War Relief Updates - March 17, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Ukraine’s cultural program that permits men of military age to temporarily travel abroad also applies to various kinds of artists and pastors. However, two high-profile Ukrainians (a comedian and a filmmaker) abused the program by using it to flee. As a result, others may face stricter regulation of that permission. Our hope is that those tightening restrictions will not hinder BIEM from inviting our church planters to come and give firsthand reports to supporting churches.

2. Also concerning our Ukrainian church planters, Vitaly and Olena Yurchenko have been representing BIEM and their ministries in various U.S. churches. This Sunday’s services (Vinemont, AL, and Moulton, AL) will be their last before flying back to Ukraine. In one of those two cities, a local newspaper has already run a feature article on their coming, so we thank the Lord for this opportunity and the positive exposure and the visitors it may bring. May He be glorified in all that is said and done!   

3. Some time ago, we shared the exciting news that a new church was begun in Ternopil in a district that has become home to over 30,000 refugees. Previously, Sergiy and Karina Koop were heavily involved in war relief efforts of their church in Ternopil, where Karina’s father (Vitaly Bilyak) is the pastor and Sergiy the youth pastor. As they poured themselves into reaching out to refugees, this led to the idea of starting a new church in this area, which is called Druzhba (meaning “friendship”). They now report the wonderful news of a salvation decision from their labors and that they will soon be having their first baptism. Praise God!

4. The updated map from the Institute of Religious Freedom showing locations of places of worship destroyed or looted by the Russian military is sobering. It shows that no place in the country is truly safe from missiles and bombs. While we praise the Lord that, thus far, none of the churches built by BIEM have been destroyed, we do not want to be presumptuous. Please join us in praying for continued protection for all our workers.

5. After Russian forces were driven out of Bucha and Hostomel, where such destruction and atrocities happened, the church in Chervona Sloboda housed 18 electricians for 2 months as they worked to restore electricity in the region. Now the church has another opportunity: The Ukrainian military has asked them to house 20 soldiers as war relief for at least 3 weeks while their battalion is reformed. These 20 soldiers are half of 40 survivors from a battalion of 200 who were fighting in Bakhmut. Please pray for the salvation of these men during this time. Following is a link to this week’s video, where Vitaly Yurchenko mentions this development.

https://vimeo.com/809206502

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - March 10, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Our missionary Sasha Petrenko in Goncharivske, Ukraine, joined forces with some others to make yet another evangelistic aid trip, this time to soldiers near the eastern front. Because the Petrenkos live and minister in a military community, Sasha has personal ties with many soldiers, providing access to the same ones he has already preached to multiple times. Among the valuable items Sasha and others delivered to the front was a special large item. Learn more about that trip in our latest video update here.

2. The Ukrainian military asked the church that BIEM’s Vitaly Yurchenko planted in Chervona Sloboda whether they could house 20 soldiers who are to receive a 3-week leave while the battalion is rebuilt. (These men have been involved in some of the heaviest fighting and represent half of the 40 men surviving from their original battalion of 200.) This is a wonderful opportunity to share not just war relief but also the Gospel with these soldiers. Please pray for the Lord to open their eyes spiritually and that they will embrace Christ as Savior.

3. In December, we shared how a young man named Misha (the nephew of a BIEM missionary couple) survived numerous battles and put his faith in Christ. He is now being redeployed to the frontlines in Bakhmut, where life expectancy is very short. As far as we know, Misha is the only believer in his new unit. The family asks, “Please pray for him to stand strong in Christ and to return safely after the war.”

4. Today our website (BaptistInternational.org) was down momentarily.  This was due to a massive attack on the DNS service we use to host our website. Apparently, Russia is behind this as part of the cyber warfare they are conducting against many sites and services in the United States. Please pray that we will be able to continue our internet presence through our website, which has been an important tool in our War Relief efforts. If you have trouble connecting to our site, please try again later. So far, the problems our site is experiencing seem to be intermittent.  

5.  As BIEM continues to depend on local Ukrainian churches to distribute humanitarian aid to the needy, we try to monitor the overall situation among churches during the war. In February, the Institute for Religious Freedom released updated information that, across Ukraine, the number of churches destroyed, severely damaged, or looted by Russian occupation forces has risen to 494. (This figure includes denominations quite different from our own.) But, praise God, of the 50+ church buildings built by BIEM, so far none of them have been destroyed. Only some received superficial damage to windows, etc., from nearby bomb blasts.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

March Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Greetings! This month’s video comes from the Muslim lands south of Ukraine and Russia. After our brethren felt impressed to pray for these areas, God provided opportunities for us to expand our church-planting efforts to these Muslim lands. Today we have about two dozen converted Muslims who have been called and trained to reach their countrymen for Christ. This video features Sasha, a BIEM national who also lives and works in this area.

https://vimeo.com/804437560

When the earthquake struck Turkey, Sasha, who was just 3 hours from the epicenter, sprang into action, providing relief to suffering ones there along with a clear Gospel message. Please pray that God will use Sasha mightily as he reaches out to these needy people. Pray, too, that the needed funds would come in for this effort. At least $30,000 is needed for the initial supply of food, tents, clothing, and other necessities.

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - March 3, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Your donations to war relief are helping in ways you might not imagine. For instance, our people in Ternopil have developed close ties with local hospitals treating people injured in the war. Our missionary Vitaly Bilyak shares, “Thanks to your support, we have repeatedly helped the orthopedic trauma department. I have given them a lot of vitamins, multivitamin complex tablets, probiotics, other medicines, dressings… Our last help was extremely important – we purchased and donated a very important product called BoneVit. This preparation is used in treatment when part of the bone is missing. This happens often in war wounds, when shrapnel or a bullet shatters part of the bone into small pieces which are removed, but the limb is fixed. This product helps to restore bone function…. In addition to financial assistance, we try to give the Gospel to children in the hospitals. We have already made spontaneous visits to the wounded. Our brothers are organizing several teams to visit wounded soldiers in hospitals.”

2. When BIEM planted a church in the military town of Desna, it faced opposition from locals. An Orthodox priest warned people to have nothing to do with it. Others criticized, too. But due to the church’s involvement with humanitarian aid made from BIEM, local opinions are greatly changing. Igor Fomichov says, “One morning I received a call from the mayor’s office of our town. I was asked to gather everyone from our church who is involved with humanitarian aid and supporting people in this difficult time. We got together … and the mayor thanked us for our ministry and presented us with letters of thanks for our participation in service and support of the people. We are doing this primarily for God, but we know that in this way we glorify our Heavenly Father…. It’s a good reward and encouragement that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.”

3. Exactly as some Ukrainian pastors predicted, the mass exodus of so many Ukrainians fleeing the war is having permanent repercussions on the nation and on families. After finding safety in new countries, refugees naturally seek out jobs and more stable places to live. They’re making new friends. So, rather than uproot themselves all over again after the war, many have already announced they will not return to Ukraine regardless of the war’s outcome. Many Christian refugees have made the same decision.

4. A couple of days ago, two volunteers from among our brethren were driving a large bus to evacuate a group of children near Kerson. Just 50 meters short of the location where the children were to be picked up, their bus was demolished by a mortar shell. Miraculously, both men survived even though seriously injured. One is facing amputation. Ukrainian believers are praising God that these brave men remain alive. They also praise God the children had not yet boarded the bus.

5. Igor in Desna reports that people in need are reaching out to them after hearing that their church can provide aid to those in need. He shares the story of Natasha and Sergei, a couple who phoned because their disabilities prevented them from traveling. Igor delivered the food and supplies they needed, for which they were sincerely grateful and listened intently as Igor shared the Gospel. Ira, the wife of a soldier who has been battling on the front lines for nearly a year, phoned and asked for help because she was succumbing to alcohol. They have 3 children. Please pray for Igor and our other believers who are ministering to many families like these who need the Lord.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

BIEMs of Light: March 2023

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• As you know, we at BIEM have been doing what we can to provide war relief for Ukraine. Praise God, we have now distributed more than one million dollars of war relief aid! Look for more details in our upcoming issue of our newsletter, The Challenger. (You can also view videos about distributions on our website – BaptistInternational.org – by clicking “View Video Updates.”)

• With your help, BIEM was able to purchase $250,000 worth of electrical generators for Ukraine. These provided crucial light, heat, and electricity for cooking, phones, and other applications. Praise God!

• The economic sanctions placed on Russia have the side effect of creating complications for BIEM as we endeavor to deliver funds there for ministry. But God has provided ways, for which we thank Him.

• Our relief activities, which include sharing the Gospel and distributing New Testaments, have created an opportunity to plant a new church with a core group of believers in Nezhylovychi. (This is slightly west of Bucha, and likewise suffered atrocities during the occupation.) Now a basic building for the new church is available to purchase for $10,000. Although this is also a prayer request, it’s a huge reason to praise the Lord, who goes before us and opens doors of opportunity!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• In December, we shared how Misha, the nephew of a BIEM missionary couple, survived numerous battles and put his faith in Christ. He is being sent to the frontlines in Bakhmut, alias “the meat grinder.” The family asks, “Please pray for him to stand strong in Christ and to return safely after the war.”

• A year into the war, we rejoice that souls come to Christ, but our hearts break at the countless tragedies and continuing destruction. Continue praying for the salvation of souls (on both sides of the border), and please continue giving to our War Relief Fund to glorify God through acts of Christian compassion.

• On March 1, Sasha Petrenko plans to lead another relief distribution trip to Donbas. There will be three vehicles loaded with food, warm clothing, batteries, and other supplies going nearly to the war front for soldiers in need. Please pray for their safety and for God to open hearts to the Gospel.

• In last week’s update, we shared that an opportunity to plant a new church has arisen in a town near Hostomel. This opportunity is more fruit from our relief activities, which include sharing the Gospel and distributing Bibles. Now a building for this new church has become available to purchase for $10,000. Please pray for these funds to come in so we can proceed with this project.

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War Relief Updates - February 24, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. As you may have heard in the news, today marks the 1-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At that time, “experts” predicted Ukraine’s collapse within days. But people prayed, people gave, and even civilians pitched in to help. Still, even after a full year, people ask, “Why did this happen?” A few days after the invasion, Sam Slobodian preached a message entitled “Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine?” which is on our website.  If you have not yet viewed it, here is a link:

“Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine?”

A year into this war, we rejoice to see souls coming to Christ, but our hearts break at the countless tragedies and continuing destruction. Please continue praying for the salvation of souls (on both sides of the border), and please continue giving to our War Relief Fund so we can glorify God through loving acts of compassion.

2. In last week's update, we shared that an opportunity to plant a new church has arisen in a town near Hostomel. This opportunity is more fruit from our relief activities, which include sharing the Gospel and distributing Bibles. Now a building for this new church has become available to purchase for $10,000. Please pray for these funds to come in so we can proceed with this project. You can see a video about this opportunity here:

https://vimeo.com/802040762

3. In December, we shared how Misha, the nephew of one of our missionary couples in Ukraine, survived multiple serious battles and eventually put his faith in Christ. He is being sent back into the frontlines in Bakhmut, alias “the meat grinder.” The family writes, “Please pray for him to stand strong in Christ and to return safely after the war.”

4. Sasha Petrenko plans to lead another relief distribution trip to Donbas on Wednesday, March 1. There will be three vehicles loaded with food, warm clothing, batteries, and other supplies going nearly to the war front, where they meet with military acquaintances who deliver these supplies to the soldiers in need. Please pray for their safety and for God to use this effort to open hearts to the Gospel.

5. Igor Fomichov in Desna requests prayer as there has been an upswing in conscripting citizens for the war in that area. Several church members have been conscripted, so there is much concern since conscription eventually leads to being sent into battle. Some from their area are already in Bakhmut, probably the most hazardous area at the present time.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - February 17, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Here’s an exciting announcement—Thanks to the Lord’s blessing through your compassion and generosity, BIEM has now been able to distribute one million dollars of aid to assist victims of the war in Ukraine! Our upcoming Challenger newsletter will share more details, but we hasten to mention this milestone now so you can join us in praising God. “Great things He hath done!” The war and the needs are continuing, but your gifts are making a genuine difference in people’s lives. Thank you!

2. Earlier, we had requested prayer that Vitaly Bilyak would be able to exit Ukraine temporarily to visit supporting churches and bring updated, personal reports of ministry in Ukraine. He was granted that permission, so thank you for praying. This permission was definitely not guaranteed in these times of war when Ukraine is so selective about who it permits to leave and why. We trust believers will be edified and God will be glorified through this trip.

3. More spiritual fruit from physical seeds—In the formerly occupied area of Hostomel, Ukraine (near Bucha), BIEM workers had distributed aid and a generator. Now a small group of people is meeting regularly for Bible studies. There is potential for a new church plant in this needy area. Please pray for God to open people’s eyes. Please pray for God to open people’s eyes to their spiritual needs so they can embrace Christ.

4. A Ukrainian couple who has assisted in distributing aid since the beginning of the invasion suffered a traffic accident that caused major damage to the rear of their truck while on one of these missions of mercy. Through the video link below, you can hear them tell about this ministry along with their gratitude to BIEM for financial assistance to repair the truck to continue this vital work. In this particular case, BIEM served as the financial channel for a generous financial gift from The Carpenter’s Project, an independent Baptist ministry that facilitates church planting and church growth in unevangelized countries:

https://vimeo.com/799649329

5. The church in Ternopil, Ukraine, has provided war relief to thousands of war refugees. Through this outreach, church planter Vitaly Bilyak connected with a local hospital treating a steady stream of wounded soldiers. Although grateful for food, clothing, bedding, and basic medicines, the surgeons asked whether the church could obtain the specialized medical equipment needed to restore severely damaged limbs. We praise God for our friendship with Jan Milton at Operation Renewed Hope. A couple of months ago, that ministry provided a huge amount of these specific items. Just this week, they filled a second order of special requests for that hospital. This medical aid will enable hospital personnel to restore mobility to a good number of injured ones. As a bonus, Vitaly states this provision has established a warm relationship with the physicians and staff. Please join us in praying these efforts will also lead to the salvation of souls.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - February 10, 2023

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

Dear Friends of BIEM,

1. Last year, we shared how church planter Igor Fomichov and two other brothers from his church received medals from the Ukrainian military in recognition of their valuable actions in supplying humanitarian-aid meals to the local military. The church continues to aid both civilians and the military members. As a result, 8 more people in that church have been informed they will be receiving similar awards for their civilian contributions to the local military’s needs.

2. Vitaly Bilyak and his church-planter son-in-law Sergiy Koop have returned from another successful trip to beleaguered Donbas in the east of Ukraine. There, they distributed food aid, sleeping bags, and candles made possible by BIEM, but first they shared the Gospel, because “man doth not live by bread alone.” The recipients repeatedly thanked them, not just for the aid, but also for the simple fact that they cared enough to endanger themselves by coming.

3. In Ternopil, church planters Sergiy Koop and their wife Karina recently delivered some relief in the form of groceries with 2 women (among others) who are refugees from Donetsk. The recipients expressed openness and eagerness to learn what’s in the Bible. So, once again, a delivery of groceries has given birth to a home Bible study!

4. Due to his church’s experience in distributing aid made possible by BIEM, our missionary in Lviv, Yura Levtseniuk, received a question from the Polish consulate in his city. Could the church help distribute humanitarian from Poland among war refugee children in the Lviv area? Brother Levtseniuk appreciated that sign of trust and agreed to help. The church had already planned evangelistic meetings for such children, so this aid was distributed along with New Testaments. Praise God for unexpected provisions and opportunities!

5. Also in Lviv, when the Levtseniuks’ daughter was suffering from a physical condition, they rushed her to the hospital. There, she received the medical attention she needed, but the Lord also allowed Yura a conversation with the head physician. That doctor explained how their hospital regularly receives refugee mothers and children who are cold, hungry, and sick. The Levtseniuks and others returned with aid provided by BIEM and filled the shortages the hospital was experiencing. Yura declared, “We are now in a trusting relationship with the head physician. We brought children’s books, and New Testaments. I believe it’s the Lord who sends us these acquaintances.”

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

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.

• Click here for a printer-friendly version.

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