War Relief Updates - March 20, 2026

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

1. Past experience has demonstrated that bringing Ukrainian church planters to the U.S. to speak in churches is definitely an effective method of raising awareness of the needs in Ukraine. It is also effective for raising funds for war relief. Because our foreign nationals are never guaranteed entry visas from the U.S. Department of State, we especially rejoice that two of our missionaries—Vitaly Yurchenko and Pasha Levtseniuks—have been granted renewed visas.

2. During Ukraine’s severe energy crisis this past winter, the generous gifts from friends of BIEM enabled us to bless scores of churches there with gifts of $1,000 apiece to aid in heating their church buildings. We praise the Lord that the number of churches aided this way has now surpassed 100. We will share more details about this in the next issue of our quarterly Challenger newsletter.

3. Recently, using finances from BIEM, the church in Lviv, Ukraine, once again prepared portable meals in hermetically sealed packets. This time some of the believers personally delivered them to the 37th Brigade. These compact food packets can be delivered to soldiers even on the frontlines of battle by drones. In this brief video, an excited representative of the 37th Brigade praises the quality of the food packets and thank BIEM for financing them. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/37thb

4. Among the many scores of thank-you letters from Ukrainian churches arriving at BIEM is this one. It comes from the Brotherhood of Independent Christian-Baptist Churches and Missions of Ukraine:

“Unfortunately, the shelling of Kyiv continues. Almost every night and every day, we not only hear sirens, but we even see our military shooting down deadly drones and missiles. Energy facilities, homes, heating plants, and businesses are being destroyed. Adults and children are dying… and all of this is happening right before our eyes. We hate war and pray to God for protection and peace. War is the quintessence and manifestation of all the evil that can possibly exist… Thank God that He is especially with us in these times, that He does not abandon us—and through you He demonstrates that He does not abandon us! Because of your love and support! Thank you once again!”

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

BIEMs of Light: March 2026

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Vitaly Bilyak had hoped to buy a replacement car from outside of Ukraine. His status as a member of Ukraine’s armed forces exempts him from paying import duty (up to 100% of the car’s price), which is a huge savings. Thanks to the Lord and BIEM supporters, that wish is now fulfilled! Sergiy Koop managed to pick up the vehicle in Latvia and deliver it to Vitaly. Thank you for prayers!

• Praise God for sending warmer temperatures to Ukraine. Snows are melting, which is a tremendous relief after the bitterly cold temperatures of January and February.

• Of course, huge portions of the Ukrainian electrical grid remain in ruins. Rolling power outages will be the norm for some time. Meanwhile, 97 churches have sent BIEM thank you’s for the aid we provided to heat their church buildings. We, in turn, thank you for donations to our War Relief.

• When Sergiy Koop traveled to Latvia to pick up the car for Vitaly Bilyak, he spent the night at a Ukrainian church. He showed them photos of his little Toyota Yaris packed with war relief, etc. The church responded by purchasing a fairly recent model minivan worth around $20,000! Sergiy still needs to raise $10,000 to pay customs duties, but praise God for this unexpected provision!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• BIEM’s Director for Central Asia has received word from an evangelist named Matthew inside Iran. Although Matthew is saddened by the number of Christians killed by the Iranian regime, he rejoices because he has more freedom now to witness openly than ever before. He requests prayer for himself and other Iranian believers, that God would use them to reach more Iranians for Christ!

• As she continues deputation, missionary candidate Dana Keller says, “God is already doing wonderful things—and I truly believe this is only the beginning. At this point, I still need to raise the remaining 35% of my monthly support in order to move to Ukraine and serve there full-time.” Will you say a prayer for Dana’s remaining support to be pledged?

• About 10 days ago, a graduate of our Bible Institute in Central Asia spent hours witnessing to a high-ranking man in the Taliban. He left him with a call to repent and the film King of Glory to watch. Please pray that God grips his heart and that he comes to faith in Jesus.

• Today, our Director for Ukraine Eugene Buyko and his family were permitted to exit Ukraine on a trip to BIEM in the U.S. Here, the family will speak & sing in churches, plus help extensively to prepare our next shipment of war relief for Ukraine. We praise Lord for a smooth border crossing!

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March 2026 Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

As winter draws toward a close, our video for the month of March gives us one more peek into a Ukrainian winter camp. In this video, the church in Zdolbuniv brings their teen group to the campground in Derman. There, the youth had fun playing games in the snow, practicing sportsmanship, and enjoying warm meals. But more importantly, youth leaders united their hearts around the Word of God and led them in worship. All this, without the sound of missiles, drones, and explosions that plague more populous areas. As you watch, just imagine what a wonderful change of pace this camp was for teens living in a nation under constant attack. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/wintercamp2

Blessings to you!

Sam & Amy Slobodian

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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