Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
Dear Friends of BIEM,
1. According to the U.N. Refugee Agency, more than 7.8 million Ukrainians have fled their homeland to seek refuge in other countries. Although some have returned to Ukraine, their government is encouraging refugees not to come back before spring due to the increased strain their presence would place on the crippled power grid. Unfortunately, the situation is prolonging the division of countless families, with members inside and outside Ukraine.
2. Despite the war, our brethren are planning a seminary session for our students in early January. They feel that continuing to hold regular seminary sessions is crucial for students despite the difficulty of doing so during wartime. So, plans are underway for early next month, including American pastors returning to teach in Ukraine for the first time since the war began. Please pray for these plans. In this week’s War Relief Video, Vitaly Yurchenko mentions the Seminary. You can view this at the following link:
3. Let me share this insight from Bruce Tuttle, one of our missionaries in Ukraine:
“I had breakfast with Pastor Igor this morning. A couple of times I had to choke back tears as he told me of a foray into eastern Ukraine, from which he returned only yesterday. Igor drove his large truck, filled with both metal and concrete roofing panels, plastic sheeting for temporary replacement of shattered windows, wood for reconstruction, tons of potatoes, other foods, candles, etc. Three other men (one of whom is another of our graduates) made the trip as well, with 2 large vans also loaded with products.
“Wherever they went, there was great devastation and many impassable roads. They did not dare to leave well-traveled roads and lanes for fear of encountering land mines. They wear bulletproof vests or flak jackets (some of rather dubious quality). Our men are venturing ever more closely to the front lines of battle, to reach people who are experiencing such losses, and such helplessness and hopelessness. Igor told me of one giant of a man, about 42 years old, whose wife and children left him. This fellow has only recently repented and trusted Christ. Because of the war, he has neither work nor money. Beside all of that, his home has been destroyed by bombs. The man sat and wept.”
4. The Gospel puppet theatre BIEM has sponsored for several years has been a very effective ministry. The puppet team has had numerous opportunities to share the Gospel in public schools, orphanages, churches, prisons, and even at city functions. However, the war has caused an issue that needs to be resolved. Before the war, Kyiv was mostly Russian speaking. The war changed that as residents quickly shifted to the Ukrainian language to distance themselves from the invaders. So, although the soundtracks used by the Gospel puppet theatre are in Russian and everyone understands them, the population’s shift to Ukrainian has been so profound it’s no longer publicly acceptable to use those soundtracks. Therefore, this ministry is facing a huge challenge in translating and re-recording all their Russian soundtracks into Ukrainian. This is no easy task, especially during a time of war and frequent power outages. Please pray that the Lord will aid the puppet team in this task so that their ministry can resume and minister to souls.
5. For months, our brethren in Ukraine have been praying for 3 specific Baptist churches in Kherson. During the occupation, the Russian military looted church property then seized the actual church buildings. Two were converted into barracks for their soldiers. Now that Kherson has been liberated, God has answered their prayers and all three pastors and congregations have their buildings returned and are once again worshipping and serving in them.
Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM