War Relief Updates - August 26, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Greetings from Ukraine, where there was a lot of concern about what would happen on August 24th, Ukrainian Independence Day. Many feared a massive rocket and missile attack from Russia. Because of the threat, we stayed west of Kyiv until today. There was a definite upswing in war activity on that day, with rocket and missile attacks targeting 58 different cities in Ukraine with tragic loss of life. Perhaps the worst attack was upon a civilian train that killed nearly 30 near Dnipropetrovsk. This barbaric attack was reported by our news media, so you may have heard of it. On the 25th, there was only one such attack. Today on the 26th, there are none that have been made public so far, but it is still morning.

2. Many Ukrainians were both amazed and heartened by the fact that, despite the danger, Britain’s former prime minister Boris Johnson took a very public stroll through Kyiv’s downtown area on the 24th. Although we did not duplicate that act of bravery, our coming here at the same time the U.S. embassy in Kyiv was urging U.S. citizens to depart Ukraine using “privately available ground transportation” definitely encouraged the hearts of our brethren here. We could tell that many citizens were departing Ukraine as we were arriving,because there was virtually no line at the border crossing going into Ukraine while the line at the border crossings for those leaving Ukraine was 13 hours long!

3. One of the most discouraging factors here is that many believers in Ukraine have family in Russia who simply do not believe what their Ukrainian relatives tell them about the war. They choose to believe Putin’s propaganda machine rather than the eyewitness accounts of their own relatives. For example, the attack on the civilian train that we mentioned was portrayed by Russian media as an attack on a military train carrying hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers to the war front. Meanwhile, it’s obvious to the rest of the world that this was a civilian train. Pray that somehow the light of truth would penetrate the darkness that has descended over Russia today. 

4. Praise God that despite very trying circumstances, ministry continues. Once again, this weekend we will be participating in baptisms of new converts. Such ministry is taking place in churches all over Ukraine. Theyreport increases in attendance even though many church members have evacuated to the West.Ukrainians are more open to the Gospel now than before the war, which is resulting in a harvest of souls. In fact, at this present time BIEM is starting a new church in an unreached area of Ternopil, Ukraine. Sergeyand Karina Koop, our newest missionaries, have just begun a special outreach in an area that contains 30,000 refugees. They feel God’s leading for them to plant a new church there. Please pray for them in this endeavor. Following is a link to a video where they share their plans:

https://vimeo.com/743204368

5.  Our summer camps here in Ukraine are in their final week and are making a big impact in the community. Perhaps more than ever before. People are amazed that during a time of war churches are putting forth so much effort for the sake of children and youth. One of our camps was closely watched by the highly decorated general of the border guards, who viewed the activities from his balcony overlooking the church property. He was so impressed that he asked the pastor if he could write about it on his Facebook. No problem, said the pastor. So, the general wrote a glowing report about what an excellent program this church operated for the youth while the Orthodox Church did nothing! This was surprising, because not long ago the Orthodox Church gave him a special award because his command had intercepted the smuggling of some valuable and very holy Orthodox icons out of Ukraine. While they probably won’t ask him to return the medal, he surely will not get any more from that direction.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - August 19, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. A couple of weeks ago, we mentioned that Vitaly and Alona Yurchenko were on their way to the United States after Vitaly became one of the first Ukrainian pastors to receive special permission to leave Ukraine through a new Ukrainian government program allowing such travel for religious purposes. They have been a blessing to us and to churches we have been able to schedule them in. This week, they were joined by their daughter and son-in-law, Karina and Pasha, who managed to get into the United States through Mexico.

2. Please pray for Amy and me as we leave for Ukraine this coming Tuesday to participate in Ukrainian summer camps. Though not all our Ukrainian churches are able to have camp this summer, many are. Those that are have been reporting many more campers than expected. Praise God!

3. There is a growing concern throughout Ukraine that Russia will launch a major attack of some sort on August 24th. This is Ukrainian Independence Day and marks the 6-month point of the war. Please pray for the protection of our people and churches.

4. Two of our families need extra prayer because they are in military cities that have already been attacked. They are the Fomichovs in Desna and the Petrenkos in Goncharovsk. Please uphold them in prayer by name. Following is a link to a video from Sasha in Goncharovsk and Igor in Desna. By the way, we now have over 60 videos posted on our website you can view and download.

Link to the new video, with Sasha and Igor: https://vimeo.com/741232051/f012f1eacf

Links to all our videos: https://vimeo.com/showcase/9315861

5. Previously, we mentioned that, although our humanitarian efforts focus mostly on civilians and churches, by providing aid we have helped soldiers who are closely connected with our churches and pastors. When Amy and I travel to Ukraine next week, we will take along several suitcases, some of which will contain particular gear and medical items specifically requested by such soldiers, including a high-end drone requested by a special forces man who is in a very sensitive position. Please pray that we can get all these goods in, and especially pray for Vitaly Bilyak, who will deliver them. This involves a dangerous journey just outside a battle area where he will be met.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

August Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Having just returned from Ukraine, we bring you warm greetings from many believers who are sincerely grateful for your prayers and support during this difficult time in Ukraine. Our camps in Ukraine are in full swing now, with many more campers than expected. In some places, they have double the amount of youth they expected. While this is a challenge, our folks are greatly blessed that it is now evident that the decision to go ahead with camps despite the war was a good one that will have eternal results for the glory of God.

This month's video update comes from one of these camps, where the church in Zdolbuniv obtained a property outside the city for a campground two years ago. They have steadfastly transformed this property into a functioning campground, something BIEM was glad to help them with. This summer was the first time they were able to use the location for camps. This month's video update features children & youth worker Pasha Usach sharing the blessings taking place. One of the most exciting developments is that a group of nearby residents has begun to regularly attend services each Sunday on the campground. Brother Pasha and the other believers are excited about the potential of a new church being established.

https://vimeo.com/738697218

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - August 12, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Since we just returned from Ukraine, one question we are often asked is, "How do the Ukrainian believers look at the status of the war? Do they think they will be able to continue to withstand Russia? Do they think they will be able to drive the Russians out of the parts of Ukraine they have occupied? From what I gathered from my time with Ukrainian believers, they are optimistic about their chances and feel that, if the US and the West continue to supply Ukraine with weapons, they will eventually drive Russia out of Ukraine. However, no one is predicting that such a victory will come soon. Under the best of scenarios, this will take some time.

2. As usual, I spent time in both Western and Central Ukraine. In Western Ukraine the farther north you go, the greater the concern about Russian forces invading there from Belarus. They also hear reports that Russia has begun to shift some more forces to Belarus. Does that mean Russia is going to launch an attack on Western Ukraine from Belarus? Of course, no one knows, but just in case some of the churches we are connected to such as those in Zdolbuniv, Dubno, and Rivne are making evacuation plans to get their church people to the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine.

3. One of the camps I visited this trip was in the Bucha region north of Kyiv, specifically Lubyanka, which is next to Hostomel, one of the sites of the worst atrocities committed by Russian forces. There, it was heartbreaking to hear firsthand accounts of the atrocities that had taken place in that area. Here is a link to a news report about what took place there.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/19/ukraine-a-visual-diary-of-horrors-in-hostomel

The pastor of the church in Lubyanka, his wife, and a lady who had been the Sunday school teacher of some of our people survived all this. Several times with Russian soldiers holding guns to their heads they were certain they would be killed like so many of their neighbors. The Russians killed many, stole just about everything they had, and destroyed a lot they could not drag off. The fact that these three survived all this is remarkable and certainly due to the merciful and protective hand of God.

4. Praise God, due to the support of God's people in the USA who have given generously to our War Relief Fund, we have been able to provide significant relief to this area, replacing and repairing much that was destroyed and stolen by the Russian invaders. Besides what we had already provided, the day after we left our people delivered an entire 40-foot container of humanitarian aid from friends in the United States. This is the 8th 40-foot container we have transported from the border to needy areas in Ukraine. This is in addition to countless other loads we have delivered with vans, SUVs, and all sizes of trucks. Praise God!

5. Our War Relief Efforts are focusing almost entirely on civilians, though there are certainly needs in the Ukrainian military. Since there are major humanitarian efforts specializing in military needs, including our US government, we have decided to focus on the civilian side, especially churches. However, we do make an exception in the cases of soldiers who are members of or closely related to our churches. Since our people have access to these soldiers, we have been able to provide them with needed military gear, including boots and various military clothing and gear purchased from military surplus stores. Many of the soldiers who are drafted are instructed to bring their own gear. Some of these men are in the special forces and requested that if it was possible to provide them with drones. After making this known to some, we have been provided with two drones we are working on getting to these men. Another exception we have made is to a military hospital in Western Ukraine, where we have provided medicine, wound kits, tourniquets, and other items they requested. This hospital has been instrumental in obtaining special permission for some of our men to leave Ukraine and return on humanitarian missions.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - August 5, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Greetings from Ukraine!  Due to problems with airlines, late and rerouted flights and delays, it took nearly 48 hours to get to Western Ukraine this trip.  As we travel eastward towards Kyiv we are noticing one big change.  When we stop at gas stations, we are no longer limited to just 5 or 10 gallons but can now fill up without a special permit. When I asked why the difference, the explanation is that now more fuel from Europe is flowing into Ukraine.  We don’t understand exactly how these things work but we are thankful.

2. Our War Relief efforts involve not only the distribution of humanitarian aid but also involve the evacuation of refugees from occupied or embattled areas. Our men are bringing aid into such areas and exiting with refugees.  This week and next week we are conducting such operations in the areas of Ukraine near Kharkiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv.

3. Just when the westward flow of refugees has lessened, it appears that it will ramp up once again. This is because president Zelensky has requested that all Ukrainians in the entire Donbas region leave that area and is promising to compensate those who leave behind apartments and homes.

4. Our camps in Ukraine are in full swing now with many more campers than expected. In some places, they have double the amount of youth they expected. While this is a challenge, our folks are greatly blessed seeing that the decision to go ahead with camps despite the war was a good one that will have eternal results for the glory of God.

5. Thank you for your prayers concerning Vitaly Yurchenko’s request for special permission to leave Ukraine we mentioned last week. Praise God, this permission was granted, and today he and his wife Alona are flying to the United States, where they will have meetings in churches in Indiana and Minnesota. We hope that other national missionaries will also be granted such permission in the near future.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - July 29, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Please pray for our people in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. Early today our media reported that Russians launched a large-scale attack on this area. Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from the Black Sea, and X-22 missiles from Tu-22m3 long-range bombers were fired from a Russian airfield roughly 160 miles from Ukraine’s border. In addition, short-range Iskandar ballistic missiles were fired from the Gomel region in Belarus. Twenty-five missiles hit the city of Chernihiv. Goncharovsk was also hit. Our media are reporting loss of life, though the numbers are not clear. BIEM has churches in both Chernihiv and Goncharovsk, which is a military city. I was able to speak with some of our men there just moments ago. Thankfully, none of our people have been injured, and our church buildings in these areas have not been hit. However, as you can imagine people there are frightened and anxious. (Note: US media reports use various spellings for Goncharovsk.)

2. In our update of July 15, we requested prayer for Vitaly Yurchenko, who was trying to get permission to leave Ukraine to visit the United States through a new Ukrainian program. That program allows pastors to leave Ukraine for up to one month for religious conferences. Yesterday he was told he would be approved but needed to buy tickets to demonstrate serious intent to travel. This is unusual, because normally consulates warn people not to buy tickets until their travel documents are approved. However, things are certainly not normal in Ukraine these days. Therefore, we are in the process of buying tickets for Vitaly and his wife Alona, with hopes they will soon be able to come. They will be a great blessing to whichever churches we can schedule them in. Please pray that their case will be approved.

3. Yesterday, BIEM personnel drove another 5 tons of food from Poland into Ukraine, this time for the Kharkiv region. We praise God for thoughtful donors and for those driving and distributing.

4. Despite the war, we are receiving reports of young people coming to Christ in BIEM-sponsored camps in Estonia, Ukraine, and Russia. The nearly 30 camps in Ukraine this year are all operated on church properties. The children stay most of the day and receive two meals. They return to their homes in the evening. This is proving to be a very effective way of doing camp during war.

5. Despite the war in Ukraine, one of our seminary graduates is deeply burdened for a particular district in a large city in Western Ukraine that has been flooded with refugees. Many of them plan to stay. This brother has recruited others to help start a new church, and they are praying and fasting every Friday for God’s direction and provision for that goal. Please join them in praying.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - July 22, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Praise God, we have received another container from the United States! This is the 7th container our dedicated Ukrainians are distributing to needy places. This one went to the city administration of a region that contains several settlements that were occupied by Russian forces, so these goods will reach some of the neediest recipients.

2. We rejoice that the Keller family has received their documents to travel to the United States. At first, only Alexandra and the girls received travel documents. We were concerned since none arrived for Vitaly, the only family member who is not a Ukrainian citizen. Vitaly has Russian citizenship, so we were thought this might be a problem. However, yesterday Vitaly, too, received his travel documents. Praise God!

3. Soon I will be making another trip to Ukraine, leaving August 2. We will be in 3 or 4 cities in the west, then 3 or 4 cities near Kyiv, including areas where the Russian army invaded from Belarus to attack Kyiv before being driven out. Ukrainian forces have now liberated over 1,000 settlements that had been occupied by Russian forces. Besides focusing mainly on war-relief efforts, we will also partake in a baptism and an ordination.

4. Praise the Lord, on our website BIEM has now posted nearly 60 videos featuring our Ukrainian missionaries distributing aid. If you have not seen these videos, please go to our website (BaptistInternational.org) and click on "View Video Updates" beneath the main banner. If you have already viewed these videos, you may have noticed that our men often wear hand-me-down t-shirts of all sorts. This week we ordered custom t-shirts with “BIEM” and American & Ukrainian flags imprinted on them. When we asked what color they wanted, they replied military green, which their president often wears. So that's what we ordered, and they look great! Our coworkers are really looking forward to receiving these t-shirts, which I plan to deliver personally.

5. Since Russia continues to bomb Ukraine indiscriminately, no place in Ukraine is totally safe from bombs and missiles. Nevertheless, our missionaries are conducting summer camps all over Ukraine. Right now, it looks like we will operate between 25 and 30 camps in Ukraine this summer. This year, all our Ukrainian day camps are being conducted on church properties, where campers can spend the day and eat their meals but return home every evening. Meanwhile, our missionaries in other areas like Russia, Belarus and Central Asia are also conducting summer camps. Please pray for a harvest of souls and for inroads into many unchurched homes.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates Email - July 15, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. BIEM’s Vitaly Bilyak, who recently returned to Ukraine from Poland with an SUV and trailer full of humanitarian relief, reports the military hospital where he distributed a large amount of medical supplies and equipment was thrilled and presented him with a gracious thank-you letter. Included in the items he took back from the US were 4 military uniforms and boots we purchased at an military surplus store in Indianapolis. These are for 4 men in his church who were recently drafted. They were told they must provide their own uniforms!

2. Please continue to pray for the Buyko family (wife & 3 daughters), who received visas to come to the United States last week. Now Eugene will be trying to visit the US to reunite with his wife and daughters for 30 days in the same way Vitaly Bilyak recently did, which was a special 30-day pass connected to procuring humanitarian aid. Their 19-year-old son Mikhail must stay in Ukraine.

3, Yesterday, after more than 3 months of a nightmarish journey through the United States immigration bureaucracy, we were finally approved as sponsors for Ukrainians fleeing from the war. That means our national missionaries in Ukraine (such as the Kellers) who are now making preparations to come to the United States will be able to come. It is important for the Kellers to touch base with their supporting churches because they will be changing fields to another Russian-speaking country since Vitaly's Russian citizenship would be a great hindrance in Ukraine, where they have been planting churches for the last few years.

4. We at BIEM are excited about the Ukrainian government’s recent new provision, which would allow pastors to visit the United States for one month to attend religious conferences. Vitaly Yurchenko, who applied yesterday, is the first of our men to try this. He should know within 10 days. Please pray that he and perhaps others following will be able to obtain such special permissions. It is a huge blessing for BIEM and supporting churches to hear directly from national church planters.

5. Praise God for a continual stream of souls being saved in Ukraine because of the war, which has opened many hearts to the Gospel. Sasha, our church planter in Goncharovsk and Smolin, Ukraine, introduces another such person on our most recent war video update posted on our website. This one is entitled, “Finding Christ During War.” We now have over 50 such war video updates posted. Here is a link for Vadim’s testimony:

https://vimeo.com/730106837

When viewing our war video updates on our website, keep in mind that if you click on the title instead of the picture you will have options to download and share the video.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

BIEMs of Light: July 2022

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Our goal for funding summer camps in 2022 was $50,000. Praise the Lord, we have now reached that goal!

• Despite the war in Ukraine, which generally prohibits adult men from exiting the country, BIEM church planter Vitaly Bilyak was able to come to the US for several weeks. Here, he not only reunited with his wife and sons, but visited many churches with firsthand reports from Ukraine. From Poland, he will be driving a load of humanitarian aid back into this homeland.

• At a time when war-torn areas of Ukraine are short on food, BIEM was able to distribute large amounts of powdered milk to needy ones across 5 regions of Ukraine through churches, boarding schools, hospitals, a mayor’s office, and local charities. We thank the Lord for the donors and for all those who give of their time and energy to help us distribute these gifts of aid.

• In Central Asia, Pastor River (not his real name) reports he is being surveilled 24/7 by secret police. Still, God gave another victory as two more formerly Muslim souls (one of them a mullah) placed their faith in Christ!

Prayer - Pray with us!

• As our churches proceed to hold children’s camps in July and August, please pray for the leaders as they teach and model God’s Word, pray for the campers to be open and receptive to spiritual truths, and pray for the Holy Spirit to draw young souls to salvation in Christ.

• In early July an evangelistic team traveled through an area of great unrest near Afghanistan to share the Gospel with all who would listen. Please pray that the words they shared will not be forgotten and that the hearers will ultimately come to Christ.

• A new provision adopted by Ukraine would allow religious workers to leave Ukraine for a short time to attend religious conferences even though they are males between the ages of 18 and 60. Because BIEM occasionally brings national church planters to the US to report to churches, please pray this opportunity will work for our Ukrainian coworkers.

• In the nation of Georgia, the church in Gldani lost Pastor Lasha to Covid last fall. The church is experiencing some troubles from within and without. Other brethren are filling in with preaching, Bible studies, and counseling. Please pray for unity, for reconciliation, and for a new pastor.

War Relief Updates Email - July 8, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Vitaly Bilyak just completed a visit to the United States. This trip enabled us to reunite him with his family, who have been staying with relatives near Seattle. Vitaly also reported to various churches with firsthand reports concerning the war in Ukraine and what BIEM has been doing in providing War Relief aid to Ukraine. Every church we visited with the Bilyaks received them warmly, encouraged them greatly, and asked many questions, which Vitaly did a great job answering. One frequent question no one can answer right now is when Vitaly’s family and the many others that have evacuated to safer countries will be able to return to Ukraine. Russia continues to bomb civilians indiscriminately all over Ukraine, so no area can be considered truly safe.

2, Vitaly is now in Poland, where he will spend two days filling his vehicle and trailer with food, medicine, and medical supplies he must bring into Ukraine when he returns. While with us in Indiana, we were able to purchase nearly $8,000 of medicine, medical supplies, and medical equipment he took back with him. It was quite an adventure checking him in at the Delta counter of the Indianapolis airport with 8 bags. The bags were very visibly marked "Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine," which certainly helped at the check-in counter, where the Delta personnel were all on board with helping Ukraine.

3. The large volume of powdered milk from one of the containers we received has now been distributed through numerous ministry points spread across 5 regions of Ukraine. You can view a video report of this distribution on our website under "View War Relief Updates."

4. We are glad to report an answer to prayer as the Buykos (mother and 3 daughters) received visas today to come to the United States. Please pray that we can get brother Eugene Buyko here as well under the same program that worked for Vitaly. It would be wonderful if we could reunite him with his family for a few weeks as well. Please pray for the Yurchenkos as they attempt to get visas to the US as well. They plan to apply in August. 

5. Thank you for praying for the 6th 40-foot container of aid that was enroute at the time of last week's update. We are glad to report that it safely entered Ukraine and has reached the Kyiv region. Soon we will post a video update on this to our website.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates Email - June 30, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. This last weekend, all over Ukraine there was a huge increase in Russian bombings and missile attacks. Each attack hit civilian targets, including a horrific bombing of a packed shopping center in Kremenchuk, Ukraine. The fiery inferno that resulted has made it impossible to identify or even count all the victims.

2. During this attack, which targeted Ukraine with over 50 missiles, 20 missiles struck Desna, which had previously been hit by 4 that killed 87. Brother Igor, our national missionary there, tells us these missiles hit both civilian and military areas and that it’s an absolute miracle no civilians were killed. The number of casualties on the military side of the base is unknown at this point. The residents are in shock and great fear. Many choose to spend nights outside the city, either in nearby villages or camping in the forest. 

3. Residents of Goncharovsk (the next military city to the north where our missionary brother Sasha is based) also live in great fear of being targeted again. A previous attack destroyed the elementary school next door to the apartment building where Sasha lived with his family. He and his family now stay in Smolin, the nearby town where they have an almost-completed church building. Many residents of Goncharovsk gather there to seek refuge. Please pray for both Igor and Sasha as these circumstances provide wonderful opportunities to share Christ with people who are ready to listen.

4. Since many of these missiles were launched by Russian aircraft in Belarusian airspace, there is much concern that Belarus may join the Russian attack. This would immediately endanger Western Ukraine, where we have several church plants heavily involved in war relief efforts. Please pray that this does not happen.

5. Praise God, we have now distributed over $600,000 in War Relief funds to almost 100 churches that serve as distribution centers!

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates Email - June 24, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. After Vitaly Bilyak received a special visa to leave Ukraine (which requires him to return within 30 days with a significant amount of humanitarian aid, including medicine and medical supplies for wounded soldiers), he was able to travel with me into Poland. There, we left with friends his vehicle and trailer, which he will need to fill with this aid upon returning. In the US, he reunited with his family, which we previously evacuated to the US. He had not seen them for nearly 4 months. The whole family is now with us, and we are traveling to meetings in churches in Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania to bring first-hand reports on our war relief efforts. Please pray for these meetings.

2. Continue to pray for the Buyko family’s July 8th interview at the US Consulate in Krakow, Poland. They hope to come to the United States under the “Unite for Ukraine” program, which allows up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees to enter the US.

3. Praise God, a 6th full container of humanitarian aid, which has been provided by friends in the US, is due to arrive at the Polish border this coming Tuesday. Please pray for its safe transport all the way to the Kyiv area.

4. When Vitaly Bilyak returns to Ukraine with his vehicle and trailer filled with humanitarian aid, among the items he needs to bring is a long list of medical supplies and medicines for a regional hospital that provided the documentation for this trip. Praise God that brother Jan Milton of Renewed Hope Ministries is providing these medical items.

5. We have now provided aid for close to 100 churches across Ukraine. In turn, they are distributing food, clothing, and medicines to those suffering from the war.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates Email - June 16, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. In our last weekly war relief update, I mentioned that we planned to visit Fastiv (about 1 hour southwest of Kyiv) to survey the damage to one of our churches from a nearby bombing. One of the bombs landed 50 meters from the church, which is less than 200 feet. Turns out that windows on the inside were also shattered. (For example, the large windows that separate the church auditorium from the nursery area.) Praise God, we can fund the cost of replacing the doors and windows. We are also thankful that the other Fastiv church was spared, though they could see and hear the missiles passing overhead. Fastiv is a huge railroad center, so the Russians were probably targeting the railway center or the power grid. They missed both, since the missiles destroyed only storage buildings. We were able to see the damage, and someone actually gave us a video of the bombs exploding, which was filmed from a passing train. We will include these on one of our upcoming War Relief Videos we post on our website.

2. Praise God, we have passed the $500,000 mark in war relief aid that has been put into the hands of our people distributing aid in Ukraine. We are so grateful for those who have contributed so generously. Everywhere I stopped in Ukraine, people asked me to pass along their deep appreciation for the help that American believers are providing. It is making a huge impact for the glory of God.

3. Last week we mentioned that a couple of our men (Vitaly Bilyak and Eugene Buyko) received special documents allowing them to leave Ukraine even though they are of military age and did not have enough young children to exempt them from the law requiring they stay. This special permission is connected to humanitarian aid, and they must haul a significant amount back with them. So Vitaly and I traveled together across the border in his car hauling a trailer marked Humanitarian Aid. He must fill and haul it back in on his return trip. Even though we had documents in hand, it is the border guards who ultimately decide who can pass. Praise God that, after a 3 1/2 hour wait, they let Vitaly and I through. We traveled together on our flights to the US from Krakow, Poland. Vitaly’s family is among those we evacuated to the United States through Mexico. After not seeing each other for more than 3 months, it will be a sweet reunion.

4. While I was in Lviv with Vitaly, three Russian missiles flew toward his home city of Ternopil. All three were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, and pieces from two of them landed in empty fields. The third that went down and rained debris on a brick factory, severely damaging the factory. There are a lot of military installations in that area; the Russians were probably targeting them. Praise God that the Ternopil church has not been hit even though it is less than 100 feet from a railway, and those are also frequent targets of Russian attacks.

5. On July 8, the Eugene Buyko family has an interview at the US Consulate in Krakow, Poland, to determine if they will receive visas for the United States under the “Unite for Ukraine” program. Please pray for the interview to go well so that Eugene’s wife Sophia and 3 daughters will all get visas. Their son Mikhail must remain in Ukraine along with Eugene.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates Email - June 10, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Greetings from Kyiv! It is a wonderful blessing to be back in this amazing capital city, though at the same time it is heartbreaking to see all the destruction we saw in so many places on the way here. Since Kyiv had not been bombed for a month, some men in the Kyiv area were contemplating letting their families return. However, because Kyiv was bombed on Sunday, those plans have been put on hold.

2. Last week, we mentioned that a fifth container of donated goods was delivered to a church in Fastiv which is southwest of Kyiv. BIEM has two church plants in this city which is a key railroad center. Recently Fastiv was also targeting by Russia bombs. One of our churches there which operates a very successful drug and alcohol rehab center, was so close to the bombing that most of the windows and some doors were blown out. Tomorrow or the next day we plan to go there to survey the damage.

3. Pastor Igor’s family did return to Desna since his wife Alexandra had to return due to her position working for the Ukrainian military. Please pray for their safety. Since last week’s horrific bombing that killed over 80 people in Desna, many of those who have stayed spend nights camping in nearby forests fearing that the city will once again be attacked.

4. Two of our men obtained special permission to leave Ukraine since they assist with distributing humanitarian aid. However, they must return with humanitarian (including medicines) within a specified time framework. Eugene Buyko was able to visit his family, which had been evacuated to Germany, and Vitaly Bilyak is planning to visit his family, which we were able to get to the United States through Mexico.

5. Keep praying for the Keller family, for whom we applied for refugee status via the “Unite with Ukraine” program that the United States announced. We applied shortly after the program was announced but still have not heard anything. Similarly, another family connected with our ministry, the Debelinskys, have been waiting in Germany 3 months for a visa.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

June Video Update

Watch this video on Vimeo by either clicking on the following link or by copying and pasting it in your browser:

https://vimeo.com/717531414

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Warm greetings in Christ! This month's video update comes from the many we have posted on our website. You can view these by clicking on the "View Video Updates" section on our home page.

In case you do not already know, we have added a new email update called Ukrainian War Relief Updates. This will keep you updated on events in Ukraine and informed on how to pray. Thank you for your continued support and prayers as we lift up our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

You can subscribe to this new mailing by clicking on the following link: https://www.baptistinternational.org/urgent-war-updates-sign-up

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates Email - June 3, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Praise God, in Ukraine we have now received our 5th full, 40-foot container of humanitarian aid from friends in America. Our brethren are distributing its contents among the needy. While the 4th one was delivered to our church in Bilogorodka (in the Kyiv area), this 5th one was delivered to our church in Fastiv. Both locations are areas of great need.

2. These containers are only part of our distribution efforts. Our folks are also delivering an amazing amount of aid using vans and SUVs, which often travel in caravans. As our brothers and sisters distribute this aid, their Christian love in action has greatly lifted the testimony of these churches, which have become distribution centers. Now the communities around these churches have a newfound appreciation for these churches, which will certainly open hearts to the Gospel.

3. These churches have also reached out beyond their immediate communities to towns and villages farther away. Our folks in Kyiv have traveled as far as the Belarussian border to distribute aid to places others have overlooked. One of our churches was near an undisclosed location where special military units of the Ukrainian armed forces were stationed to ambush the 40-mile-long caravan of Russian military hardware heading towards Kyiv. When Pastor Igor heard that these Ukrainian soldiers were hungry, he used funds provided by BIEM so he and men from his church could take food to those soldiers. Not only did their actions spark new, high respect for Igor’s church in the eyes of the military, but the military presented Igor and two men from his church with beautiful medals and impressive citations!.

4. I will be traveling back to Ukraine next week. On my previous visit, I stayed in the western part of Ukraine. On this trip, I plan to visit the Kyiv area. Please pray for safety and that I can be an encouragement to our people in Ukraine.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

BIEMs of Light: June 2022

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Recently, one of our BIEM missionaries entered a Central Asian nation (predominantly Muslim) with a bag full of Bibles. When Customs officials saw the x-ray scan containing the Bibles, they began arguing back and forth. While they debated, our missionary snatched up his bags and headed out the door. Moments later, they followed him and searched the crowd but didn’t spot him. God provided an opportunity to take in every Bible!

• Afghans who fled the Taliban are coming to Christ in Central Asia! Plus, BIEM has organized a school to teach refugee children school subjects, which includes reading the Bible in their language. A Bible institute is also in the planning stages and is well on its way to being operational.

• In Ukraine, in addition to hundreds of tons of aid we have distributed using vans, SUV’s, and small trucks, we have now received 5 forty-foot containers of humanitarian aid, which we transported to churches that serve as distribution centers in needy parts of Ukraine. Praise God for the compassionate friends in the USA who have provided these goods and for our Ukrainian brethren who distribute them!

• Although the world’s attention is on Ukraine, we still have people ministering for the Lord inside Russia. We praise God for souls recently won to Christ in Siberia!

Prayer - Pray with us!

• On Easter Sunday, one of our churches in Central Asia was raided by police, who arrested the pastor. The church was fined $200, which BIEM paid. We rejoice that the punishment was relatively light, but please pray for Pastor River and his congregation as they serve God in a land that is hostile to Christian activities.

• BIEM’s evangelistic outreaches overseas depend on our ability to transfer funds to those lands. The sanctions on some countries have a side effect of blocking our normal methods of transferring funds. Please pray that the Lord will show us effective workarounds.

• On June 6, BIEM’s president Sam Slobodian plans to travel to Ukraine, including to Kyiv. Please pray for safe traveling as he visits our missionaries and makes plans with them.

• Friends often say, “Pray for Ukraine.” But don’t pray only for the life of that nation. Pray for the salvation of the countless souls who are hearing the Gospel in conjunction with our aid efforts.

War Relief Updates Email - May 27, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Last week we mentioned that, just a few hours after a container of humanitarian aid was unloaded in Desna, the city was bombed and that there were 8 fatalities. That figure has been revised by the government to 87 fatalities. Folks in Desna now say the real figure is even higher. This was the largest military loss for Ukraine to date in the war, according to an article by Fox News which you can access at this link:  

https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukraine-reveals-worst-military-loss-of-russia-war

2. Purchasing fuel is becoming more difficult. Yesterday our church planter Sasha Petrenko had to wait in line for over 12 hours to buy fuel for delivering humanitarian aid. The cost of fuel is now $8 per gallon in many places.

3. BIEM missionary Tim S. is in Ukraine for the third time to assist with humanitarian aid shipments. The first time, he went with his wife Luda. The second time he went alone. This time Sarah, his oldest daughter, is with him. Please pray for their travels and for God to bless their efforts.

4. We have now received a 4th full container of humanitarian aid, which has arrived in Bilogorodka in the Kyiv area. This is in addition to nearly 100 van loads of goods distributed to needy areas.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

May Video Update

Watch this video on Vimeo by either clicking on the following link or by copying and pasting it in your browser:

https://vimeo.com/705504223

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Warm greetings in Christ! This month's video update comes from the many we have posted on our website. You can view these by clicking on the "View Video Updates" section on our home page.

In case you do not already know, we have added a new email update called Ukrainian War Relief Updates. This will keep you updated on events in Ukraine and informed on how to pray. Thank you for your continued support and prayers as we lift up our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

You can subscribe to this new mailing by clicking on the following link: https://www.baptistinternational.org/urgent-war-updates-sign-up

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates Email - May 13, 2022

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Pray for our displaced BIEM personnel who have been scattered across various places in Europe. We have folks in Poland, Switzerland, Germany, as well as a good number in Western Ukraine. Those who were displaced from the Kyiv area are contemplating and praying about returning since the situation in Kyiv has improved after the Russian army withdrew. However, this is not an easy decision since rocket and missile attacks continue.

2. One BIEM missionary family (Vitaly & Alexandra Keller) likely will not be able to return to Ukraine for ministry purposes. Since Vitaly has Russian citizenship, the current anti-Russian climate will likely necessitate a change of field for the Kellers. Please pray for wisdom and direction in this matter.

3. Pray as well for our application for BIEM to be a sponsor for the “Uniting for Ukraine” program. This would enable us to sponsor Ukrainian refugees who want to come to the United States. With the likely upcoming change in mission field, the Kellers especially are considering their need to come to the United States to touch base with supporters they have not reported to for years.

4. Praise God, BIEM has surpassed $400,000 directed to Ukraine for our War Relief efforts. This has purchased hundreds of tons of aid, plus covered the cost of transporting and distributing this aid. It has also enabled the evacuation and care of many hundreds of refugees.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM