We continually assess current world disasters/emergency situations and plan to meet next in the fall of 2024. If anyone has ideas for the disbursement of humanitarian relief aid to non-UBF organizations, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair, at hrarick30@hotmail.com.   

Thanks and God bless you.

- Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

<1/20/2024>

In December 2023, the HQ UBF External International Relief Committee (which sends humanitarian aid to non-UBF organizations) sent $20,000 to: A Cup of Water International, Inc, the World Health Organization (WHO), Bring Them Home Now, and Pacific Garden Mission. This supports humanitarian relief for: Providing clean drinking water globally, the life-saving response for the emergency crisis in Gaza, Israel hostage/missing persons support, and homeless relief in the U.S. These donations are from the 2022 Christmas offerings collected for international relief outside of UBF.   We continually assess current world disasters/emergency situations and plan to meet next in February or March of 2024. If anyone has ideas for disbursement of humanitarian relief aid to non-UBF organizations, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair, at hrarick30@hotmail.com.  

Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

<10/17/2023>

In September, the HQ UBF External International Relief Committee (which sends humanitarian aid to non-UBF organizations) sent $20,000 to the American Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, Feed My Starving Children, and a reputable non-UBF organization in India selected by India missionaries (names withheld for security reasons). This supports humanitarian relief for Hawaii wildfires, Hurricane Idalia, Global Child hunger, and Christian refugees suffering persecution in the Manipur State of India, respectively. We are accessing current world disasters/emergency situations and plan to meet next in early December. If anyone is interested in submitting ideas for disbursement of humanitarian relief aid to non-UBF organizations, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair, at hrarick30@hotmail.com.     

Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

<03/01/2023>

On February 16, the HQ UBF International Relief Committee agreed to send $15,000 to the United Nations Emergency Relief Agency (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) for relief of people suffering in both Turkey and Syria from the earthquakes. These donations are from the 2022 Christmas offerings collected for international relief outside of UBF.     

The UNCHR, WHO, and Doctors Without Borders are currently on the ground in both Turkey and Syria with teams able to aid victims who have been injured as well as distribute food, water, shelter, and emergency items including tents, high thermal blankets, mattresses, cooking utensils, plastic sheeting, sleeping mats, winter clothes, trauma, and emergency surgery supplies.   

If anyone is interested in submitting ideas for the disbursement of humanitarian relief aid to non-UBF organizations, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair, at hrarick30@hotmail.com.      

Thanks, 

Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

<12/15/2022>

On November 29, 2022, the HQ UBF International Relief Committee agreed to send $17,000 to the non-UBF organizations: American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Pacific Garden Mission, and Reaching Unreached Nations (RUN) ministries. These donations are from the 2019 Christmas offerings collected for international relief outside of UBF.   

The American Red Cross will send the relief to help victims of the devastating Indonesia Earthquake, Doctors Without Borders will use the relief to send medical staff and supplies to fight the severe urgent cholera outbreak in Haiti, Pacific Garden Mission will provide relief for many homeless individuals in the U.S. while sharing the gospel with them, and the RUN ministries Rescue Project will provide relief to aid in the rescue of children worldwide who are exploited and trafficked.    

This year, the 2022 Christmas Offerings received by HQ UBF will also be used for international humanitarian relief to non-UBF organizations. We pray that God may use these offerings for natural disaster, health care and ministry relief efforts to aid those suffering in the world. If anyone is interested in submitting ideas for disbursement of humanitarian relief aid to non-UBF organizations, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair, at hrarick30@hotmail.com.    

Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

<9/6/2022>

On August 13, the HQ UBF International Relief Committee met and welcomed UBF General Director Pastor Ron Ward as a new member of the Committee. We agreed to donate $20,000 to the non-UBF organizations: United Nations World Food Program, Christ Reaching Asia Mission Worldwide (CRAM), and A Cup of Water International, Inc. 

In this time of global conflicts, unrest, and supply chain disruptions, many do not have access to food and clean water. The United Nations World Food Program and CRAM will use the donations to relieve global hunger, and A Cup of Water International, Inc. will provide clean drinking water to those in need and to open people’s hearts to listen to the gospel. These donations are from 2019 Christmas offerings we collected for international relief outside of UBF.  

We ask God’s mercy at this time and pray that God may use this to support those suffering from hunger and lack of clean drinking water. If anyone is interested in submitting ideas for disbursement of humanitarian relief aid to non-UBF organizations, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair, at hrarick30@hotmail.com.  

Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

<3/10/2022>

On March 7, the HQ UBF International Relief Committee donated $15,000 to the non-UBF organizations, World Vision International and Samaritan’s Purse, for Ukraine relief. This is not from the donations our UBF co-workers have been sending to HQ these days but is from 2019 Christmas offerings we collected for international relief outside of UBF.  World Vision International and Samaritan’s Purse will use the donations for humanitarian medical and disaster aid for those suffering in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. The Regional Director of Samaritan’s Purse also came to visit us at the Chicago UBF Church to personally thank us for the generous support we have given the past few years. We ask God’s mercy at this time and pray that God may use this to support those suffering and in need. If anyone is interested in submitting ideas for disbursement of humanitarian relief aid to non-UBF organizations, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair, at hrarick30@hotmail.com.  

Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

<11/9/2021>

<9/2/2021>

UBF HQ Relief Committee Sent Humanitarian Aid to Haiti 2021

On August 29, the HQ UBF International Relief Committee agreed to donate a total of $10,000 from the Christmas Offerings to two non-UBF reputable organizations, Feed My Starving Children and Samaritan’s Purse. This will be used for humanitarian aid for suffering victims in Haiti from the devastating 7.2 earthquake on August 14, 2021. We pray God is pleased to support those suffering in Haiti. If anyone is interested in submitting ideas for disbursement of humanitarian relief aid to non-UBF organizations, please contact Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair, at hrarick30@hotmail.com.  

Thanks, 

Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

<5/21/2021>

On May 19, the HQ UBF International Relief Committee agreed to donate a total of $25,000 from the Christmas Offerings to three non-UBF reputable organizations for humanitarian aid for suffering people in the world. For the Covid-19 Crisis in India (World Vision International and Samaritan’s Purse) and for worldwide relief work for refugees and hungry and sick children (CRAM Worldwide). We pray God is pleased to support those suffering in the world through our offerings. 

Thanks, 

Dr. Helen Rarick, Committee Chair (Chicago)

-Universtiy Bible Fellowship (UBF)