BIEMs of Light:  January 2004

Praises – Rejoice with us!

v      Last June we asked you to pray for little Samuel Ostaficiuc,  the two-year-old son of one of our missionaries in Moldova who could not walk.  They went to Moscow for a surgery they hoped would correct the problem, but returned broken-hearted when the doctors said the surgery offered no hope.  We greatly rejoice in the following great answer to pray we quote from the exciting correspondence we received from this family.  " Our Samuel is WALKING!  Yesterday, he began to walk by himself!  It is amazing. It is God's miracle.  Till this day he never could stand one moment by himself, he was even unable to crawl on his hands and feet.  Now we see him walk and we have no words to express our joy.  If you would be here now you would see this on our faces and in our tears.  God hears the prayers and He answers always.  Rejoice and praise the name of the Lord!!!

v      We rejoice to announce that Rick and Pam Barry have been appointed as BIEM missionaries.  Brother Rick will serve as our church planting director where his fourteen years of Russian ministry experience and Russian language ability will be a great asset.  Please pray that the Barry's will soon be able to raise the support needed for this important ministry.

v      Another one of our national church planter's testimony (Vladimir Makarenko) will be aired worldwide next month on "UNSHACKLED".   It turned out that one of our supporting churches had a group visiting Pacific Garden Mission when this program was recorded.  This was a special blessing!  Contact your local Christian Radio station or www.unshackled.org for information to hear this inspiring and heart warming story.

v      Praise God for the opportunity BIEM workers had to distribute Christmas gifts to orphans and needy children made possible by gifts from BIEM supporters.   Since these gifts were given in connection with Christmas programs where the public was invited, there were many lost people who heard the Gospel  as a result of this effort.

Prayer – Pray with us!

v      Please continue to pray for Tim Smith our missionary in far northern Russia who is having problems with an eye previously operated on.  We mentioned in last months BIEM's of Light that his case was referred to a specialist.  Additional surgery has now been scheduled so please pray that this will result in Brother Tim's vision being completely restored.

v      A new Romanian missionary couple that BIEM has placed in Satu-Mare, Romania has begun the hard work of establishing a new church in this strategic city. Please pray for Marius and Lorena Rotaru as they contact residents, seek a meeting place and promote this new church.

v      Now that the container that was shipped to Lutsk, Ukraine has finally been released we are planning to ship out our next container which will go to Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 7^th.     Therefore pray for warm weather that day to help with the loading and for the $1500 still needed to cover the cost of this latest container.

v      Pray for traveling mercies and productive classes for our seminary sessions this month in Kyiv, Ukraine and Moscow, Russia.