Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
1. Our most recent shipment of humanitarian aid for Ukraine departed on March 21 and, praise the Lord, friends have been donating toward our next shipment. This week alone, several friends of BIEM have stopped by the office to donate gently used clothing and other items. Plus, a women’s ministry in Indianapolis donated a vanload of feminine products and brand-new ladies’ undergarments, a gift of about 2,500 items.
2. The Ukrainian legislature has proposed a much-anticipated law concerning mobilization for military service. Many Ukrainians were hoping this proposed law would limit military duty to 36 months. However, the final wording contains no such provision. Ukrainian lawmakers suggested they may revisit this issue later. However, this bill would make it harder to avoid mobilization. For example, the bill mandates carrying a military registration document that must be produced when requested by authorities, and there are penalties for not having registration. No changes in law would cause clergy to lose their exemption from combat service, which we hope will remain the case, since our pastors are involved in distributing humanitarian aid. At this point, the proposed law requires the speaker’s signature followed by the president’s signature, after which it becomes official law in 30 days.
3. Along with several others, BIEM missionary Sasha Petrenko takes monthly trips to the war-torn areas of eastern Ukraine. Using aid provided by BIEM, his church in Smolin, Ukraine, prepares packets of food and purchases useful items like chainsaws (to facilitate cooking and heating). Of course, whether Sasha ministers to the military or to civilians, he always takes the Word of God, which is necessary for the saving of souls. By clicking the following link, you can see which kinds of items this congregation is sending to encourage men at the front:
https://vimeo.com/user37287229/preparingfood
4. Some of you may remember Sasha, a soldier who appeared in a video with Vitaly Bilyak during one of his trips to the war front to distribute aid and share the Gospel with civilians and the military. Newly saved, Sasha wanted to be baptized in Ternopil, which would require him to wait until he received a leave. However, Sasha was told that no leaves were being granted because there were no replacements available to take the place of those due for leave. Still, Sasha and the Ternopil church have been praying that he would somehow receive permission to go. Recently Sasha’s commander woke him at 2 am and told him to pack to go to Ternopil because Sasha had been promoted and needed to take care of matters at the military offices there. So, Sasha ended up spending two weeks in Ternopil, allowing plenty of time to be baptized and to fellowship with his brothers and sisters in Christ. Praise God for answered prayer!
In Christ,
Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM