December 2003

 Praises – Rejoice with us!

v     Praise God for the help that the new church in Lutsk is receiving from the Hyde Park Baptist Church of New York.  This church has sent one of their families on a one or two year mission project to assist the Lutsk church with youth ministry, AWANA, children’s work and other very needy areas of ministry.  The Weight family has been a great blessing to this thriving new work.

v     Praise God for the fact that the container sent to Lutsk, Ukraine has arrived there and that most of the items have now been cleared through customs.  What remains to be cleared are medical supplies that will take a little longer.  Thanks for praying!

v     A new church has been launched in Satu Mare, Romania through the efforts of BIEM’s newest national missionaries Marius and Lorena Rotaru.

v     Praise God for the purchase of a building for the new church in Snetinka, Ukraine.  The building, which is partially constructed, is being purchased for $3,000 made possible by a church in North Carolina who will take on this project in their upcoming missions conference.

v     The Sychovs (Vitaly, Vika and daughter Karina) have safely returned to their ministry in Desna, Ukraine.  We are rejoicing in the tremendous progress Karina made through the intensive treatments she received in a Philadelphia children’s hospital.  She is now beginning to take steps with the help of braces and a walker and continues to make progress.  Praise God for the wonderful response the Sychovs received from the churches they visited.

Prayer – Pray with us!

v     Please pray for Missionary Tim Smith who is back in the States seeking medical treatment for a loss of vision in an eye previously operated on.  The first doctor he saw has referred his case to a different specialist.   Please pray that Brother Tim’s vision can be completely restored.

v     In Bordusani, Romania a man slit the throat of his Christian wife leaving 3 children without their mother.  Another man in this town has threatened his wife with the same fate if she continues to attend church.  This has caused great concern and heartache for the church there.  Pray that the Lord would overcome this opposition and strengthen the Christians there.  The church has had great success in evangelization and recently 145 attended one meeting and 110 another. 

v     The situation for obtaining Russian visa’s for Americans living in Russia is becoming increasingly difficult.  American missionaries must now leave Russia every three months in order to renew their visas.  Pray that the Russian government would soon allow long-term visas for foreign missionaries in Russia.

v     Recently we sent out our 2004 calendars made possible by the kindness of a Christian printer.  This mailing included a letter explaining a financial need we have in our General Operating Fund.  Please pray that God would move hearts and enable folks who receive this letter to provide the $40,000 needed.