In 1940, Germany’s army was aggressively advancing across Europe. As nations surrendered, a group of Allied soldiers was pushed back to the French seaport of Dunkirk. Over 400,000 soldiers were trapped between the advancing German Army and the English Channel. Because of the shallow waters, large warships could not approach the beach to rescue the soldiers. It looked like a tremendous loss was inevitable.

Desperate, the British Navy requisitioned yachts, fishing vessels, and even motorized lifeboats to seek and save the stranded soldiers. Churchill and his advisers expected the operation to rescue 20,000-30,000 men. But the heroic actions of this motley fleet—which included civilians operating their own vessels—evacuated 338,000 troops. Each and every loss was felt and grieved, but the use of civilian boats saved the lives of hundreds of thousands who otherwise might have been lost.

Another war is now raging in Europe. More than two months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the conflict continues. Ukrainian soldiers continue to fight valiantly, even as Russian troops continue to advance in the east and south.

From the beginning of this invasion, HOPE has been committed to supporting our staff, the men and women we serve in Ukraine, and as many others as possible. We have come alongside local churches who have been responding with food assistance, lodging, and transportation for refugees. A good friend commented that this response of our local church partners in Ukraine and surrounding nations has been like “a modern Dunkirk.”

As I’ve thought about his words, I think he is right. Churches may not be evacuating stranded soldiers, but amid crisis they are creatively and sacrificially repurposing their resources to serve those in greatest need. And God has uniquely positioned HOPE in this time to support and resource responding churches.

HOPE initiated its operations in Ukraine in 1997, providing small loans to 12 entrepreneurs who had ideas and initiative but lacked the resources to start or expand their own small businesses. In the years that followed, we grew. We opened branch offices across the country, just as a bank in the U.S. might have branches in many locations. We also initiated savings groups in Western Ukraine in Roma communities: helping marginalized men and women who would not have sought or qualified for a small loan but could benefit from a safe place to save and the opportunity to access a lump sum of capital. As we grew, we formed partnerships with like-minded organizations in neighboring Moldova and Romania. In all of these locations, we worked through local church partners to provide discipleship opportunities for the men and women we served. Many of these local church partners are the same ones now responding to the crisis in their communities.

HOPE is not a relief agency, but when Russia began attacking Ukraine in February, we knew that this network of local churches in Ukraine and the surrounding countries would respond, and we knew we wanted to help. We simply asked which church partners were responding and how we could support them. With a generous outpouring of support, we’ve been able to channel grant funding to these small-scale efforts: whether it’s a church preparing meals in their kitchen or individuals offering transportation to those fleeing violence. While larger aid agencies like the United Nations or International Committee of the Red Cross might draw attention—and opposition—from Russian forces, our efforts don’t look like Western aid. They look like neighbors helping neighbors, like followers of Jesus being His hands and feet in their communities.

An estimated 5 million Ukrainians now live abroad as refugees. An additional 7.1 million are internally displaced. We need the efforts of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and as many other agencies as can step forward in this time. But we also need something like Dunkirk: local churches and Christ-followers courageously responding with what they have. They may not make headlines, but they are there, offering respite and rescue.

For more information about HOPE’s response, please visit the Ukraine Assistance Fund.