Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
1. Greetings from Ukraine, where we are in the Kyiv area for the Spring session of our seminary along with two American pastors who are doing the teaching. We are thrilled that 40 students are in attendance, which is surprising considering the difficult obstacles caused by the war. Besides the blessing of intense Biblical teaching, the students enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie that always seem to develop lifelong ministry relationships. The moments when they blend their voices to praise God in song truly warm the heart. However, there was sad news yesterday—a couple of the students heard that Russia had just bombed their hometown. Before long, media broadcasts showed a video that broke their hearts. These events gave other students an opportunity to comfort them and give BIEM yet another avenue where we can glorify God by providing direct war relief. Please continue to pray that this war will end.
2. A couple of months ago, we posted a video about a proposed project to help the 8,000-12,000 refugees from Bahkmut that the Ukrainian government has evacuated to the Obolon district of Kyiv. In this district, the city administration approached Awakening Baptist Church (BIEM’s first church plant in Ukraine) and asked whether the church could help refugees in any way. After discussions, the church leaders and city administration developed a plan in which the city would bring about 100 refugees to the church every other week. There, the refugees would first hear a clear presentation of the Gospel and then would receive material aid. Today we attended one of these meetings and learned that the Lord has blessed them. Souls have come to Christ, and the church’s reputation has risen in the eyes of the community as it reflects God’s love in both word and deed. Currently, 5 of these new converts are regularly attending the services. Praise God!
3. In the city of Lviv, Ukraine, BIEM missionary Yura Levtseniuk, is laboring among locals and war refugees to enlarge the Kingdom of God by winning souls for Christ in his city. Listen to him share about God’s working here:
https://vimeo.com/user37287229/enlarginggodskingdom
4. Tomorrow (Saturday, May 4), spring classes at our seminary will end. Then, for the next few days, we will be visiting places and projects where BIEM’s war-relief efforts have been directed. One stop we plan to make is in the town of Smolin, which is right next to the Goncharovsk military base where Sasha Petrenko has established a church that reaches out to both the military base and the town of Smolin. Brother Sasha just received word that Julia—a daughter-in-law of one of their church members in Smolin and was serving in the Ukrainian military—was killed in action. Sasha has been reaching out to her husband Vadim, who is in shock and despair. Please pray for this heartbreaking situation, which is another opportunity to demonstrate the love of God through our war relief efforts.
In Christ,
Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM