January-February, 2008

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”  I Cor. 1:9

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Hello from the Slobodians! We would like to update you on the continuing results of our Missions to Muslims conference last September when we were able to challenge many Russian and Ukrainian young people for missionary work among the surrounding Muslim nations. God has certainly blessed all the efforts, giving and prayers that were invested in that conference as we see continuing results in three areas.

Ukraine:  On their own initiative, Ukrainian youth organized a regional follow-up conference for which they invited one of the Central Asian speakers from the conference to come back and further challenge and inform Ukrainian youth. One of the Ukrainians present at the conference has made a missionary survey trip to one of the countries and is planning on returning soon to begin a full-time missionary work. Pastors in Ukraine have indicated an interest and willingness in partnering with BIEM in the prayer support of Ukrainians going to Muslim lands. Therefore, future Ukrainian Muslim missionaries will be supported not only by Americans churches, but by Ukrainian and American churches partnering together. Two Turkmen attending the conference made plans to study for missionary work in the Ukraine. Though one had to return back to his country because of difficulties, one still remains in Ukraine preparing for full-time ministry.

Russia:  One of the young ladies from Moscow who made a decision to do missionary work in her native country where she speaks the local language made a month-long missionary survey trip there. Her home church (a BIEM church plant) took on the responsibility of sponsoring her trip. Alexander, also from the Moscow area, made a similar decision and saw the great opportunity to work among the huge number of Muslims who come to the Moscow area for work and trade.  God continues to expand Alexander's love for the Muslim people since a March wedding is planned when he will marry a wonderful young lady of Muslim background!  The bride-to-be is a born-again former Muslim who graduated from our regional school last year. In a tragic event she was brutally attacked and bore a child as a result. Since this happened she was not able to return to her homeland to work for Christ as she always planned. She remained in the area where BIEM and churches there helped her with her needs. Now, that God has brought these two together perhaps her original goal of reaching Muslims for Christ will be realized together with Alexander! A Moscow area conference is being planned to challenge and launch an organized effort to reach Muslims in the Moscow area as well as help send Russians to Muslim lands. Pray that God would indeed enable this conference to come to pass and that it may result in launching Alexander and others into Muslim ministry.

America – BIEM:  BIEM is working with the Brotherhood of Independent Baptist Churches in efforts to add a program of missionary study to the seminary in Kiev. Plans and fundraising efforts are underway to purchase a property strategically located in a country which will serve as a ministry and training center for missionary work among people in both Central and Western Asia. BIEM missions personnel have made several trips to both Western and Central Asian countries developing contacts and laying ground work for Muslim missionary work. The interest, encouragement and response that BIEM is receiving from churches and pastors in the United States indicates that Americans are eager and willing to partner with Russians and Ukrainians reaching the unreached.

Please continue to pray for our church planting efforts in Russia and Eastern Europe as we with God's enablement together with you expand our efforts into the surrounding needy nations. May the Lord bless each and every one of you!

 The Slobodians