War Relief Updates - October 16, 2026

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

1. On September 18, we shared a video about a special conference for Christian women who minister to people in war-affected areas and beyond. Not long after this video was posted, a friend of BIEM decided to provide an additional $1,000 for this event even though it had already concluded. This financial gift was an amazing blessing because that $1,000 was the exact amount that Iryna Sovenko, who organized the event, had scraped together from personal funds to cover a deficit. Praise God!

2. From Andrii Sovenko, one of our BIEM workers in the Kyiv area:

“As autumn closes in, power outages began in Ukraine. This time the situation in Kyiv was extremely severe. Last week some major power lines connecting Kyiv to the rest of the country’s grid were hit. The damage was so intense that even the subway and water and sewage systems had to shut down.

“So, please keep praying for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, that God would equip them with everything they need to go through this difficult time. Also pray for the churches, that they would have everything necessary to serve as beacons not only of the living water (the Word of God) but also as beacons of civilization, with backup supplies of power, water, and heating in order to serve people around them in this way, too. Gifts of war relief are still greatly needed and appreciated!”

3. BIEM’s video update for October shows the building of “The Tabernacle.” It’s a multi-purpose pavilion at the Derman campground. However, even though the construction is interesting, actual ministry is more heartwarming. Since camp ministry is directly tied to BIEM’s War Relief program, we decided to show you this video, which depicts scenes from one of the camps held in Derman, including in the pavilion. We hope you enjoy it:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/service

4. What do you do when there are kids in a small town where there is no church and no chance of them going away to a Christian camp? You take camp to the kids! BIEM missionaries Sergei & Vika Skripnik sent us this video, which shows how Christian teens helped them to take a camp experience to kids living in the village of Glibochok. No interpreter needed. Simply watch and join us in thanking God for sincere laborers who love kids and love God and want young ones to love the Lord, too. Enjoy!

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/glibochok-camp2026

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

October 2026 Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

For our October 2026 video, we would like to share with you a special project. With aid from BIEM, believers in Western Ukraine have been developing a base for youth camps and other ministries in Derman. However, they lacked a large, rainproof meeting place. Thanks to friends of BIEM, they now have one! In this video, Pasha Usach shares the construction of “The Tabernacle” and thanks all who helped.

By the way, although she doesn’t appear in this video, one of the leaders of a camp that used the facilities this summer included these words in her camp report: “This year, we experienced a very rainy period [in camp]. But – praise God – both we and the campgrounds in Derman were well prepared. A large pavilion had been constructed on the property. There, we could hold services, spend time together, and sing even when it was raining, all without needing to worry about our musical instruments or sound equipment. This was a great blessing for us and allowed us to continue our full program regardless of the weather!”

Here’s the link: https://vimeo.com/user37287229/tabernacle

Blessings to you!
Sam & Amy Slobodian

BIEMs of Light: October 2026

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• On September 30, a Russian drone was intercepted above BIEM’s offices near Kyiv. The drone crashed and exploded into the ground about 150 feet away. Shock waves blew out the windows of surrounding buildings, but praise God, no one was hurt.

• In September our latest container of aid left for Ukraine. Thank you for all the clothing, shoes, wheelchairs, disposable diapers, coats, etc.! We have enough items to fill another container but could use more winter wear. (However, we will need $8,500 for shipping.) If we can ship within 3 weeks, it will bless recipients before winter cold sets in.

• In Western Asia, several newer believers were recently baptized. Each one had previously been involved in demonic practices—esotericism, fortune-telling, consulting dark spirits, and similar practices. But when they visited our services, God touched their souls through His Holy Word. As a result, they repented and accepted Jesus Christ!

• BIEM missionaries once again held a special, one-day camp meeting at our campground in Derman for families who have lost sons and fathers in the war. Of 180 who attended, 30 were children who have lost their fathers. This provides encouragement and support for those who need it most. Several from the first meeting are now attending the church. Praise God!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Our director for Central Asia and his wife have 3 daughters. Each girl has serious physical afflictions: one has developed a rare, aggressive, painful tumor the size of a ping pong ball on her knee; another seems to be experiencing flare-ups of the Lyme’s disease she had years ago; the 3rd girl has developed severe allergies that may have their origin in a fungal infection she had in her stomach years ago. Please uphold this family in prayer!

• Ruslan, one of our evangelists in Central Asia, has come under increasing scrutiny and hostility by the police. Local imams all hate him because through Him locals learn of Christ and of God’s love and turn away from Islam.

• In September the Russians targeted major data centers that supply internet and cell service across Ukraine, damaging some and destroying others. The estimated time of recovery and adaptation extends into 2027. There already are some malfunctions with the internet, with more expected to happen come winter. This has affected some of our missionaries. Please pray they would retain the ability to use internet and cell service.

• We are encouraged that donations are trickling in to buy a small bus for the family in Lviv with 5 children that has now adopted 10 orphans. Initial donations are encouraging, but there’s a long way to go. Our next Challenger newsletter will include more details and photos of this unique Christian family.

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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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