Slobodian Prayer Letter

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Warm greetings from St. Petersburg Russia where despite the cold blowing snow our hearts are warmed by the fellowship of our brethren we have been able to fellowship with in the Moscow area and now here in St. Petersburg.  Our hearts are also warmed by the knowledge that we have many friends and partners in ministry like you who faithfully pray for and support this ministry.

It was a blessing to see the church construction in Shahovskaya, Russia and spend some time with the church planter there brother Andrei Udinseva who was recruited for this ministry by Pastor Peter Rumachik who has spearheaded this church planting project.   Our video update this month contains both of these men giving a word of testimony about this exciting work in the community with over 200,000 with no Gospel witness.  If you are not receiving our monthly video updates which we send out by e-mail and would like to receive them, please let us know.   Also our summer camp report is also available upon request.  Praise God for 2500 children and teens in attendance with 494 salvation decisions!

We were very interested to hear from our brethren concerning the new anti-religious laws that were passed this summer in Russia.  These new laws forbid evangelism outside the church by witnessing or handing out literature and forbid foreigners from participating in any religious activity even inside the church.  Fines for violating these laws can be as high as $780 for an individual and $15,500 for a church or organization.  Following are some thoughts, information and concerns that we have gathered from Russian pastors and national missionaries we have met with.

1. These new laws are a serious matter that signifies a negative position of the Russian government towards any religious activity except for that conducted by the Russian Orthodox Church, which is exempt from the new restrictions.
2. Our brethren are not surprised by these developments.  They have always expected that persecution would return.  One pastor said, “This whole matter smells like the old Soviet Union”.
3. The authorities are not well informed concerning the details of these laws and have shown a propensity to go beyond the laws.  For example two Americans were arrested and fined.  The one was charged with violating the law by simply giving a greeting in a church service.  The other American was charged with the same offense even though all he did was sit in the service.  The arresting officers said that he was guilty for simply being with the offending party even though the offense was simply a public greeting done by a foreigner.  Our understanding is that both Americans paid the fines.
4. Out of the 16 cases which have been prosecuted by the government thus far, only one case resulted in an acquittal.  This single acquittal was a case involving Hare Krishna church members.  The other 15 are in appeal.
5. There is little hope that constitutional challenges will succeed.   One pastor said, “The Russian courts interpret their constitution the way they want to.”
6. It seems that the main target right now is foreigners.  This may change later.
7. Attorneys advising Christian’s are saying it will take a year to understand the results of these laws.

Please earnestly pray for believers in Russia these days.  May God bless you all!

The Slobodians

October Video Update

WATCH THIS VIDEO ON VIMEO BY EITHER CLICKING ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR BY COPYING AND PASTING IT IN YOUR BROWSER:

https://vimeo.com/188805094

Dear Pastor and Friends,

This month's video update is from Shahovskaya, Russia, a community of over 200,000 about 2 hours from Moscow.  Shahovskaya is along one of the commuter train routes serving Moscow, and so many people commute this long distance to work a high paying job in the capital city.  This video features church planter brother Andrei Udinseva who was recruited for this ministry by Pastor Peter Rumachik, the spearhead of this church planting project.  

Challenger Update

Here is a story from our recent Challenger publication.

Every summer, BIEM sponsors Christian camps in Eastern Europe. This year, your donations helped the Baptist church in Lutsk, Ukraine, to try a first: a camp for kids with disabilities. Due to the unique needs of each child, families wanting to send a special-needs camper also sent one parent. BIEM missionary Valia Yankovska shares her impressions:

I constantly thank God that I can have a role in the lives of young people through ministry in the church. Once again, with the help of the whole BIEM team, we’ve been able to hold an evangelistic

camp, this time for special-needs children and their parents. We prepared diligently, and we were concerned, because this was a first for us.

We held the camp 25 miles from Lutsk. We stayed in a two-story building with rooms for four, six, or eight people. On the first floor we held Bible studies and craft time. We ran the games outside and in the large hall where we had Bible lessons for adults.

We had two puppet shows. One of those presentations was written and performed by mothers of the kids, and that was interesting. At the end, someone needed to summarize the show’s meaning and tie it to the Bible lesson, which Ludmila did. Later she told how hard her heart was beating, but then how “easy it was on her soul” when she’d finished She’s only recently begun to read the Bible. For her, praying before meals was new. She found the Bible to be a wise and interesting book; indeed it holds answers for all her questions. She asked how people can fully obey the Lord and also pursue their own plans and personal life? We spent a lot of time in conversation.

Of course, leaders were busy with the children. To our surprise, all the children were obedient. I’m amazed by their openness, their smiles, and friendliness. Age-wise, some are no longer children, but mentally they are young. Our No. 1 rule is to talk to them normally, without pity, as if to ordinary kids.

These special-needs children were so active in games. They read the Bible aloud, they sang, and they performed all exercises during morning calisthenics. This was exhilarating and instructional for all the children. They tried their hardest, even though it didn’t always work out.

One boy, Victor, always ran to games and calisthenics. Some exercises were hard for him, but he asked his mom to help. His mother, Tanya, was delighted with her son’s camp experience. In camp, he opened up and laughed and was cheerful. At home he was reserved, grumpy, and fearful. How surprised she was when he joined in relay races and even knew how to be a good loser. She cried from joy that you revealed secret sides of her son, and that her boy felt what it’s like to be a needed part of a team, to be like everyone else. When there was a call to repentance, this boy lowered his head and prayed. His mom prayed, too.

Andrei, 15, had a reputation of hurting people. Other kids feared being in the same room with him, even when his mother stood beside him. On the first day, he learned the difference between a winner and a loser, and he tried with all his might to be among the winners. One time he lost at a game. He cried like a little child. But later he realized such things happen and that the first step toward victory is to be victorious over one’s self. He began to obey his mother and leaders. He enjoyed helping and encouraging littler ones. By camp’s end, he was a “kind and gentle bear.”

Some children misbehaved, and they deserved punishment. But Maksim (a leader) volunteered to take the punishment in their place, so he was swatted with stinging nettles. Afterward Maksim explained that Jesus died on the cross for you and for me to take our guilt on Himself so that we can have eternal life with God in Heaven. Andrei absorbed this lesson, and he prayed for forgiveness and salvation. His mother, Elena, works at a school. She has no spare time for training her son. Now, at the end of camp, she seriously wants to fellowship with us. She has seen God at work in her family, and that only He can help her cope with her son.

Luba and her granddaughter Inna, 16, had never been in a camp. (After Luba’s daughter gave birth to a disfigured daughter, the daughter’s husband left them. Luba’s daughter cried for a long while; then she gave Inna to her mother before she, too, departed to start a new life without the disabled daughter.) Luba has raised and schooled her granddaughter at home. Luba told how it hurts that Inna has no friends. When Inna was an infant, it hurt to take her outside. Everyone stared, and children laughed at Inna. Physically, she’s 16, but her mental age is half that, so she has no friends.

Luba said, “When we were invited to church, I was afraid to go. But then I saw and felt the friendliness, understanding, and support. Inna really looks forward to church. At home, she repeats the lessons to her grandfather. And I received Jesus into my heart as my Savior. I’m thankful to those who have given me the chance to be in this camp with my granddaughter. I want to read the Bible, to study it, and wish for my granddaughter to receive salvation, too. It’s sad for me to think about Grandfather and I passing away and Inna having no one to live with. After all, no one needs an ill child, and the retirement home probably wouldn’t accept her. But for now we live in God’s joy, and I ask for the Lord’s mercy concerning the salvation of Grandpa and my granddaughter.”

Inna reads the Bible, and in this way she uplifts herself. It’s a little hard to understand her words, but she reads confidently. In camp she read verses to all of us — and she was happy.

Thank you, friends of BIEM, for caring and for giving to make many, many camps possible. Your love is touching lives for Christ!

Urgent Prayer Request

An Answer to Prayer:

God has answered prayers for our national worker Barnabas, who suffered injury after his truck slid on ice and rolled over 3 times.  His vehicle was totaled.  Less than 3 weeks later, he is joyfully reporting he is feeling “fully recovered.”  He wants people to know how grateful he is to God and how thankful he is for amazing prayer partners.

Original Prayer Request:

Our coworker Barnabas lost control of his car when he drove over a patch of ice. Injuries from their accident resulted in the left side of his body being in pain. He is unable to get treatment at the local hospital because there is no electricity in the area. Please pray that Barnabas will be able to receive the medical attention he needs.

Urgent Prayer Request

Our coworker Barnabas lost control of his car when he drove over a patch of ice. Injuries from this accident resulted in the left side of his body being in pain. He is unable to get treatment at the local hospital because there is no electricity in the area. Please pray that Barnabas will be able to receive the medical attention he needs.

October BIEMs of Light

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• At last, the new church in Bilogorodka, Ukraine, has begun holding services. The first service filled the church because it was a special Harvest celebration service. Many guests from other churches attended, including an entire choir. The next week 22 people attended. May God bless and grow this brand-new ministry!
   
• Last month we requested prayer that tensions in east Ukraine’s war zone wouldn’t hinder students from attending the Fall session of the seminary in Kyiv. Praise God, after no students from that region for over a year, some students from the East resumed attending. There were 6 students from the East this current session.
   
• Good news from the Republic of Georgia: over 100 people attended an evangelism event, and God blessed with salvation decisions! Plus, students from India who attend the medical university in Tbilisi have discovered the international church. Nine of these have trusted Christ!
   
• Praise God that Brother Andrei, a Russian church planter recruited by Pastor Peter Rumachik for the new work in Shahovskaya, Russia has arrived and begun his ministry. This was no small task since they moved from faraway Siberia and have 13 children.
   

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Tolik, one of the sons of missionary-pastor Nikolai Ryzhuk in Drogichin, Belarus, is experiencing serious recurring back problems that now prohibit him from working. Doctors have performed surgery on it before, and now he may face another surgery. Please pray.
   
• In Peru, missionary Wilber Huillca Quispe is especially concerned for the indigenous people groups who live in the jungle. He and others have initiated ministry among some of these groups. Please pray for the salvation of souls.
   
• Please pray for the family of Pastor Almond in Central Asia. His son Samar accidentally electrocuted himself at home and died. However, Samar had recently repented of sin and put his faith in Christ, which has provided many opportunities to share the Gospel.
   
• Because floor hockey requires little equipment, it’s gaining popularity in Ukraine. Some of our church planters see potential for evangelism through floor hockey teams. They plan to try it, first in Gongarovsk and if successful in Desna. Please pray that God will guide and bless if this is a worthwhile means of touching others with the Gospel. 

Urgent Prayer Request

An Answer To Prayer:

Thank you for praying for our missionary and Pastor Almond's family. God has given some wonderful answers. For the first time ever the school where Samar attended (actually a Christian organization), held the funeral on their premises. The principal gave the sermon, and teachers gave testimonies. It was amazing and avoided conflicts with the rest of the community.

Our missionary reports they are getting to share the Gospel everywhere. People ask him why is he back so soon, and he tells them about Samar and gets to witness. Pastor Almond, when getting condolences from non-Christian neighbors ("We hope Allah will accept him"), gets to tell them his son is already in heaven because of what Jesus did for him. It is a powerful time for the Good News.

Our missionary has been sick and needs our prayers. He will be returning to the U.S. in 6 days. Pastor Almond's family is still in shock but surrounded by loving, caring Christians. They will have very hard days ahead when they realize this is not just a nightmare, but they have lost their precious son for the rest of their earthly lives. Please pray for them as you have opportunity.

Original Prayer Request:

Tragedy has stuck Pastor Almond’s family.  His middle son, 17 year old Samir, died from electrocution while connecting a water hose to wash the family car. Our BIEM missionary, is flying back with Pastor Almond’s oldest son who is here for college.  Samir had just accepted the Lord as his Savior at the Teen Camp which our missionary conducted recently.  The family is devastated.  Now there is a huge threat from the Muslim community.  It seems they are planning to cause problems at the funeral because Samir was a Christian.  

Please pray for traveling mercies for our missionary and Pastor Almond’s oldest son.  Ask God to comfort and sustain the family and other believers.  Pray for a peaceful funeral.  Also pray the Gospel will be proclaimed during this time and others will be saved.  Your prayers are so needed and greatly appreciated by all.

September Video Update

Watch this video on Vimeo by either clicking on the following link or by copying and pasting it in your browser:

https://vimeo.com/183288244

Dear Pastor and Friends,

Warm greetings from the Slobodians!  

This months video update features Igor Fomichov, our national missionary in the military city of Desna, Ukraine.  This military base community has been drastically affected by the war going on in Eastern Ukraine.  Many soldiers from Desna have been deployed there along with tanks and other military equipment.  Though exact numbers are secret, it is no secret that there have been many lives lost and casualties suffered.  Please pray for the Fomichov family and this church in Desna as they serve the Lord in this community which is going through difficult times.

Urgent Prayer Request

Tragedy has stuck Pastor Almond’s family.  His middle son, 17 year old Samir, died from electrocution while connecting a water hose to wash the family car. Our BIEM missionary, is flying back with Pastor Almond’s oldest son who is here for college.  Samir had just accepted the Lord as his Savior at the Teen Camp which our missionary conducted recently.  The family is devastated.  Now there is a huge threat from the Muslim community.  It seems they are planning to cause problems at the funeral because Samir was a Christian.  

Please pray for traveling mercies for our missionary and Pastor Almond’s oldest son.  Ask God to comfort and sustain the family and other believers.  Pray for a peaceful funeral.  Also pray the Gospel will be proclaimed during this time and others will be saved.  Your prayers are so needed and greatly appreciated by all.

BIEMs of Light September 2016

 September 2016

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• This year, with your help, almost 2500 children and teens in multiple countries attended Christian camps. There were 494 known salvation decisions, along with an unknown number of youth who grew closer to the Lord. Praise God for summer camp ministries!
   
• In Desna, Ukraine, an invitation to send kids to children’s camp has led to two adults accepting Christ! The man and wife were deep in sin and depression and considering suicide when the invitation came. The wife recognized the name of Pastor Fomichov from years ago, when he, too, lived for alcohol. She phoned and begged him to meet with them. He did, and they eagerly embraced the Gospel! Who could guess such an outcome from an invitation to kids’ camp?
   
• In Peru, missionary Rolando Arias was taken to the hospital with severe abdominal pain that turned out to be acute appendicitis. Surgery was performed, but days later complications began and the spot was found to be infected. But at last Rolando is mending and grateful to God for bringing him through. (He is still on the mend and would appreciate prayers.)
   
• In Belarus, Nikolai Ryzhuk praises God for a paved parking lot for the church! Although too expensive normally, the city was paving nearby and asked whether the church might be interested in asphalt.  With the price deeply discounted and BIEM’s help, the job will soon be done!
   

Prayer – Pray with us!
 

• Tensions seem to be rising again in Ukraine as Russia has built up the number of troops on Ukraine’s borders. Thousands have died on both sides. BIEM missionary Bruce Tuttle wrote, “Hearts are uneasy, yet God is still in the heavens and can do whatever He wills. Please pray for God's work here, God's people, and the lost multitudes of Ukraine!”
   
• In Bilogorodka, Ukraine, believers are planning a special evangelistic thrust for September 17-18. This will involve canvassing door-to-door, Bible distribution and services in the new church building. Please pray for God’s blessings on these efforts to lead to a successful launch of the new church, which will begin with regular Bible studies.
   
• On the third week of September, the Fall session of our seminary in Kyiv will be begin. Please pray that the escalating tensions with Russia along the Eastern border would not prevent students from attending.
   
• In the midst of projects that come and go, we never want to overlook praying for the obvious: the salvation of souls on each of BIEM’s mission fields. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to move mightily, drawing more and more perishing souls to Himself for salvation. 

Slobodian Prayer Letter

Dear Pastors and Friends,

 Greetings from the Slobodians! We are glad to update you on how God is using the prayers and support you invest in this ministry. Praise God for how He answers prayer and blesses these efforts. For example, our brethren in Belarus have reaped a harvest of souls through evangelistic meetings they recently conducted despite some of the key participants being involved in a serious car accident. However, they are being subjected to recent pressure from the authorities that have been raising issues concerning their legal status. Please pray for wisdom for Nikolai and his brother Valerie as they deal with this situation. Pray as well for the baptismal service for 8 of these new converts which provides yet another opportunity to preach the Gospel to the lost. 

Thank-you for praying for Amy, Steve and I as we participated in Ukrainian summer camps in July.  The first camp was in Bilogorodka, Ukraine and was held on the grounds of the church being built. Even though the building is not complete, it was ready enough for this event. The neighborhood was canvassed and many invitations were printed and handed out.  None of us had any idea of what to expect. Praise God that 80 children and youth attended, most from walking distance from this new church! Many parents attended the closing ceremony and expressed gratefulness for the camp and listened attentively to the Gospel that was presented.  This turned out to be a very good advertisement for the new church in this growing community.

The other camp was a youth camp conducted by the church in Ternopil, Ukraine that was held in the Carpathian Mountains. What a beautiful setting for the 40 city teenagers who attended mostly from un-churched homes.  Praise God many made salvation decisions, which was one of the goals of this camp.  Another goal was that this effort would open the doors to reaching the parents and other family members of the youth who attended.  God answered this prayer as well as a good number of the parents of these youth have signed up to attend the churches family camp which is coming up soon. Please pray that whole families would be saved and added to the church.  

 In Desna, Ukraine our church planter Igor Fomichov received a phone call from a couple that had just received one of the handouts church members were distributing for their upcoming camp. The wife recognized Igor’s name on the flyer since years ago (before Igor was saved) they were part of his drug-dealing crowd. She had heard Igor had gotten religion, dramatically changed and was even a pastor! As it turns out their lives were so ruined by drugs that several drug & alcohol re-hab centers could not help them as they narrowly survived one overdose after another. They had given up and were sitting at their kitchen table discussing how to end their lives when they received the flyer and made the phone call. They begged Igor to meet with them right away.   That resulted in them eagerly receiving the Gospel and turning to Christ! Praise God! Please pray for this couple, Lena and Lyova as they are now attending church and rebuilding their lives for the glory of God.

 Please pray for our brethren in Russia as they must deal with the new anti-religious legislation that has been put into law there. They tell us that it is too early to know exactly how these new statutes will affect them but it is a real possibility that Christians there may once again have to decide between obeying God or Caesar. We plan to meet with them once the effects of this legislation become clearer. May God keep blessing each of you!

The Slobodians

August Video Update

Watch this video on Vimeo by either clicking on the following link or by copying and pasting it in your browser:

https://vimeo.com/179084016

 

Dear Pastors and Friends,
 
Warm greetings from the Slobodians!  Amy and I have recently returned from Ukraine where we were able to participate in a couple of camps, one in Bilogordka on the outskirts of Kiev, the other in Western Ukraine where the church in Ternopil conducted a wilderness camp for youth in the Carpathian mountains.  Both camps attracted a large number of youth from non-churched homes and had encouraging results you can read about in our current prayer letter.

This month's video update is from Desna, Ukraine and features Lyosha Savchuk who was saved in this ministry and is now planting a church in Chernihiv, Ukraine.  Brother Losha who speaks fluent English shares how the container shipments we send of humanitarian aid and church planting equipment are used to open hearts to the Gospel.  Praise God for the warm hearts and generous spirits of God's people in American that make this outreach possible.

BIEMs of Light August 2016

 August 2016

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Pastor Samuel, who has been leading a growing group of believers in a predominantly Muslim area, rejoices that they can participate in the Great Commission. The church has been committed to discipleship and now sees good results, especially in college-age members who have gone on to serve as leaders of home-churches in various countries.
   
• Praise the Lord’s protection through a cup of tea! One BIEM missionary couple serves in a mountainous region of Central Asia. After a female physician examined the wife, the doctor desired to become friends and invited her to tea. The husbanded regretted this delay—until on the drive home they discovered a rockslide had just occurred on their road!
   
• In Peru, missionary Wilber Huillca Quispe visits jungle villages with the Gospel. Recently a couple in a village of the Yaminahua tribe donated a plot of ground with a thatched-roof structure to be used for Christian meetings. Praise God for their heartfelt gift to God’s work!
   
• The church plant in Bilogorodka went ahead and conducted a camp on the church grounds even though the building is not complete. The neighborhood was canvassed, and our workers were thrilled with 80 campers from the community! Many parents attended the closing event.  Praise God for such wonderful results! This will open doors to homes and hearts of the community.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Although at this point details concerning interpretation and enforcement remain unclear, reports suggest Russia’s new anti-terrorism law could also be used as a tool against believers. Please pray for Russian believers and for their witness to increase, not decrease, for God’s glory.
   
• Our first Central Asia home-church construction project is in progress. Pastor Barnabas owns a little plot of land next to his home, and the foundation for a small church building is already laid. Pray the building will be completed soon and allow believers a safe place to meet and worship.
   
• Final summer camps are taking place this month, and we are rejoicing in large numbers of campers and many salvation decisions. Please continue to pray for God to work in lives, both of campers who have already been to camp and for young people soon to be in camp. Praise God for supplying the finances needed and a heartfelt word of thanks to each who gave for this need.
   
• Elaine Smith, a pastor’s wife and the mother of a BIEM missionary, has been undergoing serious health issues. Praise God, physicians have located some blood clots and believe they can treat serious swelling she also has. Please pray for healing as she undergoes treatment.

BIEMs of Light July 2016

 

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• In June, Valery Ryzhuk and others made an evangelistic trip using rivers in the Far North of Russia. Praise God, souls repented and put their faith in Christ. A woman named Yulia told them that, before the brethren’s previous trip, she had been on the verge of suicide after the death of her son. The Lord used them to comfort and strengthen her in the difficult time.
   
• BIEM helped sponsor a youth conference in Russia that both leaders and young people consider a huge success and blessing. Some confessed their sin and asked Christ for salvation. Others were deepened in their commitment! Pastor Pavel Rumachik writes, “Praise God for your participation in this fellowship. May God reward you as well!”
   
• Thanks to the generosity of Faith Baptist Church in Lebanon, Penn., Micah and Alisha Tuttle were able to purchase and distribute 4 expensive flannel graph sets to 4 churches in the Republic of Georgia. Upon learning of the gift, a member of one church exclaimed that they had just started praying for such a tool for their children’s ministry! May God be praised.
   
• Recently BIEM missionaries organized a special family camp in Central Asia. Forty-four people attended, a number of them being couples in which one is a Christian and the other is not.  By the camp’s conclusion, several attendees requested prayer and gave evidence of being close to placing faith in Christ. Praise God for such a gathering; may He bless all who attended.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Doctors for Elaine Smith, the mother of a BIEM missionary who had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure have determined that she has Lupus, which explains the issues she was having. Please pray that the treatment will be effective and that the Lord will be glorified in all this.
   
• In Central Asia, Pastor Righteous reports an increase in people throwing rocks at him and his home. He notes the local populace seems to be emboldened by anti-Christian activities taking place in various countries of the world. Please uphold his family and other believers.
   
• We are rejoicing that the funds needed for summer camps this year have been provided!  We Praise God for each gift.  By this point in July, some churches in Eastern Europe have already held their children’s or teen camps. Other camps have yet to take place.  Please pray for many to be saved.
   
• In closing, here is one of our missionary’s plea: “Please pray with us that the Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ would penetrate the darkness of this increasingly Islamic land. The battle rages, time is short, Satan is powerful, we need God’s warriors kneeling in intercession before the throne of God, to keep us strong in the battle, and to help us snatch souls from the throes of death and the eternal flames of Hell.” Can you sense the sincerity of that request? Let’s pray for missionaries!

BIEMs of Light June 2016

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• In May, the church in Drogichin, Belarus, celebrated their 10-year anniversary by holding evangelistic tent meetings. Praise God, souls came forward to repent and get right with God. Afterward, each of them received the gift of a Bible.
   
• A believing soldier named Vanya is serving at the military base in Desna, Ukraine. He enlisted specifically to witness to other men in the army. Each Sunday he brings one or two new men to services where BIEM missionary Igor Fomichov preaches. Igor thanks God for Vanya and asks that we pray for God’s blessing on this man, through whom souls have found Christ!
   
• In the Republic of Georgia, BIEM missionary Vitaly Bilyak was able to visit a number of Georgian men who had once been alcoholics, but who found Christ during rehabilitation in Ukraine. Vitaly rejoices that all these men still attend church and live faithfully for the Lord. They have even begun their own Rehabilitation Center in their own country!
   
• Praise God for $40,000 matching funds made available to BIEM for church building programs underway in Ternopil and Bilogorodka, Ukraine as well as in Shahovskaya, Russia near Moscow.  This opportunity and the dollars strength in these areas makes this a great investment.  Please pray that these matching funds will come in.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• We are grateful that many of God’s people have responded to the need for summer camp funds and provided donations. However, this is still a matter for prayer, since we are $9,500 short, and the camping season is about to begin. Thanks for praying and for giving!
   
• Even as we prepare this sheet, another evangelistic expedition to the Far North of Russia is about to begin. Please pray for the salvation of souls and spiritual growth of believers who live in those hard-to-reach places. 
   
• In a Muslim land, a BIEM missionary named Sasha requests prayer for a number of people who have been attending services and listening with interest. However, at least a couple of young ladies openly doubt that it’s possible to live a holy life in modern Muslim society, which is so filled with sin. Pray for the Lord to touch their hearts and strengthen their fledgling faith.
   
• In Fedorivka, Ukraine, BIEM missionary Mikhail Titarenko requests prayer for a Christian woman named Galya and her non-believing husband. Although Galya sincerely loves the Lord, the husband drinks, is sometimes violent, and doesn’t even like for Galya to attend church, which leaves him alone to care for her elderly mother. Please pray for this husband’s salvation. 

Vitaly and Olena Yurchenko

Vitaly Yurchenko was working on a nearby roof when he witnessed the explosion at Chernobyl.  A fortunate survivor of this nuclear catastrophe, Vitaly is a graduate of the Kyiv Theological Seminary, and he gave up a lucrative private business to become a church planter with BIEM. When Vitaly first visited Chervona Sloboda, Ukraine, there was not so much as one church of any kind, and he felt the Lord urging him to start one. Beginning by renting the village club and holding evangelistic meetings, he has been blessed by God as souls have turned to Christ as Savior. Vitaly now leads a congregation (called Grace Baptist Church), which purchased a house to remodel and expand as their own meeting place. Despite open hostility from two community leaders (the school principal and the manager of the liquor distillery), Vitaly steadfastly persevered in proclaiming the Gospel, and the Lord is blessing his faithfulness.

The Yurchenkos' Reports

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The Vladykos

Due to security reasons, please contact our office for more information about the Vladykos and their ministry.

Andrew Counterman

The first Challenger of 2009 unveiled a new program geared to jumpstart church-planting in Latin America, the continent where BIEM founder Peter Slobodian accepted the Lord. The plan is to provide limited support for two years for Peruvian Bible school graduates who are eager to plant churches. BIEM's Latin America Field Director, Andy Counterman, provides this news from Peru.

Just before the annual BIEM Board meeting in Indianapolis, I had the privilege of attending a pastors' meeting in the high jungle of Peru. After flying into the city of Tarapoto, I met the president of the seminary in Trujillo, Enoc Principe, and the next Peruvian church-starter for BIEM, Luis Escobar. We had lunch in Tarapoto, and Luis showed us where his church is meeting and introduced us to his family. His dirt-floor church is not uncommon in Peru. This quiet man, a product of the Peruvian army special forces, now holds his child, and in a voice full of excitement shares his vision of a room full of believers. 

From Tarapoto, we traveled into the jungle to a small town called Chazuta. This dirt-road town houses a church of over 100. The humble house of God looked primitive in contrast to the Catholic church in the center of town. Yet, in another sharp contrast, this humble meeting place of believers was alive! Over 100 pastors and missionaries from the jungle as well as other towns and cities of Peru met there for instruction and encouragement throughout the week. 

I had the privilege of preaching three times and conducted several "side-bar" meetings throughout the four days we were there. I was also able to do follow-up with Segundo Rodriguez, Luis, Joel Gamboa, and strategic planning with Enoc. 

As we reflected on the wonderful possibilities in Peru, we ran some numbers. The average seminary graduate in Peru is able to go full-time in ministry for about $6,000 per year. BIEM underwrites these men for two years of full-time ministry. If we do the math, for less than a purchased cup of coffee, five days a week for two years, 20 people could start churches in Peru. Perhaps I could be so bold as to suggest you invest a "cup of coffee" per day in Peru as we open all of South America. Souls are being saved, and churches are being started in this wasteland of empty religion. You can make a difference! Oh yes, as you invest a cup for Peru, pray as you enjoy your cup each morning. 

Is the Lord prompting you to help place a church-planter on the fields of Latin America? If so, please designate your gift "Latin America."

Segundo and Leny Rodriquez

La palabra de Dios llegó a mi vida siendo yo muy pequeño. Al costado de mi casa se abrió un club de niños en el que se enseñaba la palabra de Dios. Aunque recibí enseñanzas bíblicas desde muy tierno, mi conversión a Jesucristo se demoró todavía un poco. Las enseñanzas que recibí de pequeño no evitaron que yo fuese un hijo rebelde y desobediente.

En mi familia se convirtieron mi mamá y mi hermano mayor. Este mi hermano mayor se dedicó al ministerio y hoy tiene ya más de 30 años como pastor. Cuento este detalle de mi hermano porque cuando tenía unos 11 años hice una profesión de fe. Resulta que me enfermé gravemente a esta edad y como consecuencia de la enfermedad tuve una fiebre muy alta y hasta deliraba. Justo cuando estaba con el temor del delirio mi hermano mayor me habló de entregarme al Señor Jesucristo. Recuerdo bien que lo “hice”. Sin embargo, después, cuando ya estuve sano, mi vida moral no mejoró… !empeoró! El que haya sido así me mostró que yo no me había convertido como debía ser, sino que había orado por el temor a la fiebre y al delirio que tuve a causa de la enfermedad.

Como ya he dicho, mi vida antes del hecho anterior era rebelde y desobediente. Después, mi vida fue peor. Entre los 11 y los 22 años de mi vida no hay nada bueno que contar. Pues viví en una forma muy desordenada. Mi situación moral y espiritual empeoró cuando fui al servicio militar. Una vez que salí del ejército intenté enrolarme en el narcotrafico en la selva del Perú. Quería ganar bastante dinero y… ¡rápido! Gracias a Dios nunca pude meterme en ese ilícito negocio. Esto no significa que no me hubiese metido en problemas, la verdad es que sí me metí… y en muchos. Después de haber andado por la selva del Perú por dos años. Regresé a la ciudad de Trujillo. En Trujillo seguí viviendo desordenadamente hasta que entregué mi vida a Jesucristo.

Mi conversión a Jesucristo ocurrió gracias a que uno de mis hermanos, que ya se había convertido tiempo atrás y que estaba enseñando en el Seminario Bautista del Perú con sede en Trujillo, intercedió por mí ante uno de los misioneros americanos, el Misionero. Stanley Templeton, para que me diese trabajo como ayudante en la construcción de su casa. Gracias a Dios, me dieron el trabajo y es así como empecé a ver y a oir otra vez el evangelio de Cristo.

El día mi conversión a Jesucristo fue el 29 de Junio de 1987. Ese día fue lunes, lo recuerdo bien y nunca lo olvidaré. Ese día me desperté como a las 5 de la madrugada. Como estaba todo oscuro, me pregunté si es que estaba muerto. Luego de darme cuenta de que no era así, me hice las siguientes preguntas: “¿Voy a vivir con este desorden y este vacío siempre? ¿Para vivir así es que me ha creado Dios? ¿No hay una vida mejor que la que vivo?”.

Estas preguntas me llevaron a pensar en Jesucristo. Pensé en que debía entregarme a él. Su nombre vino a mi mente y a mi corazón como mi única opción. Empecé a creer que él era el único que podía darme una vida mejor y el único que podía sacarme del profundo vacío existencial en el que vivía. Pero este pensamiento estaba empañado por las preguntas siguientes: “¿Podré dejar mis vicios y mi mala manera de vivir? ¿Qué es lo que dirán mis amigos? ¿Podré cumplir con las exigencias de Jesucristo?”.

En mi interior hubo una lucha intensa por varias horas. Serían más o menos las 11 de la mañana cuando decidí que iba a entregarme a Jesucristo. Como estaba en ese momento en el Seminario Bautista Del Perú, fui a buscar al Misionero Stanley Templeton. Eran ya como las 2 de la tarde cuando bajo la guía de este siervo de Dios, le dije a Jesucristo: “Señor, estoy cansado de vivir como estoy viviendo. Si tú puedes darme una vida mejor que la que tengo, te entrego mi vida”.
Después de haber orado así y de escuchar algunos consejos del misionero Stanley, salí del local del Seminario y mirando hacia el cielo le dije a Dios: “Ahora vive tú en mi vida”. Ese bendito día mi vida cambio. Después de mi conversión me integré a la Iglesia Bautista de La Esperanza en Trujillo, Perú. Me bauticé pronto. Luego pensé en que lo único que yo debía y quería hacer era… ¡predicar el evangelio!

Persecuted for Christ

This just in from one of BIEM's missionaries moving to a new location in Central Asia: "Please continue to pray for brother Righteous, who was arrested by the KGB. Since that time he has had no other problems from them. He is humbled, shocked, and encouraged by the outpouring of prayers for him from those of you who have never met him, yet love him in the Lord. Thank you for your labor of love and godly example. We view our move to this country as very timely, as these men have not faced this type of persecution for quite some time. We have been helping their neighbors through these types of persecutions for years, so I am glad to get there on the ground and help these men to re-strategize and prepare as much as is possible for the storms to come."