Praises – Rejoice with us!
We have previously mentioned the missing soldier Oleg, the brother of BIEM church planter Sasha Petrenko. Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Oleg went missing. For about two years the family didn’t know whether Oleg was even alive. But now Oleg’s name has appeared on a list of prisoners who are to be released in the next prisoner swap. Praise God for this wonderful answer to prayer!
On March 21, our latest 40-foot container of humanitarian aid and supplies departed for Ukraine! (However, this praise is also a prayer need: Polish farmers continue to block truck traffic at the Ukrainian border in protest over lower wheat prices, for which they blame Ukraine. Supposedly, both Poland and Ukraine are making progress concerning regulating food imports, but a final agreement is not in sight.)
Thank you for praying for Igor Fomichov and Pavel Usach during their travels in the U.S. in March. They spoke in supporting churches in multiple states and played active roles in loading our container of humanitarian aid and assisting us with the paperwork. Now home in Ukraine, both express appreciation for everyone they managed to see and for all those who donated clothing and other items for Ukraine.
A Central Asian family that came to Christ has a little girl named Dunya. It turned out that little girl suffered from a hole in her heart. Could the believers help? Yes! Praise God, Dunya underwent surgery and is now a happy, healthy, little girl with renewed strength!
Prayer – Pray with us!
On March 10, BIEM’s Vitaly Bilyak came under attack on an evangelism & aid trip in Donbas. A Russian drone targeted his car with a grenade. Shrapnel exploded the car’s right and rear windows and punctured his tires but, praise God, Vitaly was unhurt! Vehicle repairs are estimated at $5,000 due to all the shrapnel holes in the car’s body. BIEM would like to pay that cost. Please pray for that need.
BIEM now has a waiting list of churches in Ukraine hoping for stackable auditorium chairs. We have sometimes been blessed with donations of such chairs, which have been a great blessing to our church planters. However, the war has increased church attendance. Please pray for the Lord to send us more chairs (even ones that need repairs) that we can put on the next container.
In Central Asia, a young lady named Nagina is a new believer. Her mother gave her a choice: “Islam and me, or Jesus, your church, and the Bible Institute.” When she chose Jesus, her mother threw her out of the home. She declared she had lost everything but had gained new life and love in Christ.
Some funds have begun to arrive for the summer camp ministry. Of the $60,000 needed, we have received $4,084. We have no idea which friends can help, but God knows! Please pray that He will prompt those of His people to take an interest and to provide.
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