War Relief Updates - February 6, 2026

Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People

1. Ruslan, a member of our new church plant in Ternopil, has been stationed on the war front for his military service. He has been serving in the military since the beginning of the war. He is one of the soldiers occasionally visited by our teams who have been providing war relief for civilians and soldiers in these war-torn areas. On a recent trip, our ministers noticed that the tires on Ruslan’s car were worn bald. Last week BIEM was able to purchase a new set of tires. Here is his translated reply: “Thank you very much for providing the new tires I so badly needed. I’m speechless. I can now travel much more safely. I thank God for your warm and generous hearts. May God bless you all!”

2. The war has had a sad effect on children and youth in Ukraine. Many cannot even remember a time when they could live normally without constant bombing and drone attacks, which continue to descend upon all of Ukraine. Essentially, they have been robbed of their childhood having to experience the reality of war at a young age. This weekend BIEM is sponsoring a special conference in Kyiv for children and youth to encourage them by turning their thoughts to the wonderful hope that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. About 20 churches are planning to bring children and youth. Between 120 to 140 are expected to attend. Please pray that this conference will result in many troubled youths giving their lives to Christ.

3. As Russian missiles and drones wreak havoc on Ukraine’s electrical grid, homes and churches have been plunged into frozen darkness. In reply to urgent requests from partner churches, we have sent $1,000 dollars each to 60 churches to provide firewood or fuel for generators. The churches, in turn, become warm havens for desperate people in need. Here’s a video “Thank You” from one such church. Thank you for helping us to help them!

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/heat

4. Last month we mentioned that Vitaly Bilyak, our pastor who has been conscripted into the Ukrainian army, had an opportunity to purchase a used vehicle duty-free from Europe. Such a vehicle is needed so he can turn over his current vehicle to another BIEM church planter in need. Purchasing duty-free is a great savings of at least 50%. However, a bit later we requested prayer because Vitaly was having difficulty in locating a suitable vehicle. But now, praise God for answered prayer! A 2006 Volvo SUV that would meet this need has been located in Latvia. After this Sunday’s services, brother Sergiy Koop will leave for Latvia to obtain this vehicle. Traveling there involves two train rides, an airplane flight, and finally public transportation. Driving the Volvo back to Vitaly will take another 2 days. Please pray for Sergiy. Winter roads can be treacherous in Ukraine, especially now, when the country is in the grip of an extremely severe winter. Sergiy will then be the recipient of Vitaly’s current vehicle, which Sergiy will drive home after delivering the Volvo. Thank you very much to all who prayed and gave for this need.

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

February 2026 Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Last summer, the church in Bilogorodka, Ukraine, took their youth group on its first-ever tent camping trip. The location for this camp was Derman, where the church in Zdolbuniv has been developing a campground for various retreats and outings. During that time, several young people were saved!

Fast forward to this winter... After Christmas, the church in Bilogorodka took their young people back to the same location in Derman for the campground’s first-ever winter camp. Obviously, the biting cold of winter made tent camping in January unrealistic for these young ones. But thanks to BIEM supporters who provided the financing, workman from the Zdolbuniv church were able to winterize the buildings. The children and teens still needed to crowd together in the limited number of sleeping rooms available in the campground’s buildings, but that became part of the adventure. They made it work, and all with excellent attitudes!

In this video, youth leaders Misha and Lera provide some glimpses and observations from that successful and refreshing outing, which they would like to share with you. Here’s the link!

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/wintercamp

Blessings to you!

Sam & Amy Slobodian

BIEMs of Light: February 2026

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• In January, 11 students graduated from our Bible institute in Central Asia! Also in Central Asia, last month, several Afghani refugees and one Iranian refugee repented and accepted Christ as Savior!

• For the first time, the summer campground developed in Derman, Ukraine, has now housed a winter camp. Children and teens ages 10 and up got to escape the missiles and drones hitting Kyiv and spent a week in snow-clad beauty, where they participated in winter activities but also grew in their faith! See a video summary here:

  https://vimeo.com/user37287229/wintercamp

• During and following this past Christmas season in Turkey, our workers coordinated several free events that were especially geared toward sharing Christ with unbelieving Turks. We praise God for all those curious Muslims who attended. May the Lord continue to draw those souls to Himself!

• God continues to give our missionaries in Armenia, the Kellers, opportunities to evangelize both Armenians and other nationalities. Through street evangelism, they introduced 2 Iranian men to Christ!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Evangelist Matthew (supported through BIEM’s Central Asia work) ministers in Iran. He states 3 of his disciples have been killed. He himself was beaten. Matthew says government forces are going to homes of known Christians and beating them. Believers are scattering. He urges prayers for believers in Iran.

• This winter BIEM is conducting a special project. Ukraine’s power grid has been taking a beating from Russian missiles and drones, leaving millions of citizens struggling to keep warm. Countless citizens are without electricity for many hours each day. We have received many requests from partnering churches for help with heat—funds for wood as well as fuel for generators. So far, we have sent $1,000 dollars each to 60 churches seeking to provide warm havens for desperate people in need. Because we have dozens more such requests, please pray for funds for this vital cause.

• One of our church plants in the Republic of Georgia has lost 2 workers: one left the country to get married, and the other relocated to work in 2 village ministries. The church requests prayer for suitable helpers, specifically “a full-time driver who is very capable in all things tech and children’s workers.”

• There are no updates regarding Vitaly Bilyak’s court case to have his conscription reversed. Nevertheless, Vitaly continues to share Christ. Since the commander assigns Vitaly to transport soldiers and officers in his vehicle, this duty provides excellent opportunities to share the Gospel. Please pray that, despite the lack of progress with the legal proceedings, Vitaly will remain encouraged in the fact that God is with him and using him.

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March Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Although the war in Eastern and Southeastern Ukraine continues to wipe out businesses, homes, and lives, for the March video we want to turn your attention elsewhere, to something more uplifting. Years ago, the mayor of a town in Ukraine visited the church where BIEM’s Anatoly Kosyanchuk preaches. At the conclusion of the service, that mayor approached Anatoly with an unexpected proposal: “If you start another Baptist church on the opposite side of town, I’ll give you the land to build on!” 

In the years following that surprise offer, God has taken the Second Baptist Church in Bilogorodka from a mere idea, to an empty plot of ground, to a construction project, to a thriving congregation. Now the Lord has blessed that growing group of believers with an ordination service—one assistant pastor and four deacons! Two of those deacons are neighbors who live within eyesight of the church. Both were unsaved when the church’s construction began. But through this ministry, God has drawn them and other residents of that neighborhood to Himself!

Our latest issue of our Challenger newsletter features an article about this same special ordination service. But for our March video, we decided to let Pastor Buyko and his new assistant pastor, Roman, tell more about God’s blessing that day. You can view that video here:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/morehands

Thank you for your prayers!

Blessings to you!

Sam & Amy Slobodian

BIEMs of Light: September 2022

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Our new missionaries in Ukraine, the Koops, operated a 3-day children’s camp in Druzhba, which they have targeted for a new church. The first day, 65 attended; the 2nd day up to 85, and the third day over 100 participated, including about 20 mothers who were asking, “Where is the church?” When those moms heard that church services will be starting soon, some replied they will come.

• Praise God, attacks from Russia on Ukraine’s Independence Day were not as bad as some feared. Although Russian rockets and missiles hit 58 cities and communities on that day, the next day there was only one. Since then, it seems things have died down.

• In Ukraine, the Slobodians report a wonderful baptism at the new church in Bilogorodka. Nine adults were baptized. Praise God for souls being accepting Christ in this time of war. Previously, the Russian army had come within a few miles of Bilogorodka, which is in the Bucha area.

• Praise God for a fruitful trip Vitaly Bilyak took to the military front in Donbas area with a trailer full of aid. He and those with him helped civilians, wounded ones in a hospital, plus soldier friends for whom he brought much-needed supplies and requested items. Vitaly plans two more such trips in September. Pray for safety. His videos from the front include sounds of artillery and explosions.

Prayer - Pray with us!

• Sources predict that the next week will be an especially dangerous time for the military cities of Desna and Goncharovsk, where BIEM missionaries have planted two churches. Both towns have already suffered attacks by missiles, rockets, and planes. More attacks are expected. Please pray for our missionaries, the churches, and the community, that lives would be spared.

• Pasha Usach conducted a special one-day event for mothers and wives who had lost sons and husbands in the war. Over 50 attended. The event was a huge blessing and provided a wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel, so much so that Pavel is planning another such an event. Pray that God will use these outreaches to draw souls to Christ, the source of the greatest comfort.

• Plans are underway to bring the Buyko family to the United States, where they will visit churches for one month. Sophia and the three girls have already received visas; now we are working on getting the special permission needed for Eugene to temporarily exit Ukraine during wartime. Please pray that this permission will be granted, just as it was for Vitaly Yurchenko.

• Some of our contacts are witnessing of Christ to Muslims in Afghanistan. Please pray for God to open eyes and illumine hearts with the Gospel.

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BIEMs of Light: August 2022

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Praise God, our personnel in Ukraine have received another 40-ft. container of humanitarian aid from us here in the United States! This is the 7th container our dedicated Ukrainians are distributing to needy places. This one went to the city administration of a region that contains several settlements that were occupied by Russian forces, so these goods will reach some of the neediest recipients.

• BIEM president Sam Slobodian heads back to Ukraine on August 2. The main focus of this trip will be humanitarian aid, but praise the Lord, he will also participate in a baptism and an ordination!

• Today BIEM personnel drove another 5 tons of food from Poland into Ukraine, this time for the Kharkiv region. We praise God for thoughtful donors and for those driving and distributing.

• So far, we are receiving reports of young people coming to Christ in BIEM-sponsored camps in Estonia, Ukraine, and Russia. Although the Lord touches hearts in a special way through such camps every summer, we never take that blessing for granted. To God be the glory!

Prayer - Pray with us!

• Despite the war in Ukraine, one of our seminary graduates is deeply burdened for a particular district in a large city in Western Ukraine that has been flooded with refugees. Many of them plan to stay. This brother has recruited others to help start a new church, and they are praying and fasting every Friday for God’s direction and provision for that goal. Please join them in praying.

• A pastor named Aleksander emailed us today from the Intensive Care section of a hospital in central Russia. He has a weak heart, and their summer camps and other ministries may have taxed him too much. Let’s uphold this worthy servant of the Lord with our prayers.

• In Central Asia, the manager of our Christian shelter for hurting women is named Julie. She is a big blessing—talented, yet with a servant’s heart and love for Jesus. She devotes herself to running the shelter and ministering to these women and their children. It’s a big job. Please pray for her.

• In another nation of Central Asia, one church recently baptized 9 former Muslims who had put their faith in Christ. Please pray that more hearts in those regions will soften and consider their need of the Savior.

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