Praises – Rejoice with us!

v     Last month Ghenadie Ostaficiuc in Duralesti, Moldova, requested prayer. His wife was experiencing complications in her pregnancy, and doctors feared a serious problem with the child. Praise the Lord, Ghenadie now says, “I want to thank those who prayed for my family and for my wife’s pregnancy. God gave the answer, and the child is well now. God healed him, and the pregnancy is going well too!”

v     BIEM missionary Tim Smith in Magadan, Russia, praises God that he can remain in that country. Recently his telephone service was cut off without explanation, and friends mentioned that government officials had approached them and asked questions about him. Tim learned that he was under investigation and could be expelled from Russia immediately. However, he hired a lawyer and responded to every demand. As a result, he gets to unpack and stay on the field. Praise the Lord!

v     We praise God that the Russian version of Peter Rumachik’s book A Path Not Lined with Roses has just now been printed. Many friends in the U.S. have been blessed and encouraged by the testimony of this servant of God. We trust that the Russian version will be a blessing to many more believers in Pastor Rumachik’s own country.

v     May 21 will mark the conclusion of the 10^th year of BIEM’s seminary in Kyiv. We praise God for this decade of training believers to serve Him!

Prayer – Pray with us!

v     On various dates in May, our seminary and Bible institute students in Eastern Europe will graduate. Please pray for these young men and women as they complete their studies and seek God’s guidance for future ministry.

v     National church planters Dr. Alexander Shestov (“Dr. Sasha”) and his wife Alya arrived safely in the U.S. from Otradnoye, Russia. They are currently logging many miles as they report to supporting churches and present his vision for expanding the work into surrounding areas. Likewise, Pastor Iosif Pop from Romania is also visiting churches in America. Please pray for God’s blessing on these visits to the U.S.

v     Recently Volodya Makarenko was able to “pass the baton of leadership” for the church he had planted in Tuchkova, Russia, to Pastor Vyacheslav Dementev. Please pray for Vyacheslav as he assumes this new ministry. Volodya continues to work toward planting yet another church in Mitino, a suburb of Moscow.

v     Funds for the purchase of BIEM’s new facility continue to trickle in, but about $150,000 remains to be paid. Please pray that we will be able to pay off that amount soon so that we can focus our efforts on our projects overseas.