February Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Our monthly video for February comes from Russia. Many have asked how our Russian missionaries are doing and how the war is affecting them. The war is not something we can discuss with them, either by phone or e-mail. Some of them are convinced their phone calls and emails are monitored since Putin’s government would consider anyone with ties to the United States as a potential “enemy of the state.” Therefore, our communications are kept to a minimum. However, recently we arranged to meet them in a nearby, somewhat neutral country. These face-to-face meetings were a great blessing. We learned much from them and were able to answer many of their questions for us. This video features Pavel Rumachik from the Moscow area. It is longer than our usual videos, but since opportunities to record videos of them will continue to be limited for the foreseeable future, we decided to share this one in its entirety:

https://vimeo.com/796352392

In our next Slobodian prayer letter, which is due out in a few days, we will share in more detail how the war is affecting our Russian brethren as well as other interesting information concerning them. Therefore, if you receive our bi-monthly Slobodian prayer letters, you will get this information. If you are not receiving this or some of our other publications, you can subscribe at the following link: 

https://www.baptistinternational.org/news/194-z68bw

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - February 3, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. We thank the Lord that Vitaly Yurchenko has received temporary permission to exit Ukraine to share in supporting churches in the U.S. how war relief is being used. At our request, Vitaly Bilyak has begun the same application process. Please say a prayer that he, too, will receive permission. American believers greatly appreciate a chance to meet and hear our men from overseas in person, especially in these times when Ukraine is so much in the news.

2. The churches with whom BIEM works in Ukraine continue to exercise creativity and personal involvement as they touch lives with war relief. For instance, in Bilogorodka (near Kyiv), the church hosted a special luncheon for women who have a husband, son, or grandson in the war. Such ladies filled the auditorium. During that time, the guests heard the Gospel and received New Testaments along with a sack of groceries. To hear more, click the link below for a brief video of Sofia Buyko telling about the event:

https://vimeo.com/795606429

3. Previously we had asked you to pray concerning our upcoming time of discussion in a neutral country with our Russian missionaries. We have now returned but while there enjoyed a fruitful time with our missionaries. They continue to serve God, both in the church and outside the church with various kinds of evangelism. In fact, brother Pavel Rumachik reports his church has grown so much that the congregation has outgrown their building’s second addition. They now face the task of further expansion. Within the next few days, we’ll be posting our February update video featuring him discussing all these blessings. If you are not receiving our BIEM monthly videos, you can sign up here to get them.

4. Our War Relief efforts have recently produced an opportunity to distribute aid and share the Gospel in a public school building in the Kyiv region. The building has been transformed into a facility housing many refugees and orphaned children. Our aid resulted in an invitation to hold Bible studies in a nearby business establishment. Praise God for open hearts. Please pray that this exciting development would lead to the salvation of souls for the glory of God.

5. We previously mentioned how a young man named Bogdan received Christ at the Desna Christian Rehabilitation Center before he was drafted into the Ukrainian military. Recently at that Rehab Center, another man named Fedya was also drafted. Both men had been involved in distributing humanitarian aid from BIEM to needy ones. We invite you to pray for these believers not only to stand firm in their faith but to shine for God in their new surroundings.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

BIEMs of Light: February 2023

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• In answer to prayer, the January session of Kyiv Theological Seminary went very smoothly. Not only were enrolled students able to come, but 8 others attended to audit the classes. In connection with that session, BIEM’s Sam Slobodian and Board member Kevin Gaugler had no significant delays entering or leaving the country.

• Two Christian men were flying to team up with BIEM’s Director for Central Asia to evangelize and teach in Muslim lands. However, these two missed a flight and got “stuck” at Istanbul Airport. But God’s ways are divine: While waiting, one of the travelers led 3 Iranians to faith in Christ!

• We had hoped to schedule Vitaly and Olena Yurchenko to visit supporting churches in February and March, but with increasing restrictions in Ukraine we didn’t know if that were possible. Praise the Lord, they have received permission to exit their country for a limited time!

• At the women’s shelter in Central Asia, a woman named Jasgul returned with her 3-month-old child. The baby was born with a hole in his heart, and she requested prayer. Julie (shelter administrator), Pastor Almond, and another Christian sister prayed over the child. When Jasgul took the baby back to the doctor, he was shocked—the baby was healed, with no indication of a hole. Praise God!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• In recent evangelistic-aid trips almost to the battlefront, Vitaly Bilyak and Sasha Petrenko had opportunities to preach, to distribute New Testaments, and to share aid items among both civilians and members of the military. May God water the Gospel seeds these men have planted.

• Traditionally, many churches in Eastern Europe celebrate Christmas on January 7. In January such churches had opportunities for Christmas evangelism. In Belarus, BIEM’s Nikolai Ryzhuk said, “Our church building was completely packed with people. When I asked if anyone was in a church service for the first time in their lives, 5 families raised their hands.” May God work in these hearts!

• So far, praise the Lord, none of our BIEM personnel in Ukraine have become casualties in the war. Although a 21-year-old Seminary student was killed while helping evacuate citizens from Kharkiv, and we grieve with that family, as of this writing, no actual BIEM missionaries have become casualties. Please pray this will continue to be true as our people share the Gospel and distribute much-needed humanitarian aid.

• Please pray concerning our new missionaries, Sergiy and Karina Koop. Although they have zeal and energy for this exciting new work in a heavily populated area, a major portion of their support needs to be raised. By law, the Koops can’t exit Ukraine, so they can’t visit the U.S. to raise funds. We will soon send out information about them hoping this will bring in their support. Please pray that churches and individuals will catch a vision for taking them on for support even without a personal visit. (Please contact us if you yourself would like information about them.)

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War Relief Updates - January 27, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Last week we asked for prayer concerning Vitaly Yurchenko’s application for special permission to leave Ukraine and visit the United States again. We are glad to report that he and his wife Alona did receive this permission, so they will be with us for several weeks in February and March. We look forward to having him in supporting churches to give firsthand reports on how our relief efforts in Ukraine are opening the hearts of Ukrainians to turn to God and receive Christ as personal Savior. Thank you for praying!

2. Sasha Petrenko has returned safely from the battlefront in the East, where he and two others supplied warm clothing and many other needed supplies, including a generator, to a division of soldiers from their area. Because Sasha’s regular ministry focuses on the military base in Goncharovsk (near the Belarusian border), he and those with him personally know some of the recipients of their aid. They were able to distribute New Testaments to many soldiers and share the Gospel. You can view his report at the following link:

https://vimeo.com/792677694

3. Many friends have contacted us for news regarding the draft notice that Igor, our church planter in the military city of Desna, received along with the other men on the city council. For now, Igor and these other deputies (councilmen and government representatives similar to our congressmen are called deputies in Ukraine) have jointly decided to disregard these notices, thinking that this may be some kind of aberration. Please pray that this matter will simply go away. One decision Igor and his wife Sasha made was for her to remain in the Ukrainian military. Since completing her training as an infantry soldier, she has worked in the training and support departments. They had been planning for her to terminate her service. However, they now feel that if he receives further draft notices while she is performing vital logistical work for the military, her duties will protect him from conscription.

4. On December 16 we shared how a young man named Bogdan visited his uncle at the drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Desna, Ukraine, with the goal of enlisting at the nearby military base. But when he heard the Gospel and believed on Christ, he altered his plan and stayed to learn more about God. As an update, Bogdan has now been conscripted into the military. Before leaving, he declared that, when he returns, he wants to serve on the staff of the rehab center where he first heard the Gospel and received salvation.

5. In January, BIEM’s Bruce Tuttle and local pastors Slava and Igor traveled with a team of Christian men and women to a village in the war zone. The pastor of the village church had been killed by shrapnel, leaving behind a wife and several children. Through that pastor’s testimony and death, many in the village who never attended church before have been coming to services and hearing the Gospel. The team conducted a church service plus a children’s day camp. As a result, another woman in the village trusted Christ. Of course, seeds of the Gospel were planted in many other hearts. May God water those seeds and harvest more souls.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - January 20, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. I, along with BIEM board member Kevin Gaugler, have returned from Ukraine. Besides attending our Winter Seminary session, we were able to attend two ordinations of our seminary graduates and distribute several generators. We were blessed with answered prayer in that our border crossings went very smoothly. On the way in, we were able to cross in just under two hours even though just days before lines were 8 to 13 hours long. On the trip back, we crossed the border in just under 1 hour! Thank you to the many who prayed specifically about these crossings! Praise God!

2. Two of our Ukrainian church planters who have been involved in distributing humanitarian aid, Vitaly Bilyak and Vitaly Yurchenko, are making plans to travel to the United States in February. The purpose would be to visit supporting churches and to personally present the needs and opportunities at this current time. Please pray that their applications will be approved. Although they both received approval to temporarily leave Ukraine at the end of last year, it is far from certain they will be allowed to exit Ukraine again due to the fears of another Russian invasion from Belarus and the increased conscription efforts mentioned in last week’s update.

3. In recent days, our church planters Sasha Petrenko and Vitaly Bilyak have each made another evangelism/aid trip to the volatile Donbas area in Eastern Ukraine. At risk to their own selves, these men delivered most importantly God’s Word (both in short sermons and printed New Testaments) along with such aid as is currently in great demand—food parcels, loaves of fresh bread, warm socks, gloves, thermal underwear, candles, blankets, and generators. Although the most critical need is the salvation of souls, our men also keep in mind such words as James 2:15-16—“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” May God use such trips to save bodies and souls, and may God be glorified through them.

4. Many have asked how the war is affecting our Russian national missionaries. Obviously, they cannot discuss this in any correspondence or phone conversations, but it is certainly creating difficulties. Next week I will be meeting with some of our Russian national missionaries in a nearby neutral country. Please pray that these meetings would result in obtaining information so we can more effectively pray for them, support them, and encourage them in their challenging ministries during these difficult times.

5. Although countless members of churches in Ukraine have fled the country for the safety of other lands, services are still full. Because of the fears, suffering, and uncertainty caused by the war, people who never attended church before are coming. And even though we never would have prayed for war, God is using it to get people's attention. In this way, many are hearing the Gospel and accepting Christ as Savior! As just one example, in the church in Chervona Sloboda—which has become well known for its outreaches and aid—there's a man named Arkady. He had spent 31 years in prison for murder. Many would've assumed such an individual would be too hardened to express any spiritual interest. But as a result of the war, he began coming to church services and listening. He placed faith in Christ and now regularly wears a smile and is growing in the Lord. Praise God for working in this man's life and in the lives of so many others!

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - January 13, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1.     Praise God for the good attendance at our Winter Seminary Session in Kyiv. Despite weeks of intense Russian attacks preceding the session, and despite the drones, missiles, and bombs that much of the country was enduring, our Ukrainian brethren decided to go ahead with classes. Many prayed that students would be able to overcome logistical obstacles to attend. We are glad to report that 22 registered students did attend. Plus, some others audited the courses, which brought the total attendance to 30.

2.     In another answer to prayer, we are relieved to report that in the areas where we’ve been traveling—in both Western and Eastern Ukraine—there have not been any new attacks from Russia. Sirens did sound one time, but that later proved to be the result of Russian planes taking off from a base in nearby Belarus. These planes later returned to base without crossing into Ukrainian airspace. Air raid sirens go off in Ukraine whenever Russian planes lift off from Belarusian airfields because there have been so many bombing attacks on Ukraine from Russian planes operating out of Belarus.

3.     In July, the Institute for Religious Freedom issued a report that Russian military activities had destroyed or ruined over 270 churches and “religious sites” in Ukraine. Although the IfR has not attempted to update exact figures, this was their conclusion in December: “We can foresee that in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, where hostilities are still ongoing, the scale of destruction of religious buildings will continue to increase. At the same time, this does not exclude the dangers to religious communities in western and central regions of Ukraine: as a result of missile strikes by Russian troops, even an Orthodox Church in Lviv was damaged. So, given the clearly unlawful methods of warfare that Russia is using, we can surely state that every religious community in Ukraine, regardless of its religious affiliation and regional location, is in danger to a certain degree.”

4.     Everywhere we go, Ukrainians express concern that Russia is preparing another invasion targeting Kyiv and will soon launch a second mobilization (this time aimed at conscripting 500,000 more men). Please pray this will not happen. Most analysts in the West do not believe such a scenario will take place, but here in Ukraine this is what their military and intelligence authorities are predicting.

5.     In direct response to the threat mentioned above, Ukraine is ramping up its military numbers by conscripting thousands more Ukrainians. BIEM personnel have felt the effects directly. An attempt at conscription was made upon Sergei Skripnik, our missionary in the western city of Borschiv. He was apprehended by a group of men who wanted to take him directly to a military recruiting station. It seemed to Sergei that the way they were going about it was illegal, especially when they refused to show him any identification. At that point, his wife began to film the incident on her phone. Her action prompted these aggressive men to abandon their efforts to conscript Sergei. Also, Igor Fomichov pastors the church in the military city of Desna and sits on the city council. At the last council meeting, military officials showed up and issued draft notices to Igor and all the men on the city council. This has happened in at least one other city. Please pray for Igor. You can imagine how concerned he and his family are, as well as all of us at BIEM. Compelling Igor into military service would be counterproductive to Ukraine, considering the immense amount of aid he has provided to both civilians and the military alike. In fact, the Ukrainian military bestowed medals on him and two others in his church in recognition of the huge help they have been. His conscription would also be a significant blow to our ministry efforts in that area. Pray that God would be gracious to the Desna church and keep their pastor in his place.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

January Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

When God united the hearts of Sergiy Koop and Karina Bilyak, he took two missionary-minded individuals and created one dynamic husband-and-wife team. (Karina shares that she had dreamed for years of marrying a missionary!) Together, they are now in the early stages of church planting.

Although this missionary couple has been with BIEM for just a few months, they have targeted a specific, heavily populated district (called “Friendship”) for their church-planting activities. In addition, the Lord has given them a team of dedicated volunteers and led them to a convenient location, which they have fixed up and are now using for various types of outreach. Please watch the following brief video to gain a vision for their zeal and enthusiasm in God’s work:

https://vimeo.com/788000765

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - January 6, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Among their personal friends and contacts, BIEM’s missionary family the Kellers spearheaded a separate drive to raise funds for generators in war-torn Ukraine. In 2 months, they raised another $85,000 for generators, the first of which are already in use. Initial locations to receive generators include a church in Makalevichi (Zhytomyr region), an evangelistic Christian coffee shop in Pryluky, a Christian children’s club, a church in Mukachevo, and a repair brigade for Ukrainian military vehicles. May God be praised for this help.

2. Commenting on his recent delivery of war relief items to Bakhmut, the area of most intense fighting, Vitaly Bilyak says, “I had 122 boxes, each containing 26.5 lbs. of groceries. The cost of each box was around $17. Almost everywhere, people asked for flashlights, power banks, and batteries for flashlights. I had about 10 warm blankets, but that was negligible. We left Bakhmut in almost total darkness. We were glad we had served people and shared the Gospel. We prayed with people and for people.”

3. BIEM missionary Sasha Petrenko recently made yet another trip to carry Scriptures and war relief to Donbas. He states, “God blessed me to make another trip to our military in Donbas, thanks to the BIEM mission. It was a blessed trip in which I saw and felt the protection and mercy of God. I could go and distribute New Testaments, also New Testament recordings on audio players, and give the men the necessary things so they can be as comfortable as possible. We delivered warm clothes, food, and propane tanks with which they can cook their own food in the trenches, etc.”

4. One item from last week’s updates was a prayer request for me, since I was soon heading to Ukraine with a pastor from Indiana. I requested prayer for safety and a smooth border crossing since lines at the border were then 8-13 hours long. God has already in large part answered those prayers since we were able to cross the border in less than two hours. Furthermore, Putin announced a halt to the bombings this weekend in observance of the Orthodox Christmas, which is on January 7. Therefore, traveling in Ukraine over the weekend should be safer if Putin honors his statement. Please keep praying since I will remain in Ukraine throughout next week.

5. Our first stop was in Lviv, where church-planter brother Yuri is doing a great work. They have housed and fed over 4,000 refugees. One family just arrived from an occupied area, but minus their 27-year-old daughter, who was in the military and was murdered by the Russians. The Russian military then arrived at their home and told the family they could come and retrieve the body of their daughter. When they arrived, they were shocked, horrified, and heartbroken because her body had been cut into many pieces. We might soon post a video of the mother (Nelly) sharing their story in one of our upcoming war relief videos.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

BIEMs of Light: January 2023

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• A Baptist church in a Muslim country? Yes! In Central Asia, we have a number of house churches, even some with buildings. The government often seeks to close them or persecute the believers, but God continues to protect, sustain, and use them. Pastor Almond’s church is 30 minutes from our Women’s Shelter. On Sundays, ladies and children from the Shelter are driven to the worship service, where they interact with believers. This often leads to a decision to accept Jesus as Savior!

• BIEM’s Vitaly Yurchenko and family experienced a close call when one of the Russian rockets bombarding Kyiv flew within 200 meters of their home. Although the rocket was intercepted midair, the resulting explosion shook their house. Fragments damaged nearby houses and cars. We praise God for His mercy and protection.

• Our team in Central Asia just returned from evangelistic trip #14.  They distributed 38 food bags, each with a Gospel tract. They were able to share how Jesus was born to be our Savior. An influential father received Christ, and we think several others will also. Earlier, the team was allowed to give boxes of candy to 150 Afghani refugee children at school. For the first time, those kids heard the story of baby Jesus, who would be King and save people from their sins. Praise God!

• At our Bible Institute in Central Asia, 25 Afghani students are soaking up God’s Word and extremely actively sharing their faith with other Afghanis. May God bless their testimonies with fruit!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• In mid-January one of our BIEM directors will be involved in transporting Bibles in a restricted-access land. Please pray for his safety and the safe delivery of this precious cargo.

• Despite the war, our brethren plan to hold the winter session of the Kyiv Seminary starting on January 9th. Please pray that students will be able to attend regardless of the cold and logistical challenges involved during this time. Also, please pray that no bombings or other interruptions will halt this session.

• Sam Slobodian and Kevin Gaugler (a BIEM board member) plan to travel to Ukraine this week to participate in the Seminary session in Kyiv. Please pray for their safety and for smooth border crossings. (In recent days, incredibly long lines have developed at the border crossings between Ukraine and Poland.)

• In Ukraine a team will soon be heading to an area of much fighting. A team leader requests prayer for safety, saying, “It’s not calm there, constant shelling. And for the ministry itself. We will be taking food and construction materials, and we will hold a service and a program for children.” May God bless.

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War Relief Updates - December 30, 2022

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Last night, BIEM’s Vitaly Yurchenko and family experienced a close call when one of the Russian rockets bombarding Kyiv flew within 200 meters of their home. Although the rocket was intercepted midair, the resulting explosion shook their home. Fragments damaged 10 nearby houses and many automobiles. Please continue to pray for the safety of our Ukrainian missionaries and their families.

2. Despite the war, our brethren plan to hold the winter session of the Kyiv Seminary starting on January 9th. Please pray that students will be able to attend regardless of the cold and logistical challenges involved during this time. Also, please pray that bombings will not interrupt our session and that the threatened invasion from the Belarussian border to the north will not take place.

3. Sam Slobodian and Kevin Gaugler (a BIEM board member) plan to travel to Ukraine next week to participate in the Seminary session in Kyiv. Please pray for their safety and for smooth border crossings. In recent days, long lines have developed at the border crossings between Ukraine and Poland. This situation has resulted in lines of 10-13 hours to cross in either direction. Please pray for this situation to improve.

4. On Christmas Day, one BIEM missionary wrote, “Praise God, today one man trusted Christ in the Ukrainian village of Nastashka at the service. They have lights due to the generator we took to them. Thank you for your prayers and support. God’s name is being magnified!”

5. On November 22 in the city of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region, the Russian military kidnapped the deacon of the Evangelical Christian church. He was father of many children and known in the region for his charity, sensitivity, and positive Christian example. Anatoly Prokopchuk was born in 1970, and his son Oleksandr was born in 2003. On November 26, 2022, their bodies were found bearing signs of extreme torture, mutilated beyond recognition. Pray for the comfort of wife Iryna Vitalyivna, a daughter, five sons, three daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. Revelation 6:10, “And they cried out with a loud voice, saying: how long, holy and true Lord, will you not judge and avenge those living on earth for our blood?”

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - December 22, 2022

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. On Thursday, Vitaly Bilyak completed the trip back home after ministering to people’s needs in the region of Bakhmut. He delivered food, clothing, and candles. Most importantly, he used this opportunity to preach the Gospel and to distribute New Testaments to people surviving in homes near the battlefields. He thanks everyone who prayed for this trip.

2. A few days ago, BIEM missionary Bruce Tuttle wrote from Ukraine, "Our men – including a number of our graduates – return from the heavily afflicted zones close to the front, and they are sober and broken-hearted. I had to miss the last trip but expect to travel with them early in January. For that trip, we expect to remain over a Sunday and preach in a church service. We hope to be able to spend nights in heated homes or buildings, but that is not always the case. One of our graduates who is regularly taking similar journeys into another critical area reported that on his last journey at least 3 people repented and put their trust in Christ. That makes all the hours and difficulties of travel, and all the dangers, worthwhile, doesn’t it?!"

3. Despite the war and interruptions in power and water, many of our church plants are conducting special Christmas meetings to bring in people from the community to hear the Gospel, receive gifts, and obtain New Testaments. These special outreaches will continue through January 7 – their traditional date for Christmas observance - because they celebrate both Christmases.

4. BIEM’s Field Director for Central Asia shared that some of the Central Asian missionaries have asked him to withhold a good portion of their support funds and instead direct them to specific Ukrainian war refugees who are in need so they can pray for them and keep up with how they are doing. A couple of such needy families have been identified and helped on their behalf. Please pray that they would be saved. What a blessing their salvation would be to the Central Asian brethren who sacrificed out of their meager funds to reach people for Christ!

5. In the Druzhba district of Ternopil, Ukraine, new church planters Sergiy and Karina Koop recently held a special event commemorating International Bible Day. In order to reach neighbors - especially the many refugees in the area - they hung a banner, printed flyers, and went door to door inviting people. The Lord blessed their efforts with many people that day. The Koops had already delivered food aid to some refugees in the area, and they will be delivering more to needy ones they have now contacted. May the Lord bless their ministry as they seek to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of refugees and the local residents.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - December 16, 2022

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. On December 14, the long-awaited container for which we have prayed so much finally arrived at the church in Ternopil, Ukraine. Let me say a heartfelt “Thank you” to all of you who joined us in praying for this load of aid and supplies to reach its destination after so many delays along the way. May God be glorified as this aid goes out to needy ones across multiple cities in the coming days!

2. Vadim, the military brother of one of our Ukrainian associates, has been in Bakhmut, probably the area of most intense fighting with many casualties daily on both sides. We were able to provide him with some extremely high-tech equipment, like a thermal imaging visor and a highly specialized compass. Those who delivered these items asked Vadim, “Is there anything else you need?” He immediately answered, “Our greatest need is prayer. God is the only one who can help us.” He then proceeded to tell how many in his unit who daily face death and destruction are turning to God, repenting of their sins, and trusting Christ as Savior. Praise God!

3. We are continuing to purchase generators for churches. (Today alone, another reported 76 Russian missiles were launched at Ukraine, again destroying portions of the energy grid). Just this week, BIEM purchased over $50,000 worth of generators in Ukraine, Poland, and Germany. We praise God and thank you, dear friends, for enabling us to bless people in this way.

4. Appreciation! Congregations are thanking us (and you, our supporters) for the gifts of warmth and light in their church buildings. Here’s an excerpt from one such church: “We remember you and thank you very much for helping to purchase the generator. Every time we start it, we remember you and sincerely thank you for your care…. When we told the senior members of the church that they could stay home from church if they are cold, they responded that [during Soviet times] they used to gather in the forest for worship services, so this temperature is still very good in such an anxious time.”

5. Brother Igor reports that one of the men in their Drug and Alcohol rehab program was contacted by his nephew Bogdan, who urgently wanted to join the military and defend Ukraine. Since Igor's ministry is on a Ukrainian military base, the church has many contacts and could assist Bogdan with such a placement. When Bogdan arrived, he began by visiting his uncle in the rehab center. There, during their regular sessions, he heard the Gospel, repented, and trusted Christ! He quickly concluded he needed to spend more time there to learn Bible truth and grow spiritually. So, he decided to stay even though he is not addicted to drugs or alcohol. Bogdan stated, “I came here to join the military and go to war so that I could be closer to the action. However, God has redirected me to get me closer to Him instead.”

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

December Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Yesterday I asked Vitaly Yurchenko—who is both a church planter and Rector of our Seminary in Kyiv, Ukraine—to send us a video update that we could share with all of you. At the time of my request, even I wasn’t picturing the reality that he must shoot such a video by candlelight. I hope that you will spare 2 minutes to watch this short clip, where Vitaly discusses the current situation in his country and then more specifically their hopes for a winter session of the Seminary. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/777413088

At the conclusion, Vitaly expresses sincere gratitude to all of BIEM’s supporters for your financial sacrifices and daily prayers for Ukraine. Please accept my thanks also for continuing to stand with us and to help us use every opportunity—in season and out of season, in times of peace and times of war—to serve others and to glorify God and proclaim the Gospel.

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

BIEMs of Light: December 2022

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• For years, a young man named Misha from a pastor’s home in Ukraine delayed giving his heart to Christ. Drafted, he found himself repeatedly thrust into battles, barely escaping with his life while men all around him were cut down. Many prayed, and Misha at last trusted Christ!

• We requested prayer for our 40-ft. container of aid, which got stuck in Gdansk, Poland. Praise the Lord, that container is finally released and bound for Ukraine. The downside is that the delay cost BIEM an additional $1,400 for extended storage—all because of someone else’s error, not ours.

• You prayed for Igor Fomichov during his visit to the U.S. God answered! In multiple states, people listened with great interest and promised to pray. Also, God answered other prayers and let Igor speed through the border back into Ukraine, a process that once took 9 hours.

• This week alone, BIEM has been able to purchase a dozen more generators for Ukraine. Churches are using them to create warming centers, places where locals can go and warm up during blackouts. There, visitors will also hear the Gospel. We plan to provide more as funds become available.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• BIEM personnel continue to make aid & evangelism trips to battle zones in the east and south of Ukraine. Today, Vitaly Bilyak is driving to Kherson. Sasha Petrenko will soon be headed to Donbas. Please pray for God’s protection on our missionaries and for the salvation of souls.

• Although Ukrainian engineers and electricians work around the clock to restore the power-generating system Russia is targeting, millions remain without power. Please pray for quick, successful repairs and for churches to seize these opportunities to glorify God by helping others in His name.

• From Central Asia: “We had our first person come to faith in Christ through our Afghani literacy school…. The semester exam is being able to read John 3:16 from the Dari Bible then explain it and write it in Dari. As she was studying…one woman called our teacher and said, ‘I get it! Jesus is the Son of God! He’s the Sacrifice that appeased the wrath of God against me. How can I accept him?’ She repented and asked Jesus to save her! Pray for her. She was threatened with death for daring to learn to read and write; now she’s afraid she’ll be killed if Muslims learn she accepted Christ.

• Our partners in Ukraine feel it imperative to hold a January session of the Seminary despite the war. Please pray for conditions to allow it and for students being able to attend despite hardships.

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War Relief Updates - November 11, 2022

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Because there is a special need for humanitarian aid among citizens living in Ukraine’s war-torn east, BIEM personnel continue to make trips there. In addition to distributing food items, they share the Gospel. Brother Sasha refers to an upcoming trip in our latest video:

https://vimeo.com/770028246

2. Please continue to pray for our latest humanitarian-aid container, which remains stuck in Gdansk, Poland. As announced previously, we’ve encountered numerous obstacles getting it to Ukraine. Now a new problem has arisen. Apparently, someone has replaced the original seal on the container with another. There are various possible explanations for such an occurrence, usually because someone along the line of transport (typically, a Customs official) decides they must look inside. When that happens, there should be a document stating that this was the case, along with the number of the new seal. We have folks trying to track this down, so please pray they find something that can resolve this issue. This particular shipment contains one of the best loads of items needed by our brethren in Ukraine, so perhaps we should not be surprised it has experienced the most delays.

3. This week, we continue to travel with Igor Fomichov and Vitaly Bilyak as they speak in American churches. The hearts of listeners are moved as they hear firsthand from Ukrainian pastors, fresh battle zones. This week more than ever before, we have had interview requests from local media. Please pray that God will use these opportunities to inform people about what God is doing in Ukraine. Pray also that these people’s hearts will be moved to help.

4. We just received this message from Tim, a BIEM missionary in Ukraine: “Two weeks ago, I tried to share the Gospel with my nephew’s commander after having brought some relief items to them. He refused and said, "I know what you want to talk to me about. I don't want to hear it. Thank you for your humanitarian aid, though." I left with a heavy heart. Today I learned he was killed in action yesterday. Many are excited for the aid but have no desire to hear the Gospel. Pray that hearts would be opened; Satan is fighting hard to blind the eyes.”

5. Related to item #4 above, Tim adds, “Please pray for my nephew Misha. It was his commander who was killed. His father is Vasya, one of our church planters. Misha, even though growing up in church, is an unbeliever. On all sides of him in the battle, fellow soldiers are being cut down by artillery and bullets. He keeps coming through unscathed but still needs to fall on his knees before God and repent of his sins and trust Christ as his personal Savior.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - October 28, 2022

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Brother Igor reports success in delivering needed medicine to a Ukrainian soldier from their area. This man had been part of the captured Azov battalion and was held prisoner in Belarus. He and others had been tortured and starved. They were released without clothing, just wrapped in sheets. Down to just 40 kg (88 lbs.), this man was immediately hospitalized. Since he is 1.9 meters tall (6 foot 2 ¾ in.), he was quite emaciated and in need of particular medications.

2. Russian missiles and drones have damaged up to 40% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. We at BIEM are glad we provided generators for a good number of churches in Ukraine. Churches are our main method of assisting people. But considering recent developments, over the next two weeks, we will be supplying more generators and solar phone chargers to churches.

3. Eugene Buyko and his family just completed six weeks in the United States, where they spoke in churches and schools in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and the state of Washington. As their time to leave the U.S. drew near, the question Eugene received most often was “Are you going back to Ukraine?” His answer was “Certainly I am going back. That is where I am needed.” See the link below for a few words of appreciation from the Buykos at the end of their visit:

https://vimeo.com/765053627

4. Due to the severely damaged power grid in Ukraine, authorities there are urging the millions of Ukrainians who fled the country not to come back yet. The fear is that the critically damaged power situation will not cope with the increased demand if citizens begin returning home. Their government encourages those who have found havens in other countries to stay where they are, if possible, until spring.

5. Tim, a BIEM missionary currently in Ukraine, says, “I praise God that, even during Shahed-136 drone attacks, we were able to gather over 250 youth from all over Ukraine—including from some of the worst war zones—and hold a 3-day youth rally. Their songs of praise to our Almighty God were a stark contrast to the terrible hum of the drones backed by air raid sirens. God’s protection was very evident.”

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - October 21, 2022

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. In Ukraine, believers are organizing various ways to provide simple yet nourishing meals for people left in needy straits due to the war. One such project is dehydrated borsch. (Borsch is a hearty, beet-based soup.) By creating packets containing the dried ingredients of borsch, believers are creating lightweight, easily stored meals that can be reconstituted by adding water and then heating. You can view a brief video “The Dry Borsch Project” here:

https://vimeo.com/762324545

2. Despite danger, various BIEM personnel continue to make humanitarian-aid trips to deliver food very close to areas where fighting is occurring. On each trip, a brief Gospel message is preached prior to handing out any food. In an interesting turn of events, two local mayors requested to go along with Sasha, one of our church planters, on one such recent trip. We praise God for opportunities to help those in distress and for opportunities to demonstrate Christian love in action in the presence of these two civic leaders.

3. Since October 10, Russia’s aerial bombardment of Ukrainian power infrastructure has knocked out an estimated 30% of Ukraine’s power-generating capacity. As a result, the capital and other major cities have experienced rolling blackouts. In addition, some parts of Kyiv are undergoing shortages in the city water supply. We pray that the warm clothing inside our container that is due to arrive at port in Poland today will aid in keeping the recipients warm as temperatures drop.

4. If the bombardment of Ukrainian power facilities continues, there is concern the lack of heat in the face of dropping winter temperatures might soon spark another exodus of refugees leaving Ukraine. If so, these refugees would not be fleeing invasion forces so much as the frigid temperatures inside their homes. Our churches in central and western Ukraine will prepare to receive a new wave of needy travelers in case that happens. Praise God that we were able to provide generators for many of our churches. It looks like we might need to provide still more.

5. We had requested prayer for Igor Fomichov to be able to able to get permission to leave Ukraine and come to the U.S. to visit supporting churches. The process took time, but Igor was granted that permission! Simply crossing the border into Poland took 9 hours, but he is now out of Ukraine and on his way. Thank you for prayers!

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - October 14, 2022

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. This week Russia used Iranian-made “kamikaze drones” to strike all over Ukraine. Over 80 missiles struck cities across Ukraine. Ukraine’s emergency services stated that the overall toll was 19 dead and more than 100 wounded, a figure that’s bound to grow. Once again, civilians were targeted. One of our men not far from an area that was hit said, “This is the last gasp of a dying army.” This was a reference to the impressive advances being made by the Ukrainian military as it continues to push the Russians out of occupied territories. We sure hope our brother is right. Please pray for peace and for an end to this bloodshed.

2. Last week, brother Igor shared what happened when he delivered war relief aid to an elderly lady in Desna. Her son Ruslan, a major in the Ukrainian army, showed up drunk as he often was. Touched by the compassion shown by the church, he and the whole family began to attend church and Ruslan was saved. Now Igor adds more good news: Katya, their neighbor, was so impressed by the change in Ruslan that now she and her family are also attending church. Praise God!

3. Starting tomorrow, brother Tim, one of our BIEM missionaries, is speaking to a group of 300 teenagers at a youth conference in Rivne, Ukraine. Rivne has been bombed for 3 days. Please pray for God’s protection and that many young people would trust Christ and for many to be called into His service.

4. Please pray for our container bound for Ukraine. It’s due in the port at Gdansk, Poland, on October 21st. This is the container we mentioned before that has proven very difficult to ship because, instead of renting it, we bought the container to leave it as a storage facility at the Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center near Ternopil in Western Ukraine. Other containers we have shipped were not owned by us and so were promptly unloaded upon arrival. As it turns out, shippers all down the line of those needed to get a container from the USA to Poland or Ukraine are very hesitant to handle a container that is privately owned. Nevertheless, despite severe challenges, the ship carrying our container is nearing the port. Please pray that our men can organize getting it across the border to Ukraine.

5. A question people often ask is what is happening to Ukraine’s harvest in light of the war? As it turns out, the harvest this year has been plentiful because the war did not stop farmers from planting. Some brave farmers lost their lives when their tractors hit mines. There are areas where crops have gone to waste because it was impossible to transport it due to closed shipping lanes and hostilities that block shipment. On occasion, Ukrainian news has shown videos of farmers burning or plowing under perfectly good produce. However, there is good news. Much of Ukraine’s harvest has been able to be moved by truck. The last few times I crossed the border from Poland into Ukraine, I witnessed unbelievably long lines of trucks leaving Ukraine for Poland lined up at border crossings. One time, I videoed the line as we drove more than 60 miles an hour in the other direction. It took more than 6 minutes of driving at that speed to see the end of the line of trucks! Another time, we decided to count the trucks. We stopped at 1,000! It is taking truck drivers days to cross the border because of these backups. Nevertheless, a good amount of Ukraine’s harvest is getting to market. Praise God!

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

BIEMs of Light: October 2022

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• According to the Institute for Religious Freedom, as of July over 270 churches, synagogues, and other “religious buildings” had been destroyed by shelling in the invasion of Ukraine. So far, none of the churches built by BIEM have been destroyed. Since a good number of our churches are along the route the Russian army took towards Kyiv, this is remarkable. Praise God!

• This just in from overseas: “Praise God, a 50-year-old Afghani man put his faith in Jesus Christ last night in our refugee ministry in Central Asia.” Thanks be to God!

• Brother Tim, one of our missionaries based in the United States, will be making his 11th aid trip to Ukraine for the purpose of distributing humanitarian aid. These trips involve purchasing food and other needed items in Poland and then driving them across the border into Ukraine. These trips (which do not include our other container shipments) have provided over 50 tons of aid to Ukrainian churches that are distributing these goods.

• We thank God that the hardships and needs in wartime have galvanized many believers to step into ministry roles they never imagined in peacetime. This includes teens who are volunteering to serve God and neighbors through their local churches’ refugee ministries.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Last month we requested prayer that our director for Ukraine, Eugene Buyko, would be able to visit the US for several weeks with his family. The Lord answered that prayer. The Buykos have blessed numerous churches with personal updates from their homeland. Please pray that BIEM will be able to bring additional Ukrainian missionaries to the US so they, too, can report directly to supporters.

• Please uphold in prayer our newest church planters, Sergiy and Karina Koop, as they continue to reach out to refugees and others in the Druzhba district of Ternopil. May God bless their ministry with more souls for the Savior!

• Churches in Ukraine continue to assist refugees who have been uprooted due to the war. Sometimes this involves evacuating them from occupied territories, which is quite challenging. Many displaced persons are hearing the Gospel for the first time as they seek food and shelter. Please pray for more to see their spiritual need and to accept Christ as Savior.

• Please pray for the war to end soon. Several of our church planters express concern that, the longer the war lasts, the less likely it is church members who have evacuated to the west will return.  

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War Relief Updates - September 30, 2022

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. The Institute for Religious Freedom recently published statistics on how many churches have been destroyed in Ukraine during the war. They state. “At least 270 churches, religious buildings, spiritual educational institutions, and sacred sites (cemeteries, memorials, etc.) have been ruined as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine.” The Ukrainian Orthodox church affiliated with the Moscow Patriarch had the largest losses with 108 churches destroyed. The second highest total was the Baptists with 43 churches destroyed, followed by the Pentecostals with 42 churches destroyed, 18 Orthodox churches of Ukraine, 17 Ukrainian Greek Catholic, 11 Seventh Day Adventist churches, 9 Jewish synagogues, 7 Muslim mosques, 6 Roman Catholic, 5 Evangelical, and 4 Mormon temples destroyed as of July 15.

2. Praise God, as of today none of the churches built by BIEM have been destroyed. When you consider that a good number of these churches are situated along the route the Russian army took towards Kyiv, this is remarkable. No doubt, the prayers of God's people have played a part in this matter. A bombing did blow out the doors and windows of one of our churches, but the building survived. Services continued despite the damage, and repairs were quickly made.

3. Brother Tim, one of our missionaries based in the United States, will soon be making his 11th aid trip to Ukraine for the purpose of distributing humanitarian aid. These trips involve purchasing food and other needed items in Poland and then driving them across the border into Ukraine. With God’s help, this one brother’s efforts (which are separate from BIEM’s other containers and distributions) have provided over 50 tons of aid to Ukrainian churches that are distributing these goods.

4. While most of the Buyko family is in the United States reporting to churches supporting our War Relief efforts, their 19-year-old son, Mikhail remains in Ukraine. He has been busy serving in the church and distributing aid. No doubt, it must be difficult to remain behind while the rest of your family is able to go abroad, so do pray for Mikhail. Following is a link to a video he made describing some of his humanitarian-aid efforts.

https://vimeo.com/755575261

5. Not long ago, we posted a video about an aid-distribution trip Vitaly Bilyak took all the way to the battlefront in Donbas. In that video, the booming sounds of artillery fire gave evidence of how close he was to the fighting. Yesterday he and his brother Andrei returned from yet another trip to the battlefront. When they arrived in Bakhmut, the fighting was so close and intense that they had to make a quick getaway. Praise the Lord, they completed their mission and returned safely.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM