Arson destroys Bellingham’s Ukrainian Evangelical Church

Friday Sept 10 about 4:30 in the morning arsonists set fire to the Ukrainian Evangelical Church of Bellingham, 2530 Cornwall.   This is a congregation of about 200 members who had been hoping for 20 years to find a church for their congregants.  They purchased it two years ago and spent those two years with their sweat equity to rehab it. 

The arsonists, yet unknown, knew what they were doing as they opened the gas [most likely from the stoves] and set fires throughout the building and the annex. I understand that the building is now a “tear down,” a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

NOTE:  At least four members of our congregation (Ann Stevenson, Henry Ohana, Beth Fuller, and Judy Fruhbauer) had been using church space with the Interfaith Coalition’s Conversations and Sandwiches Together.  They made sandwiches and packed supplies that are handed out to the homeless four times a week.  The church was supportive of the work and shared space for the prep work in the kitchen, and for storage, a refrigerator, and shelves in the basement.  BUF Members said it was wonderful to watch the progress of the renovations done by members of the congregation.

Three ways to donate:

• GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/904e1c0d

• Through BUF, 1207 Ellsworth, Bellingham, WA 98225 (Check go BUF, memo: “Ukrainian Evangelical Church”) This is tax deductible, and your name will be shared with the church.

• Check sent to Pastor Alex, addressed : Aleksandr Gamdsey, PO Box 2096, Blaine, WA 98230 

Personal Letters will be Comforting:

Please write personal letters and mail to Pastor Alex, at address above.