Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
1. Many of you are acquainted with Vitaly and Alona Yurchenko, our Ukrainian nationals who were with us in December, along with their son Nikita. After their time of speaking in churches for BIEM, they spent Christmas and part of January visiting relatives near Atlanta. This week they returned to their home in Kyiv. As you may have heard, Russia has increased its attacks on civilians in Kyiv. Yesterday, a missile streaking toward the Yurchenkos’ neighborhood was intercepted by the Ukrainian Air Defense system. However, a large chunk crashed onto their street, just a few doors down. The resulting huge explosions and flames damaged buildings and cars. The Yurchenkos are safe, but the incident shook up all the neighbors. Please pray for God’s continuing hand of protection on our people during these attacks.
2. New Life Baptist Church in Ternopil, Ukraine, is one of many participating in BIEM’s outreach to provide warm clothes and Scriptures to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers. As part of that activity, the church’s youth created a video showing some of the boots, clothes, New Testaments, and Gospel tracts being packed for servicemen they personally know. The video includes snapshots of several soldiers who have already received these treasured gifts. The church sent us the video to share with all of you friends and to thank you for funding this outreach! Here’s the link:
https://vimeo.com/user37287229/warmclothes
3. Last week we mailed out a special appeal to help us raise the above-mentioned $100,000 needed to provide warm clothing plus Gospel literature to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers. We are nearly at the $50,000 mark as donations from this mailing begin to come in. Please join us in praying for the funds still needed. In case you did not receive this mailing, you can view/print it at this link:
4. Sasha Petrenko called and requested special prayer as he and a team of volunteers leave in the next few days for another dangerous trip to deliver warm clothing, food, Scriptures, and needed supplies to people near the war front. This time they plan to visit an area near Zaporozhe, where soldiers from Sasha’s own military town of Goncharovsk are operating. Please pray for the Lord’s protection since this group will be driving through some highly dangerous regions.
In Christ,
Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM