News

August Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Our video for the month of August features our travels in Ukraine, helping in camps as well as some other stops related to war relief. This video report is longer than our usual monthly videos since these travels covered a large amount of territory. 

These camps were conducted during a time when Russia escalated its attacks on Ukraine by launching large numbers of missiles and Iranian Shahed drones all over the country, especially in the area of Kyiv, where we spent most of our time. 

We are sincerely grateful for the petitions of everyone who prayed for our safety and the safety of all the campers and workers. We know that God answered your prayers, and we included some scenes at the end of the August video that will give you a small taste of what it’s like to be in Ukraine during these difficult times.

The best news is that God blessed our summer camping program as many children and youth opened their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ and made life-changing decisions for the glory of God!  Please take the time to view this video and please continue to pray for peace in Ukraine:

https://vimeo.com/855809988?share=copy

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - August 11, 2023

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

1. As the war in Ukraine continues, American support for Ukraine remains significant. The fact that most Americans are in favor of aid for Ukraine certainly helps our own war-relief efforts. From the beginning, some have predicted this high level of support would not continue indefinitely and that at a certain point “war weariness” would set in among the American people. This prediction is hard to disagree with, although when such a change might occur is an open question. On August 4, CNN evidently tried to sway the public into believing this has already happened by publishing a misleading headline that stated, “Majority of Americans oppose more US aid for Ukraine in war with Russia.”

Many have refuted this disinformation published by CNN. For example, Wednesday’s issue of the Kyiv Post stated this about the CNN statement: “That was not accurate. Its poll results were that 56 percent were concerned (not opposed) that more aid to the war would threaten US national security.” The Kyiv Post went on to say that American support for Ukraine continues to be strong and that the CNN statistics show the reverse of what their misleading headline seems to indicate since in February of 2022 72% of Americans polled were concerned that the war would threaten US national security. Therefore, fewer Americans are concerned about this issue now than before. You can find this information in the August 10 issue of the Kyiv Post under the title, “OPINION: Ukraine Support Holds.” Nevertheless, while we hope it does not happen, it is realistic to expect that eventually American support will decline.

2. Last week the Kellers, BIEM missionaries to Ukraine, concluded their time of staying at our Indianapolis headquarters while they reported to supporting churches in Indiana. Previously, we mentioned how they greatly helped our war-relief efforts by spending many hours sorting and packing donated items for shipment to Ukraine. This is just one of several ways this family has been involved in war relief; another is by overseeing efforts by the churches they started in Ukraine. With the help of Zoom, they stay in close contact with these groups. For example, the Kellers spearheaded a project to raise a considerable amount of funds for generators, which they distributed through these contacts in Ukraine. In addition, Dana, the oldest of their 3 daughters, spent the summer working in special summer camps for children and youth orphaned because of the war. Dana spent the last 2 weeks working in similar camps in Turkey, where there are hundreds of Ukrainian orphans.

3. BIEM war-relief efforts played a key role in the establishment of a new church in the Druzhba area (means “friendship”) of Ternopil, Ukraine. Sam and Amy were able to visit that location and spend time with our new Ukrainian national missionaries, Sergiy and Karina Koop. This visit was special since the Slobodians were able to meet the Koops’ 6-week-old baby daughter, Karolina. The following link contains a video update about the Koops’ ministry:

https://vimeo.com/853457038

4. Sam and Amy Slobodian also report that during their time in Ukraine they were able to participate in two baptisms. One baptism took place in Ternopil, and the other in Smolin, a town near the Goncharovsk military base. In both locations those baptisms included converts who were reached through our war-relief distribution efforts. The baptism in Smolin was attended by the mayor of Smolin and his wife. Please pray that the Gospel they heard will work in their hearts.

5. From the Slobodians who just returned from Ukraine: “Dear Friends, we want to sincerely thank each of you who prayed for our safety and the safety of camp workers, campers, and the personnel distributing war relief during our trip. Your prayers were especially needed during the time because it was then that Russia stepped up their attacks on Ukraine in response to successful Ukrainian drone operations. In one week alone, Russia used 65 missiles and 178 attack drones, including 87 very dangerous “Shaheds.” Although Ukraine has become quite good at shooting these down, a few still get through. Nevertheless, none of us were hurt, although we sometimes heard sirens and lost electricity at times, once for 13 hours. Praise God, the camps were unaffected, and the Lord worked mightily in the hearts of the hundreds of children and youth who joyfully attended. God also protected us from ourselves. While returning to the Kyiv area from Nizhylovychi (a formerly Russian-occupied area between Bucha and Hostomel, where a new church has been planted through our war-relief distributions), we passed some beautiful fields of sunflowers. We could not resist stopping to take pictures. Lots of pictures—until we noticed a sign warning of land mines. That sight abruptly ended our photo session!” 

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

BIEMs of Light: August 2023

Praises – Rejoice with us!

  • BIEM missionary Charles Hoblitz in Tbilisi, Georgia, had an opportunity to share the Gospel at a government meeting to discuss freedom of religion. Many foreign ambassadors and Georgian government officials were present! Charles said he felt God had created this opportunity in the same way He allowed Paul to share Christ with Roman officials.

  • Many camps are experiencing higher than expected turnouts of children. In one village, the local town council had denied a request to hold a camp for its children. But then the council reversed that decision, deciding instead that its citizens needed something positive to take their mind off the war!

  • From Lviv, Ukraine, Yura Levtseniuk shared this about their church: “The Lord blesses us with guests and preachers. At one service, 6 unbelievers repented, and 3 renewed their relationship with God. We have people preparing for baptism. The Lord is reviving our church in a wonderful way!”

  • Occasionally we mention Misha, the nephew of BIEM missionaries. He has been serving on the war front in eastern Ukraine. He and 10 men were sent to hold a hill. A mortar round hit 5 yards away. Shrapnel missed him, but sand blasted his face. By God’s grace, and to the amazement of his commander, Misha got all 10 of his team out alive, although several were wounded. He is currently in a hospital to recover. Thank you for prayers for him and for many others.

Prayer – Pray with us!

  • On July 26, Sam and Amy Slobodian left for Ukraine, where they plan to assist with 3 children’s camps. Besides helping with camps, they will be surveying some of our war-relief distribution efforts. Because of Russia’s escalation of bombings across Ukraine, please pray for the protection of all involved and for the Lord to work in the hearts of the campers.

  • In a recent brief video, “In Their Own Words,” BIEM missionary Vitaly Keller answers the question, “Is war relief still needed for Ukraine?” You can watch it by visiting www.BaptistInternational.org and clicking “View Video Updates,” but the bottom line is “Yes, aid is still needed!” Please pray for more people to send gently used (or even new!) clothing items to BIEM so we can ship more to Ukrainian churches to distribute as they reach out to their communities with aid and the Gospel.

  • Last month, we requested prayer for the Lord to move His people to provide the $50,000 needed for summer camps. He supplied it all! Now please pray for God to work in the hearts of campers.

  • In July BIEM Board Chairman Greg Wahlberg traveled with our Field Director for Central Asia into a number of those regions. During the trip, 11 born-again Afghanis were baptized, and 9 others graduated from our Bible institute there. Please pray for God to embolden and use these Afghanis for His glory! Pray, too, for more Afghani refugees in Central Asia to put their trust in Christ!

  • Click here for a printer-friendly version.

War Relief Updates - August 4, 2023

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

1. Sam and Amy Slobodian are in Ukraine this week participating in our summer camps and surveying our war-relief efforts. They report, “Yesterday we spent time with Vitaly and Natalia, a Ukrainian couple that has played a large role in our war-relief efforts, especially in the area of Donetsk, which is in Donbas, where they have many contacts. They told us of a church of 100 we have been helping through them. It is only 15 miles from Bakhmut, which has seen probably the heaviest fighting for months. When the war started, 80% of the congregation left for the West, including their pastor and his family. Although only 15 members remained, they worked hard distributing the aid we have been providing to the community. As a result, their auditorium is full to overflowing for services, and many have been saved!” These kinds of reports are what we are hearing from all over Ukraine!

2. With Ukrainian husbands and sons battling on the front lines of the war, wives and moms left behind often have little income to purchase prescription medicines and other vital needs. Some BIEM missionary wives are stepping into the gap to meet this need in their communities, once again using physical aid to encourage neighbors in spiritual truths. Learn more through this brief video:

https://vimeo.com/851436460

3. Our church planters’ efforts in distributing war relief often involve crossing the border pulling trailers into Poland, where they purchase much of the aid they are distributing. On their return trips, the Polish and Ukrainian border and Customs personnel often begin their inspection with the question, “Are you transporting any alcohol or narcotics?” Our men have learned that the best answer is, “Of course not. We’re Baptist pastors.” Almost always, they are waved through because it’s well established among the border guards (and general population) that Baptists do not consume alcohol. One of our men heard one border guard instructing a rookie that when a Baptist pastor comes through you don’t need to worry about them possessing drugs or alcohol. One Polish border guard made the following remark to one of our missionaries: “Oh, I know the difference between you Baptist priests and our Catholic priests. You cannot drink alcohol, but you can have a wife. Our priests cannot marry, but they can drink all the alcohol they want!”

4. One of the big differences in shipping containers of humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the war is that the containers no longer need to be fumigated and may now contain food. Our last container had tons of rice as well as macaroni & cheese fortified with vitamins. These food products have been very well received in Ukraine. 

5. Many of you have met Vitaly Yurchenko, the tall Ukrainian church planter who started a church in Chervona Sloboda, right across the street from the main employer in the area, which is an alcohol distillery. His church is only 2 miles from territory that the Russian army had occupied. This location made the church building a prime stopping point for many people who were evacuating as well as for electrical brigades that were sent to that area to restore electrical service (which took several weeks) after the area was liberated. This church even hosted a group of soldiers on leave and has hosted many others engaged in war-relief distribution. To accommodate all this activity, which will continue for some time, the congregation found it necessary to add on to their building. All the walls are up, but funds are needed to complete this project. Please pray that the Lord would supply what is needed. If you can help, that will be much appreciated.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - July 28, 2023

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

1. In Chernovtsy, Ukraine, a special conference was held to help and inform any volunteers involved in distributing war relief, including unbelievers. There, 6 souls came to Christ, and 3 others renewed their commitments to Christ. BIEM friends who attended declared this conference inspired them to continue serving, rebuilding their country, and aiding those in need.

2.  In a previous update, we mentioned the need for a replacement for our aged forklift, which stopped working and was too expensive to repair. By God’s grace and through the generosity of friends, our warehouse now has a brand-new, electrical unit that accomplishes all the heavy lifting and moving that our outmoded model did, yet in a more compact size. This new piece of equipment is a great help in hoisting and moving heavy pallets of war relief. Thank you to those who sent generous gifts to make this purchase possible!

3. In recent days, Russia’s escalation in firing missiles at cities all over Ukraine is continuing, with destructive consequences that affect BIEM’s church planters and those distributing war relief. One of those cities that was struck on July 21 is Goncharovsk, where our church planter Sasha Petrenko ministers.

While city authorities state officially that 2 civilians were killed, local residents say they could see the military base bore the brunt of that attack and that many military were no doubt killed. In the following video, Sasha describes this event, shows some of the destruction, and discusses their evacuation efforts.

https://vimeo.com/849527858

4. The brother-in-law of BIEM’s Field Director for Central Asia was hauling a truckload of war relief toward Odessa in southern Ukraine. At one stop, a group of strongmen tried to shanghai him into the Ukrainian military right on the spot. Only by showing proof that he was exempt due to the great amount of humanitarian aid he regularly delivers did he barely restrain them. He remains a non-combatant civilian who is serving Ukraine (and the Lord!) without a uniform.

5. On July 26, Sam and Amy Slobodian left for Ukraine, where they will be participating in three different camps as well as surveying our relief efforts. Thanks to generous donations for tourniquets, they were able to bring a large case of these much-needed items with them. This delivery brings the total of specialized tourniquets BIEM has provided so far to around 300.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - July 14, 2023

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

1. The Keller family, one of our missionary families previously serving in Ukraine, is currently staying at the BIEM headquarters for most of July as they report to supporting churches in Indiana. This family has been a huge blessing to our War Relief efforts. They are spending many hours sorting and boxing donated clothing, medical supplies, household supplies, and other items that will go into our next container shipment to Ukraine.

2. In what Ukrainians are calling “The War from the Sky,” this week Russia has increased aerial attacks upon civilian areas, including large cities such as Kyiv and Lviv. Other civilian areas that were attacked are Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Altogether, 95 civilian settlements were targeted. Some suggest this bombardment is a response to the NATO meetings and hope the attacks will subside after the meetings. Friends ask us whether more funds are needed for our war relief efforts. As long as such serious aggression continues, the answer of course is “Yes!”

3. In the early hours of July 6, 2023, Russian cruise missiles destroyed 60 civilian apartments in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, near the home of BIEM missionary Yura Levtseniuks. Through the following link, Yura tells of the tragedy and how the church is responding:

https://vimeo.com/845076508

4. This week we were blessed to receive a large van full of medical supplies and other humanitarian items from the Widow’s Jar Ministries in Indianapolis. We are sincerely grateful for this aid and for the steady flow of war relief items we are receiving at our headquarters. Recently someone asked whether any particular item is especially needed. Right now, the answer is wheelchairs. Unfortunately, wounded among both soldiers and civilians have become amputees, so wheelchairs are needed now more than ever before.

5. The weekly war-relief videos that we post on our website continue to be effective in informing viewers as well as touching the hearts of many. This week, a couple who were in the process of making a large donation to our war relief efforts increased their already-generous gift by $5,000 after viewing the video from Kherson. Another viewer decided to purchase $500 of tourniquets after viewing the video concerning the young lady soldier whose life and arm were saved by a tourniquet. Praise God! To view or to share these war-relief videos, simply visit our site at the link below, scroll halfway down the Home Page, then click the link “View Video Updates.”

BaptistInternational.org

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

July Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

For July, our monthly video comes from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. But this video has nothing to do with the war raging in the east and south of that country. Summer is the time for children’s camps, which offer kids in that land a much-needed escape from the brutal realities of death and destruction. In Christian camps, children can play silly games, laugh, sing songs of praise to the Lord, learn to pray, hear vital truths in Bible lessons, make new friends, and fuel up on nourishing meals prepared by the ladies of the churches.

In this particular case, workers of the large Baptist church called “Temple of Salvation” captured video clips of their recent outreach, which they titled “River of Life Children’s Camp,” and sent a copy to BIEM to share with you friends.

This video needs no translation or commentary. You’ll understand well enough what is happening. We invite you to click on the following link and let your heart be warmed by these scenes from just one of the many church camps now in progress with assistance from BIEM.

https://vimeo.com/844349463

We thank both the Lord and you, our faithful supporters, for the opportunity to sponsor evangelistic children’s camps like this one, which is only one of well over 20 camps scheduled in multiple countries. We hope the delighted faces of these campers will help to reward you for your generosity. Most importantly, based on past experiences, we do not doubt that the Lord will use the camps to speak to hearts and draw young ones to faith in Christ. May He be praised!

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - July 7, 2023

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

1. On July 6, a Russian cruise missile attack on Ukraine’s western city of Lviv struck an apartment building, killing at least 10 known victims. Local officials report another 42 people were wounded in this nighttime attack, which damaged 60 apartments and about 50 cars. BIEM church planter Yura Levtseniuk lives close to this site in Lviv. He has access to some of those who have been injured because he is a medic and happens to know some of them. BIEM’s War Relief fund has enabled Yura to aid some of them with their needs and to share the Gospel with them, especially with a man named Victor, who lost his legs and is facing difficult operations. Yura asks to pray for Victor and these others, that they would open their hearts to the Lord.

2. This weekend, 4 refugee families—a record—are traveling to visit BIEM in Indiana at the same time. It is a blessing to help and encourage them. However, as we do, in some of these cases we come to the sad realization that many of these people will not be returning to Ukraine even after the war is over. This is a loss for Ukraine in general, but since these people are Christians, this is also a loss for Ukrainian churches, which truly need workers. The longer the war continues, the less likely it is for Ukrainian refugees to return. Please pray for the war to end soon.

3. Normally, when you think of war relief (or humanitarian aid in general), you probably picture supplies of food and clothing. But in a wartime scenario, war relief can also take the form of something as simple as tourniquets. Through the following video link, Igor Fomichov tells the story of Nastya, a woman in Ukraine’s armed forces, whose life was saved, thanks to a tourniquet.

https://vimeo.com/842953549

4. War Relief distributions continue to add people to the church. In Desna, for example, new faces have appeared in the services from among those receiving aid. Please pray for Luda to be saved. She is one of those who are now hearing the Word of God regularly. Also, there is Zhenya, who was recently released from prison and ended up in the church’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, where he was saved and is now growing in the Lord. Praise God!

5. In our May BIEMs of Light, we mentioned a woman named Ludmila, a medical doctor who began attending the new church plant in Ternopil’s Druzhba district. This church began largely as an effort to evangelize refugees through war relief and children’s ministries. Although Ludmila’s family members were atheist doctors, she herself was intrigued to learn more of the Bible. Now we’re delighted to share that Ludmila has placed her faith in Christ and has already expressed her desire to be baptized. Hallelujah!

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

BIEMs of Light: July 2023

Praises – Rejoice with us!

  • In June, both Eugene Buyko and Igor Fomichov of Ukraine were with us in the U.S. During those weeks, both men were able to preach and bring updates to multiple supporting churches. They also assisted with physically packing our latest container of humanitarian aid and in preparing its paperwork in dual languages. Love offerings from their visits to churches contributed wonderfully to our War Relief fund. Thank you for praying for these men’s visits!

  • In June, the Lord provided a third member to the home of our newest missionaries, Serhiy and Karina Koop! They have named their firstborn daughter Karolina (pronounced kar-oh-LEE-nah). Serhiy expresses thanks for prayers for a safe delivery.

  • In Central Asia, a special family camp ministered to 60 Afghani refugees, at least 25 of whom came as unbelievers. As the Gospel repeatedly went forth day by day, 13 formerly Muslim souls came to Christ! May the Lord help them to stand firm in their newfound faith since these decisions will not please Muslim friends and family members

  • Our missionary Sasha in Western Asia is planning a baptism in July, which is special because the candidates are teens who have accepted Christ despite their Islamic surroundings.

Prayer – Pray with us!

  • The same Sasha mentioned above in a predominantly Muslim nation is also planning two evangelistic events for his area. Sasha says, “Please pray for these projects, that there will be no obstacles from the authorities or anyone else.”

  • This item is a combination of praise plus a prayer request: Praise the Lord, summer camps are underway in multiple countries, and churches will continue holding them throughout July and into August. However, at this point, of the $50,000 needed, we have received $29,283, meaning $20,717 has not yet come in. Please join us in praying for those funds to operate the camps.

  • Please don’t let “out of sight, out of mind” apply to our recent container of humanitarian aid, which is well on its way to Ukraine. Please pray for smooth and safe passage through the port in Poland and then overland as it is trucked into Ukraine.

  • In July, BIEM’s Sam and Amy Slobodian plan to assist in camps in Ukraine, including near Kyiv, the capital. However, Kyiv remains a key target for Russia’s air attacks—Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, cruise missiles (X-101, X-555, “Kalibr”), and Shahed drones. Please pray for their safety and the safety of all the campers and camp workers.  Most importantly, please pray for the Holy Spirit’s working in hearts during these camps.

  • Click here for a printer-friendly version.

June Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Greetings! This month’s video comes from Kherson, the southern part of Ukraine where so much devastation has resulted from the Russians’ demolition of the Kakhovka dam. This part of that country had already suffered due to the Russian occupation and aggression. For local residents, the flooding has heaped misery upon misery.

But even though we would never wish for such a situation, we rejoice that believers connected with churches planted through BIEM respond to these circumstances as opportunities to aid suffering ones in the name of Jesus Christ and a chance to share the Gospel. Via the following link, you can join BIEM missionary Vitaly Bilyak on his recent war-relief trip, this time to the Kherson district.

https://vimeo.com/840874898

This newest video is just one of many concerning our war-relief efforts, all accessible here:

https://vimeo.com/showcase/9315861

The needs are ongoing and HUGE.  If you feel that God would have you to help, please designate your gift “War Relief.” Thank you to everyone for your prayerful support!

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - June 23, 2023

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

1. Thank you, those of you who prayed for Eugene Buyko’s visit to the U.S. During his time in this country, Eugene was able to speak in a number of churches in multiple states. The Lord blessed those services with wonderful love offerings for BIEM’s War Relief Fund. Eugene also contributed greatly in the physical loading of our most recent container and in filling out dual-language paperwork needed for the shipping company and Customs. He reports the border crossing from Poland back into Ukraine went smoothly—less than an hour!

2. Often, our mentions of war relief refer to large numbers of people, in some cases even to whole villages on the front lines. But today let us give an example of a specific person. Nastya is an unbeliever, one of many women in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Her unit of 17 soldiers was engaged by an enemy tank and its supporting soldiers. Gravely wounded, Nastya managed to survive by taking shelter behind a tree. A tourniquet saved her from bleeding to death, and surgeons managed to save the arm. Although Nastya is eager to return to her unit, she is currently convalescing from her multiple wounds. Meanwhile, a mutual friend contacted the church in Desna and asked if the believers can provide any sort of aid for Nastya. Once again, BIEM’s War Relief will soon give believers an opportunity to share spiritual Truth along with physical assistance.

3. We previously mentioned starting a program to aid wives and mothers of soldiers to obtain needed medications. That program is now underway. It is one of the forms of assistance mentioned in our last video update, titled “Beyond Just War Relief.” You can view it here:

https://vimeo.com/838788501

4. A Christian man named Sergei is a member of one of the churches planted through BIEM. He is now also a commander in the Ukrainian military. When his vehicle came under fire, Sergei jumped out and took shelter in a depression in the ground. Seeing post-battle photos of that vehicle, anyone would be amazed that he is still alive. But in this, too, we see Almighty God’s preserving hand and another opportunity to share Christian faith along with aid from the church.

5. Our containers of humanitarian aid are shipped duty-free since the Ukrainian government does not levy any taxes or duty charges for humanitarian aid. Humanitarian aid may be food, clothing, medical supplies, or essential equipment. It is a blessing and interesting to note that the Ukrainian government is also counting any church furnishings (pews, pulpits, chairs, tables, etc.) as humanitarian aid when donated to Ukrainian churches. Also included in the category of humanitarian aid are sports equipment for church youth programs, camping gear, as well as furniture and household furnishing for our drug and alcohol rehab ministries operated by churches. The container of war relief that is currently on its way has several tons of goods in these latter categories. We praise God for opportunities to send such helpful church supplies, all duty-free!

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - June 16, 2023

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

1. A couple of weeks ago, BIEM personnel and volunteers loaded a 40-ft. high-cube container with war relief for churches for shipment to Ukraine. Much of this cargo consists of gently used, donated clothing and shoes, but it also includes supplies for churches, along with, for example, large donations of foodstuffs such as macaroni and cheese from Widow’s Jar Ministries. On June 9th, the ship carrying this container left port, and it is due to arrive in Poland on June 29th. From there, it will be trucked across the border into Ukraine and eventually to the Kyiv area. Please pray for a smooth passage through customs so that the churches in the Kyiv area will soon be able to receive and distribute the nearly 30 tons of aid in this container.

2. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine swept away homes, farmlands, and lives. It’s a major catastrophe for the residents, for the ecology, and even for people nowhere near that area since it ruined crops that were ripening in farm fields. Once again, BIEM personnel are mobilizing to aid victims. In the following video, BIEM church planter Sasha Petrenko shares part of how believers from his area are responding.

https://vimeo.com/836313630

3. Sasha Petrenko is just one of several of our folks who have quickly mobilized efforts to help those suffering in the Kherson area due to the Russian attack on the dam. This week our folks in Kyiv, Bilogorodka, Zdolbuniv, and Ternopil have likewise launched efforts to help those suffering in Kherson. Others are gathering supplies to transport as there is a huge need for food, water, and medicine as well as other equipment and supplies.

4. Praise God, our first three summer camps went well. Our war-relief efforts have certainly increased local Ukrainians’ interest in the camps as the testimonies of the churches have risen in their communities. These first three summer camps in Kyiv, Lytvynivka, and Smolin definitely benefited from our war-relief activities.

5. Last week we mentioned that pastors Eugene Buyko and Igor Fomichov from Ukraine are with us in the US through most of this month and are traveling to churches for the purpose of raising War Relief funds. We are glad to report that these meetings are going well. However, Eugene’s and Igor’s hearts are often heavy from the reports they continuously receive that Russia has increased its air attacks on Kyiv, which is where both of these men are from. Things were relatively quiet when they left Ukraine. However, the near daily attacks weigh heavily on their hearts as they are very concerned for their families. In May alone, Russia is said to have launched at Kyiv approximately 7 “Kinzhal” hypersonic missiles, 13 Iskander ballistic missiles, 65 cruise missiles of various types, and 169 Shahed drones. Please pray that God will continue to protect their loved ones.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - June 9, 2023

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

1. As has been widely reported in the media, on June 6 an explosion occurred on the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, unleashing an amount of water equivalent to Utah’s Great Salt Lake. In the biggest ecological disaster in Europe in decades, flood waters have engulfed villages, destroyed farm fields, and left untold thousands of Ukrainians without clean drinking water. As soon as BIEM learned of these events, we transferred funds to various BIEM personnel in Ukraine who can mobilize food and supplies for this suffering area. Combined war reliefh and evangelism efforts focusing on that Kherson district are now underway. Please pray for these outreaches, not only that they will ease people’s physical misery but that they will lead to hearts embracing Christ as Savior.

2. As a result of the destruction of the dam mentioned above, Ukrainian officials predict another wave of refugees, which will be difficult for Ukraine to accommodate. Several of our churches have made their facilities available for displaced persons who had to abandon their homes. The major parcel shipping company in Ukraine has announced it will not charge for war-relief parcels shipped to Kherson. Many of our people are preparing such parcels of aid. We certainly can use more gifts to BIEM’s War Relief fund to take advantage of this opportunity.

3. Our newest church plant in Druzhba reaches out especially to refugees who have fled to this western Ukraine area. As the church prepares to baptize 7 new believers, we want to update you on Sasha, the young man whose parents vehemently opposed his new faith in Christ. Their hostile reaction was so extreme that Sasha stopped attending services. Recently, however, he resumed attending all services despite must displeasure from his parents. He is also attending new believer classes for those planning to be baptized. Although he would very much like to be baptized with this group, he and the church are praying for his parents to have a change of heart on this matter. Please pray for Sasha and his parents.

4. Every church planted by BIEM in Ukraine—indeed nearly all churches in that country—has members, relatives, and friends serving in the military, many of them in active combat positions at the front. Therefore, believers in Ukraine are quite active in sending war relief to these loved ones and upholding them in prayer. Of course, the obvious prayer is for God’s protection in battle. But the most important prayers are for the Lord to draw the souls of these soldiers to Himself. And God is answering. To learn more, click the following link, where BIEM’s Director for Ukraine shares about prayers for family members at the front:

https://vimeo.com/834898242

5. During the early days of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, friends of BIEM provided an extremely generous outpouring of financial support. However, during the months when the media provided less coverage, donations for War Relief dropped significantly. Whatever the reason, we need a continuing supply of War Relief funds since the needs continue and responding to physical needs automatically creates wonderful opportunities to proclaim the Gospel. Can you help? (Or if not, would you pray for the Lord to touch the hearts and pocketbooks of those who can?)

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

May Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Life stays busy whenever we have BIEM national church planters visiting us in the United States, and this current experience is no exception. Currently, we have Eugene Buyko and Igor Fomichov here to visit churches and to assist in raising funds for BIEM’s War Relief efforts. In addition, this past week they applied their time and energy to help us load (extremely tightly!) another 40-foot, high-cube container packed with gently used clothing and shoes, foodstuffs, tables and chairs for churches, and a wide variety of other useful items for opening doors and ministering to souls in war-ravaged Ukraine. To see a brief video of the packing process, we invite you to click the following link:

https://vimeo.com/834898242?share=copy

These container-loading days can be exhausting. We strive to utilize every bit of airspace to get as much “bang for our buck” as possible out of the container shipping costs. (And of course, each box and item must be recorded for the cargo manifest.) But despite the inevitable sore muscles, these projects are a labor of love, performed both for the Lord and for saved and unsaved recipients in Ukraine. Many of you provided the slightly used garments aboard this shipment. Thank you for them! Others of you have provided financial donations, which go toward ordering the shipping container and paying for its transport from here to Ukraine. Thank you, too! It might sound like a cliché, but in this ministry, we are ever aware of the fact that we could not accomplish such projects without all of you. Thanks so much for standing with us. May God bless you richly!

In Christ,

Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - May 26, 2023

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

1. Among our key distributors of war relief aid is a husband-and-wife team of Vitaly and Natasha, through whom we have funded numerous relief operations. They just returned from a dangerous area about 30 miles from Bakhmut called Druzhkivka. There, they delivered 120 large packages of food and supplies to a church that is helping the many in need around them. Though most members have left (the government has been urging civilians to leave this area for months now), the handful of members who remain have been inundated with requests for aid, which provides wonderful opportunities to share the Gospel. As a result, the church has been packed with refugees for services—the largest crowds they have ever had! In addition, the church has been visited by 3 different Ukrainian military units (about 30 soldiers in each) who are battling nearby. They, too, came for food and heard the Gospel.

2. The church pastored by BIEM’s Yura Levtseniuk in Lviv, Ukraine, continues to enjoy abundant opportunities to evangelize. This church has been especially active in distributing humanitarian aid to refugees. In this role, Yura has even had openings to share the Gospel with Muslims who have come to their city. Some who hear the Word embrace Christ for salvation. Others listen without any immediate commitment. But either way, God’s Word is being heard, and we get to see fruit from it! To see a brief video of Yura expressing thanks to you all, click on the following link:

https://vimeo.com/830597659

3. Some of you will recall Misha, the Ukrainian nephew of a BIEM couple. Through him, our people have been able to deliver some aid to his military unit. After being rotated away from the battle lines for a rest, he was sent back toward the front. Even before reaching the front, his group came under attack. The vehicles were shot up, so the men had to press forward on foot. They spent a night in a field where they were bombed. Many were killed, and others were shell-shocked. But we praise God that, once again, Misha has survived.

4. In addition to obvious war-relief needs in Ukraine such as food and clothing, another need has come to our attention. In this economically trying time for that nation, some female church members have been quietly conferring with each other, trying to locate sources of various medications or preparations for personal issues they would be embarrassed to discuss in groups or with their pastor. With the assistance of your war-relief donations, BIEM is also procuring the needed items to address such personal needs.

5. Although this final update for today is not so much about war relief, it definitely concerns the war and is a request for prayer. Oleg, the brother of BIEM’s church planter Sasha Petrenko, was taken prisoner by Russian forces and had been placed in a sort of POW camp near Zaporizhzhia. Now the family has learned he is no longer in that place but have no information on his status or location. They would appreciate prayer for Oleg.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

BIEMs of Light: May 2023

Praises Rejoice with us!

  • Our director for Central Asia sent this exciting message: “When our [evangelistic team] came back from the border, two men asked for a ride. Today, after those two had finished up their business, they came back to our men and asked to know more about Jesus. Both men trusted Christ as their Savior today!”

  • We received this message concerning Misha, a nephew of BIEM coworkers in Ukraine: “Thank you for praying for Misha. He had 28 bombs dropped near his trench last night. At one point his machine gun malfunctioned. He left his trench to get a tool and call home. As he did, one bomb hit the trench, the 14 others in the trench died…. So many going to hell…. Pray for these men to come to Christ before death.”

  • When Sam Slobodian visited Ukraine in March, that trip included a chance to participate in baptizing new believers who have come to Christ during the war. It also held a special service primarily for local widows, including some who were made widows because of the war. In general, the Ukrainian people remain much more open to hearing spiritual truths than prior to the war. We praise God for such opportunities!

  • At the new church in Ternopil, a woman named Ludmila is not saved but is eager to learn more. Although an atheist, a family member told her, “One thing about those Christians I’ve learned from my many years of medical practice is that there is a huge difference in how Christians die compared to the rest of us. Christians die peacefully and with no fears … while all other people who die—along with their loved ones—experience a tremendous amount of anxiety and fear!”

Prayer – Pray with us!

  • In Desna, Ukraine, renovations are urgently needed to the unfinished building that was purchased to use as the next Christian rehabilitation center. Stress is causing more men than ever to become addicted to alcohol and drugs. Please pray for funds and hands to bring that building to completion soon.

  • The new church in Ternopil plans to hold its first baptism for several people who have come to Christ! However, please pray concerning a young man named Sasha. He wants to be baptized but family members are vehemently opposed. Please pray for their attitudes to soften.

  • A BIEM missionary has transitioned from his ministry in Ukraine to the Republic of Georgia, where he now ministers. This brother says, “Please pray that our gracious and wise Lord will open doors for us, that we will demonstrate godly patience … and that He will continue to call out men and women who are hungry to learn and grow, and men who will be the next leaders and church planters.”

  • In Kyiv, our missionaries, the Buykos, saw 2 Russian missiles hurtle over their house. Eugene saw one of them destroyed in mid-air while the other continued. Please continue to pray for God’s protection on all our BIEM personnel.

  • Click here for a printer-friendly version.

War Relief Updates - May 19, 2023

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

1. Thank you, everyone who prayed for Igor Fomichov’s planned visit to the United States. He arrived safely yesterday evening, but not without some serious difficulties. At the Ukrainian-Polish border, guards there decided that, no, they were not going to permit him to exit the country. Normally their decision is final. However, being a member of the town council in Desna, Igor telephoned the mayor of the city late at night and woke him. After learning the border guards would not let Igor pass, the mayor wrote an official letter assuring them all was well and urging them to permit him to exit the country temporarily. Based on that letter, they relented and allowed him to leave. Next, the airline canceled Igor’s flight out of Warsaw. He ended up with a totally different, last-minute itinerary. Ultimately, though, he arrived in Indianapolis, tired but praising God!

2. BIEM is planning to load its next 40-ft. container of war-relief aid for Ukraine at the end of this month. However, our donated forklift is more than 30 years old and has finally succumbed to age. Repairmen tell us it’s not worth fixing. Because loading this container without a forklift would be much more difficult, we need to get something newer as soon as possible, which is a costly challenge. Various new and used options are on the market. Please pray for God’s direction and provision.

3. When a Russian missile struck an apartment building in Uman, Ukraine, it blasted homes to rubble, snuffed out lives, and severely damaged surrounding apartments. War-relief funds from BIEM were able to help brethren to provide some immediate aid to residents. To learn more, please click the following link, “Providing Aid to Uman”:

https://vimeo.com/828131751

4. Distributions of BIEM’s war-relief aid continue to reap blessings and opportunities to share the Gospel. Our missionary in Desna, Igor, reports that, after an elderly woman named Valia received aid along with Gospel tracts and an invitation to the Desna church, she phoned him. Many years ago, she babysat Igor when he was a child. She was always very closed to the Gospel and the church. However, when she called, she said that she would very much like to attend the services but would need assistance since she has trouble walking. One of the deacons took care of this need and drove her to the services. Afterward, she called Igor again and expressed how very pleased she was with the service. She also mentioned this was the first time in her life to be in a church service! Now her heart appears to be opening to the Lord. Please pray for Valia’s salvation. 

5. Recent days have seen an increase in the sheer number of missiles and drones being directed at Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv and other cities. An article in the Kyiv Post described one such attack: “Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital with six Kinzhal (‘hypersonic’) ballistic missiles, three other ballistic missiles, nine Kalibr cruise missiles, six Shahed drones, and three Orlan drones. The attack began just after three o'clock in the morning, and the explosions kept the city awake for hours. Though the scale was unusual, this was the eighth such Russian attack on Kyiv this month alone.” BIEM’s own personnel and active volunteers who are involved in distributing humanitarian aid see and hear the missiles and explosions, some of which have shaken their own homes. As you can imagine, such traumatizing events are extremely frightening, particularly for the children. Please pray for the war to end.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - May 12, 2023

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

1. Our April 28 update told how BIEM’s Pasha Usach and others from his church had returned from distributing aid near Kherson, in the towns of Archangelske and Posad-Pokrovsk. We also shared how enthusiastically locals received these men and told that Pasha and his team wanted to return to replace blown-out windows in some of the homes. They have now completed a follow-up trip where, in addition to distributing food, supplies, and the Gospel, they installed nearly 20 replacement windows in homes. How the people rejoiced! That area still has no running water or electricity, so receiving replacement windows was a huge blessing. Your gifts to our war relief fund help in ways you might not imagine.

2. Once again we can say that, praise God, none of BIEM’s Ukrainian missionaries have been injured or killed in the war thus far. However, there have been casualties among people close to them. For instance, last week Mark, a 25-year-old man with a wife and small child from the home church of several of our families in Kyiv, was killed in battle. One of our missionary wives messaged to say, “Pray, please, for our defenders. It is very difficult morally. Everyone is weary. Death all around is depressing.”

3. Occasionally, friends tell us they haven’t heard much news about the war in Ukraine. We guarantee that fighting and dying and destruction take place every day. But amidst the horrible backdrop of war God’s people are actively ministering to countrymen and glorifying God. The following recent video from the eastern Donbas region contains footage that might make your heart ache, but other scenes might warm your heart!

https://vimeo.com/826287562

4. As the above video shows, while making frequent War Relief trips right up to the battlefront, Brother Vitaly Bilyak of Ternopil, Ukraine, distributes aid and shares the Gospel with civilians and soldiers alike. However, back in Ternopil, he has also developed a friendly relationship with two military hospitals that are treating injured soldiers. This aid comes in the form of food products as well as medical equipment and hospital supplies. One of these hospitals functions as a rehabilitation facility while the other performs surgeries on soldiers with battle-inflicted wounds. Because many soldiers treated there have lost limbs, the hospitals are in constant need of prosthetics and special equipment. Thanks to a recent generous gift to BIEM from Operation Renewed Hope in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Vitaly will be able to supply still more needed aid for more wounded defenders.

5. As the war continues and casualties rise in Ukraine (as well as Russia) the government has stepped up its conscription efforts. One huge concern for us is for our missionary pastors, who could also be conscripted. Losing a pastor to the war would be devastating to any church. Recently the Ukrainian government introduced a program that would enable pastors to obtain specially issued identification cards that would exempt them from conscription. Our men are all in the process of applying for these cards. Please pray they will all receive this exemption for the sake of continuing their spiritual and war-relief ministries both inside and outside the church.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - May 5, 2023

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

1. Praise God, we have received generous War Relief contributions from friends in Canada. If you have any contacts in Canada, please consider sharing with them that Canadians, too, can contribute to BIEM’s War Relief efforts. (We can provide instructions on how to do so if they wish their donations to be tax deductible).

2. Another reason to praise the Lord is the ministry of Revival Baptist Church in the Obolon area of Kyiv. This is one of the first churches established by BIEM after Ukraine gained independence. It has been self-supporting for many years and has grown to be an amazing church in a strategic location of the Obolon district, which has 400,000 residents. The church’s immediate neighbors are the court building, the city administrative offices, the prosecutor’s office, the fire department, the police department, a music conservatory, and a teachers institute! It has been a blessing for us to help this church with their war-relief efforts. Click the following link to view a recent video about this outreach:

https://vimeo.com/823446201

3. In May and June, we are planning once again to host a couple of our Ukrainian church planters whom we are scheduling in churches for the purpose of raising funds for Ukrainian war relief. Please pray that Igor Fomichov and Eugene Buyko will be able to obtain the special permission needed to leave Ukraine temporarily during this time when men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not normally allowed to exit that country.

4. On April 21, we posted a video about the increased number of Ukrainian men who are slipping into depression during wartime and getting hooked on drugs and alcohol. To address the needs of such men, before the war we had purchased a larger, unfinished building to house the Christian Rehabilitation Center in Desna, Ukraine. Due to the war, we halted work to make the structure habitable. However, the growing number of men with addictions convinced us this facility is needed now more than ever. We praise God that a generous gift from a Sunday school class in Elkhart, Indiana—plus some other gifts—has provided funds to continue this project. In fact, the work to make this building habitable has resumed. You can view the video about this ministry via this link:

https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/818759559

5. BIEM’s war relief efforts extend beyond the actual borders of Ukraine. By God’s grace, we have aided Ukrainian war refugees in such European countries as Poland, Germany, Netherlands, and Switzerland, plus a number who have come to the United States. Some refugees have ended up in one of the restricted Muslim countries in Asia. One BIEM church planter there reports, “We also started helping orphans from Ukraine. At the beginning of the war, orphanages were evacuated from Ukraine (about 2,000 children); 600 orphans settled in our region. We help them with food, clothes, shoes, and some materials for schooling.”

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM

War Relief Updates - April 28, 2023

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

1. One of the highlights of our ministry last year was that most of our locations in Ukraine were able to have summer camp despite the war. Thousands attended with hundreds of salvation decisions. We have a 22-page report concerning last year’s camps available upon request. Once again, even though the war continues, our people in Ukraine are planning for summer camps. As they are currently making preparations, they tell us that in some locations 70% of the campers will be refugees!

2. Along with some others, brother Pasha Usach has returned from distributing aid to the Kherson area. One of the towns where they distributed was Archangelske, near the city of Kherson, which had been occupied for a time. The residents were extremely glad to receive the aid, which included a large quantity of vegetables, especially potatoes. They were very surprised that people from the other side of Ukraine would travel so far to help them. The town mayor came to thank them and invited them for tea, which gave them an opportunity to get to know them better. Our men learned that when the Russians were advancing, locals were able to escape by crossing the river on wooden boats. The head of the school there also spoke with Pasha and his team, asking for children’s Bibles, which Pasha will certainly provide. Brother Pasha and the volunteers with him plan to return soon with more aid, including windows for the homes there that were damaged from the fighting.

3. Last week, we shared how a woman in the church in Lviv, Ukraine, was featured on a Ukrainian TV program called Super Mama and had a chance to speak about her faith in Christ. Since then, the same television program offered a similar invitation to a lady from the church in Kyiv with whom we partner for our seminary and several church-planting projects. That broadcast has yet to be aired. Praise God for another opportunity to share the Gospel with a large audience!

4. Another continuation from last week: On April 21, I shared how I’d had the privilege of speaking and playing my trumpet in an evangelistic outreach using war relief for widows in Bilogorodka, Ukraine. And while such outreaches are a blessing to be involved in, I realize that written descriptions do little to “bring it alive” for readers who were not there. So BIEM has created a brief video that will give you some inside glimpses into that event. There’s no translation, except for some special words of thanks at the end, but I believe you’ll find it interesting to get an inside peek by clicking the following link:

https://vimeo.com/821272911

5. In our February 3rd War Relief Updates, we told you about a young man named Bogdan. Bogdan is the man who placed his trust in Christ at the Desna Christian Rehabilitation Center. He had been growing in Christ and helping to distribute war relief but then was drafted into the Ukrainian military. BIEM’s Igor Fomichov just now informed us that Bogdan has been reported as seriously injured in battle. He has been hospitalized. Please pray for this young man, both for his spiritual and physical strengthening.

Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM