Update: Urgent Prayer Request - August 7, 2025

Vitaly Bilyak was able to call me, and we talked for a while. He is in a training center, which is basically a tent camp in a forest. Apparently he can call us, but we cannot call him. However, I can SMS him. He is in very good spirits and asked us to pray for 3 things:

1. That God would use him to share the Gospel among the soldiers, which he is doing.
2. That God would encourage, strengthen, and comfort his wife Katya.
3. That the legal efforts the Baptist Brotherhood have launched through lawyers would relieve him of military service, although he says this would indeed be a miracle.

Thank you for praying for Sergiy Koop’s safety as he traveled through areas infested with conscription units to visit Vitaly. Praise God, Sergiy has returned home safely. In this week’s update—which goes out every Friday—we will highlight a video of Sergiy’s visit with Vitaly, as well as him sharing how God protected him on this trip. If you are not on our email list to receive these weekly updates, you can subscribe here:

https://www.baptistinternational.org/urgent-war-updates-sign-up 

Sam Slobodian

BIEM

Update: Urgent Prayer Request - August 6, 2025

Thank you for praying for Vitaly Bilyak. Not good news. As you know, he was detained at the border as he was attempting to leave Ukraine to catch flights to the United States from Poland. There were army conscription officials at the border, so he was conscripted into the army and assigned to an artillery division even though he is 50 years old. So, it looks like he will have to do some military service. These army conscription officials have very broad authority and are highly motivated to conscript as many as they can. What this means, we do not yet know. It is possible that Vitaly will be assigned to non-combat duties of some sort, because he has consistently stated that he will not bear arms as a pastor.

He was transferred to a training unit about 200 miles from Ternopil. There, we had one of our other missionaries, Sergei Koop, meet with him and bring him some items from home that he requested. Sergiy made a video of Vitaly addressing the church, which he will share with the Ternopil congregation. They prayed together and then Sergei headed to the border to retrieve Vitaly’s car which he will bring back to Ternopil. Please pray for Sergiy now, since if he is apprehended by the army conscription units roving the country, he would most likely end up with Vitaly. Sergiy has a wife and two very small children, so please pray today that he will be able to return to them safely.

The church in Ternopil has excellent leadership in place with seasoned deacons. The assistant pastor Andrei, who heads up the Drug and Alcohol Center, will lead the church in Vitaly’s absence. Our brethren are trying to get Vitaly into a chaplaincy position. If that is not possible, he will likely be assigned non-combat duties, but this is not guaranteed so please pray about this. Our brethren are also seeking legal advice to see if there are any legal procedures that can be used.

Vitaly is in good spirits and is trusting that the Lord is with him and will use him where he is. He has already had several opportunities to share the Gospel with those around him. Please continue to pray for Vitaly, his wife Katya, and their church in Ternopil. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

Sam Slobodian

BIEM

Urgent Prayer Request

Please pray for BIEM missionary Vitaly Bilyak. Vitaly is one of our nationals whom we periodically invite to the U.S. to speak in churches, assist with container details, etc. Today he had official government permission once again to exit Ukraine for a limited time. However, at the border crossing, not only did the guards not permit him to leave the country, but they instead sent him to a military recruiting office. There, he was told he would be given a physical exam. After that, communication with him ceased. His wife Katya is also unable to communicate with him. From our perspective, Vitaly is much more valuable to Ukraine as he conducts his war relief activities than as a soldier. Please pray that he would be allowed to remain a civilian and free to travel.

As soon as further information is available, we will share it. Thanks for praying!

BIEMs of Light: August 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• The container of aid we shipped on May 30 for the church in Obolon (north side of Kyiv) has safely arrived. Thanks for praying as the church works through all the necessary paperwork.

• In Central Asia, more Muslims have become former Muslims after accepting Christ! In recent days a Tajik man and an Afghani couple have placed their faith in Jesus. Praise God!

• Recently a lawyer informed BIEM that a couple who had been longtime supporters of BIEM had gone into eternity and willed their house to BIEM as a final donation. The house hasn’t sold yet, but we thank God for such friends of BIEM who aid our various ministries even in their Homegoing!

• At a campground in Western Ukraine, the church in Lviv held special meetings for about 200 women made widows during the war. We thank God for the opportunity to bless and encourage hurting ones while sharing Jesus Christ. It’s a sad reality that Ukraine is becoming a nation of widows.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• In Desna, Ukraine, the church building recently suffered damage when a Russian drone targeted a nearby electrical substation. The blast blew out windows and did other minor damage. Even before this attack, with BIEM’s help the church was already putting on a new roof. Now they have extra work to do at a time when so many construction workers are away, serving in the military. Please uphold this congregation in prayer.

• This month, Sam & Amy Slobodian will be in Ukraine to work in children’s camps, among other ministries. In light of the greatly increased number of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine in recent days, please pray for safety for them and for all the kids and leaders of these summer camps. Of course, please continue praying for life-changing decisions among the children in all our camps!

• The container of aid that we shipped on June 20 for Desna, Ukraine, is still enroute. Pray for its safe arrival and for wisdom for that church when the believers distribute the contents and evangelize.

• BIEM missionaries and volunteer church members continue to organize roadside evangelism and other Gospel outreaches. Please pray for their safety and for the salvation of souls. To see brief videos of various evangelistic activities, please go to BaptistInternational.org and scroll down theHome page to click “View Video Updates.”

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BIEMs of Light: July 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• In the month of June, BIEM shipped not one but two containers of war relief to Ukraine. A huge percentage of each shipment consists of donated clothing and medical supplies, but they contain other helpful items, too. Contents will be distributed by our churches in Obolon and Desna. Praise God!

• Hallelujah, we received 100% of the donations needed to fund this summer’s camps for children and teens. In fact, the first camps have started. We praise God and thank you missions-minded friends!

• Recently, another Christian ministry delivered to BIEM 4 pallets stacked high with boxes of adult disposable diapers. Because the pension for a retired Ukrainian is only about $30/month, a box of these is invaluable for those who need them. We praise the Lord for directing this aid our way!

• Our newest church planter, Sergei Anokin, was with us for a few weeks. He’s planting a church in Bucha, where Russian forces committed atrocities. Because he sheltered 170 residents in a church, the UN asked him to testify when they initiated war-crime procedures. Sergei’s presentation in churches was riveting. You can view one here:

  https://vimeo.com/user37287229/anokhin2

Prayer – Pray with us!

• “K___” embraced Christ after fleeing Afghanistan but was arrested and sent back. He said, “When we go back to Afghanistan, the temptations are great... Satan will throw all his power at us to deny our faith and walk away from God to find ease. I was tried as never before in my life, but Jesus held me through the pain, storms, hunger, sicknesses, and beatings. He was closer than any relationship we can ever have.” Please uphold such new believers in prayer.

• In the country of Georgia, constantly changing laws are creating challenges for ministry. Please pray for our Gospel workers to have vision, wisdom, and discernment as they go forward in faith.

• In Belarus, our missionary Nikolai Ryzhuk and another brother spent weeks visiting small, far-flung churches of just a few members. In addition to encouraging believers, they have led souls to Christ! Please pray for the encouragement of tiny churches and for more souls to come to the Lord.

• A couple years ago, we were able to purchase land in Western Ukraine for a Christian camp. With the help of BIEM friends, a camp building with a bomb shelter is also under construction there. Please pray they can complete this extremely difficult challenge before camps begin at the end of July.

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BIEMs of Light: June 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• We praise God and thank you friends that we have received 100% of the funds needed to host camps this summer. So, no need to send more funds, but please continue to send up more prayers for the Lord to bless and protect all the camps throughout summer.

• On May 30, a 40-ft. container of clothing, medical supplies, and other forms of aid for Ukraine departed from our BIEM warehouse. Today, the next empty container was dropped off. This week, this will likewise be filled with aid for another area in Ukraine. Praise God for all the needed, donated supplies!

• After a “dry spell” of no Muslims embracing Christ in our Central Asia ministries, on June 8 eight people from various ethnic backgrounds placed their faith in Jesus! Praise God!

• Starting this week, Christian camps are starting in the “-stan” countries of Central Asia. Of course, Christian camps are forbidden, so this is also a prayer request for God’s protection.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• In Central Asia, civil authorities still seek to persecute Christians. Recently, plainclothes police visited the neighbors of one of our church planters to dig up dirt against him. However, Muslim neighbors declared that pastor is a model citizen! Pray for protection.

• The Gospel puppet theater run by the church in Chervona Sloboda, Ukraine, often receives repeat invitations from school, churches, hospitals, and others. So, they are searching for fresh plays with recordings in Ukrainian. They request prayer for God to work in hearts.

• Displaced Afghanis who have trusted Christ in Central Asia are in difficult straits: they are not accepted where they are but returning to Afghanistan and as believers, it will mean persecution and possibly death. Please pray for God’s wisdom and guidance for them.

• Our newest Ukrainian church planter is Sergii Anokhin, who is planting a church in Bucha, Ukraine, which was brutally occupied by Russian forces. Russian atrocities committed in Bucha made international headlines. Sergii was interviewed by 15 international organizations and eventually testified before the UN in Belgium. Please pray that we would be able to raise the support needed for Brother Sergii. If you would like to support Sergii, please contact us.

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BIEMs of Light: May 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Praise, God, the spring session of the Seminary has 51 students! Once again, we are thrilled to have new students. This is a record number for us during war time. Pastors from the U.S. are teaching Genesis and Christology; a Ukrainian pastor is teaching World Religions.

• BIEM has passed the 2-million-dollar mark for War Relief donations. Thank you for your generosity! Our missionaries and national pastors say they simply could not do the same level of evangelism and aid if not for aid from you American believers. Sadly, Russia continues to destroy, but weary believers still show God’s love in words and deeds.

• Hallelujah! In Central Asia, a man who has heard the Gospel multiple times finally placed his faith in Christ yesterday. Praise God for opening his eyes to the Truth.

• Our church plant in Druzhba, Ukraine, has now held their 3rd service in the new location God provided. Pastor Sergiy says, “We are grateful to God for answering our prayers, because we are very comfortable here. There is a lot of space, and it’s a very good location.”

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Pray for K_____, who had fled Afghanistan, found faith in Christ, but then was deported back to Afghanistan. Because he follows Jesus, his family rejected him. Non-believers try to hunt him down. He does simple jobs to survive. He says, “Don’t worry about me. I have tasted the Water of Life. I’m a solid follower of Jesus. No one can ever take that from me.”

• The Lord has opened an exciting door to plant a new church in Bucha, Ukraine, where Russian occupation forces brutally slaughtered over 2,000 in the streets. This would be our second church planted in the Bucha region. The first one, Nizhylovychi, also suffered horrific atrocities. Please pray for all details to be worked out. Praise God!

• Summer camps are now right around the corner. Our target amount to run the camps is $60,000. Praise God, $49,700 has come in. Please pray concerning the $10,300 still needed.

• During Russia’s April 24 attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine, one missile exploded near where BIEM’s own director for Ukraine lives with his family. Adults and children were injured with at least 13 killed in the attack. Many are missing. In the following video, Eugene Buyko’s son Michael pauses his aid work to give this on-the-spot report:

  https://vimeo.com/user37287229/missing

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BIEMs of Light: April 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• When the church plant in Ternopil, Ukraine, outgrew their rented storefront, church members were shocked to learn a place the size they needed would cost $1,300 monthly. (They pay $200/month now.) But God answered led Pastor Serhiy to a businessman who agreed to lease a spacious, facility only 5 minutes from their current location for $350 monthly! Praise God!

• BIEM’s new missionary has begun church visits for deputation. She shares, “It’s incredible to walk into a church and feel instantly embraced, cared for, and supported. It reminds me that God is building a big family — one that is united in the purpose of serving and glorifying Jesus Christ. I’m also deeply grateful for your financial support, which will allow me to bring the Good News to Ukraine and serve some of its most vulnerable people – orphans.”

• Concerning BIEM aid, pastor Anatoly Kosyanchuk in Shevchenkove, Ukraine, says, “We sincerely thank you for giving us walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, and other things for the disabled.… We give them to those who need them. Some return theirs after recovery; others pass them to other people in need. This is how it works. We are all grateful for this help.”

• In answer to prayer, our missionary Sasha – who ministers in a Muslim land – was able to visit the U.S. and speak in churches in multiple states. He is now back on his field!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Still an urgent prayer request: Although Ukraine now exempts clergy from military duty, permission for them to travel outside Ukraine have not resumed. BIEM has scheduled church planters to speak in U.S. churches in April, so please pray they will be granted exit permits.

• In Russia, a church started by one of our missionaries received a visit from government security services. They drew up an interrogation report, took photos, and looked for signs of “extremism.” The church requests prayer for their protection.

• Our director for Central Asia shares this: “Please pray for a girl named Shokhsanam. She is Uzbek. She was beaten by her brother again. Her brother is Muslim. She went to a camp in Samarkand for 2 days. Her nose is bleeding every other day almost. She has concussion. Her brother and his wife forbid her to attend the House of Prayer [church services].”

• Please pray for our Spring Seminary session starting later this month in Kyiv, Ukraine. Sam Slobodian will be going along with pastors from Minnesota and Indiana. Conducting these sessions during a war is quite challenging. Keep praying for this war to end.

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BIEMs of Light: March 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Our latest container of war relief arrived in Fastiv in February, and the church there has been distributing its contents, both locally and through churches in other towns. May God be glorified through this aid!

• In February we requested prayer for our plans to bring one of our missionaries in a Muslim country here to speak in supporting churches and bring updates. God blessed, and Sasha has arrived safely. During March, he will speak in churches in North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

• Last week, men from Prairie Creek Baptist Church in Kingman, Indiana, delivered an auditorium’s worth of pews to BIEM. These pews will go to Awakening Baptist church in Kyiv. That church has been meeting in the basement while constructing their auditorium. Nearing completion, they had no idea how to provide seating. They rejoiced to see photos of the pews and thank God for this answer to prayer!

• Last winter, we provided 1,650 Ukrainian soldiers with $100 worth of warm clothing and New Testaments. Not just any soldiers but soldiers directly connected with members of our churches. In repeating the project this winter, we shared how we had received applications representing 1,076 soldiers and needed $16,000 to meet this need. Praise God, we received $16,890! The extra $890 will go toward additional applications that have since come in.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• After studying in John, one of the newest Afghani students in the Central Asia Bible Institute realized his faith was only a head knowledge about Christ. The next day, he gave testimony in front of 80 Afghans that he had previously not been born again but was now fully trusting Christ. Through tears, he challenged the church to not play games with Jesus but to truly know Him.

• Last year we shared the remarkable story of how the Lord used two elderly ladies to re-establish a church that had been closed and largely destroyed under Russian occupation in their town. Our missionary Pavel Usach requests for prayer for one of those ladies. Her health has suddenly deteriorated, and she can no longer walk. Please pray for Anna.

• BIEM director for Ukraine, Eugene Buyko, and others drove to within 10 miles of the fighting in Donbas. They set up a roadside kitchen, where they offered free hot soup and New Testaments. God gave Eugene many spiritual conversations. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to work via His Word.

• As Russia’s war against Ukraine enters its 4th year, please continue to pray for a fair conclusion to the aggression. If you’re interested, We have free postcard and bookmark reminders that list ways to pray. 

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BIEMs of Light: February 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• The 40-ft. container of humanitarian aid that we shipped for the church in Fastiv, Ukraine, is expected to arrive this week! Hallelujah! But now the believers must navigate a daunting amount of paperwork to verify this is, indeed, humanitarian aid and not business.

• Last month we requested your prayers as Sam Slobodian traveled to meet up with our national Russian missionaries. Due to security concerns, they decided to gather in a neutral country. Now we are happy to report that those travels and meetings went smoothly. Thanks for your prayers!

• In January, our Kyiv Theological Seminary held its first session for 2025. Despite the ongoing war, over 40 students attended. Of those, 14 were newly enrolled students! Praise God for sending us more workers for the harvest of souls.

• The Lord gave an unexpected opportunity to missionary Sergiy Koop when the owner of their apartment building invited him to administer the building. Sergiy writes, “This role is interesting because every week I talk with various new people who request help with their apartment issues. I like it because I can be an example of a Christian who does his job well. They ask if it’s true that I’m the pastor of a Baptist church. Because of this, I have opportunities to share the Gospel with them. It always inspires me!”

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Concerning the Warm Clothing project, BIEM has received applications representing 1,076 soldiers, whom Christian loved ones wish to bless. The total cost of supplying that number with warm clothes and Scriptures is $107,600. However, $75,000 has already been received, which drops the amount needed to just over $32,000. Yet, because a generous donor has been matching these donations, only $16,000 would fill that need. Please help us to pray in that last $16,000.

• One of BIEM’s church planters in a Muslim country hopes to come to the U.S. for 4 weeks at the end of February to speak in supporting churches and bring updates. Please pray for those plans.

• Later this week, Vitaly Bilyak and Sergiy Koop plan to make another missionary trip to Kherson and Donbas. As usual, the plan is to distribute food aid while also sharing the Gospel. But as Russian forces grind their way westward, such trips are becoming more dangerous. Please pray for God’s blessings.

• The church in Lviv, Ukraine, requests prayer. Thanks to a generous donation by a friend of BIEM, they can now install venting in the ceiling, which is high above the auditorium floor and requires scaffolding to reach. Please pray for the safety of the members doing this work and a job well done to pass inspection. 

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BIEMs of Light: January 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• The Lord has answered our prayers concerning our missionary pastors possibly getting conscripted into the Ukrainian army. On December 26, Ukraine amended regulations for the mobilization of conscripts. They introduced provisions to exempt clergy members from military duty! Hallelujah!

• We previously shared that Eugene Buyko, who pastors the church in Bilogorodka, Ukraine, had reported that his congregation’s war-relief distributions had attracted many visitors to their services and that several had become regular attenders, including 3 refugee families. Praise God, the number of new families has grown to 6!

• Praise God for a generous donation we received to construct brick walls for the first floor of a building under construction on the campground in Derman, Ukraine, which is also the location of a new church. Despite the time of year, there were enough breaks in the weather that this phase could be completed before the really harsh winter sets in.

• When our missionaries, the Petrenkos, attended the opening of a monument in remembrance of fallen soldiers, they experienced bittersweet memories of young men who had accepted Christ at their tent camps. In fact, there are other instances of fallen soldiers who first learned of Jesus in our summer camps. Thank you for helping us reach youth for the Lord!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• The Republic of Georgia’s new president is known for anti-Western sentiments. Please pray that Georgia’s leadership will not hinder Western-based missionaries serving God in that nation.

• The next session of our Seminary in Ukraine will take place in January. Please pray for the safety of all who will be traveling to it during wartime and that these classes will deepen the students’ understanding of God’s Word and how to minister better.

• Due to security concerns, we at BIEM cannot communicate directly with our national missionaries in Russia. This month Sam Slobodian plans to meet with them in a neutral country. Please pray for all the logistics to work out and that this rendezvous will go smoothly.

• Like last year, for each accepted application, BIEM plans to provide $100 for local church members to buy warm clothes and Scriptures for loved ones in the Ukrainian military. So far, we have applications for over 500 soldiers, with more coming in. Please pray that this project will not only warm bodies but also point souls to the Savior. Remember, thanks to a generous donor, gifts to War Relief will be matched up to $100,000, so any gifts in this area will be doubled.

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BIEMs of Light: December 2024

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• We had requested prayer that Igor Fomichov be permitted to exit Ukraine temporarily to assist BIEM with its next container and to speak in churches! Praise God; he’s now here!

• Connected to the praise item above is another cause for praise. Thanks to the generosity of all you friends, BIEM now has enough donations of clothing, shoes, and medical items to ship another 40-ft container of war relief to Ukraine. This is our 3rd for 2024. May God bless it with swift passage!

• In November, our newer church planter Sergiy Koop had the joy of baptizing 2 new believers!

•  BIEM church planter Anatoly Kirilko declares, “Greetings from Nizhylovychi! We celebrated the Harvest Festival in our church and thanked God for all the blessings He sends even though such a brutal war continues in the country…. We had wonderful fellowship, sermons, much inspiring singing, and lastly a festive dinner. Thank God that He takes care of us in every way.”

Prayer – Pray with us!

• From our Director for Central Asia: “Our 5 Iranian believers were beaten severely. As they were enduring beatings, the others sang hymns and praises to God to encourage the ones being beaten. As they were being beaten and singing, the Iranian police looked at each other and said, “What are we doing? These men aren’t violent. They’re even praying for our country as we beat them.” The police stole the men’s money and documents, then dumped them on the street, telling them to keep their religion to themselves. Their faces are so swollen they could barely speak, but they rejoice to suffer for their Savior who suffered so much more for them. Please pray as they plan Christmas evangelism.

• As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, church members are among those being taken into the military. Please for their safety but also for their Christian witness to fellow soldiers.

• Our church planters the Kellers have relocated to Armenia, where they face multiple challenges in the cultures, language, and religion. Vitaly says, “Pray also that we can clearly see the area where God wants us to serve. We don’t want to spread ourselves too thin by trying to do everything, but instead focus on what will be most effective.”

• Concerning Belarus, news outlets report fresh repression in advance of elections. If reports are accurate, there has been a wave of searches and arrests, with a sharp increase in citizens arrested on accusations of treason. Please pray that churches are not targeted, especially our Belarusian church planters.

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BIEMs of Light: November 2024

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Praise the Lord, friends of BIEM continue to donate slightly used clothing and shoes for shipment to Ukraine as war relief. Plus, we have accepted 150 stackable chairs for churches in Ukraine. Thanks to your donations, we plan to schedule another shipment before the end of this year.

• When 5 of our men were recently arrested for evangelizing in Central Asia, we requested prayer. We praise the Lord that, although our men were fined $25 apiece, they were not beaten. They were released with the warning that next time they are caught witnessing they will get 15 days in jail.

• Despite the horrors of war, our churches in Ukraine are celebrating Harvest, a day of giving thanks. BIEM missionary Yura Levtseniuk says, “We also pray for your country…. You are a blessing to us, and you are a wonderful instrument in the hands of the Redeemer!” 

• In Nizhylovychi, Ukraine, where BIEM purchased a house to use as a church, Anatoly Kirilko says, “We’re extremely grateful to BIEM for help on renovations. Thanks to you, we have a nice kitchen and bathroom. It was a great blessing during the camp and afterwards. May the Lord bless you.”

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Our Afghani Bible Institute now has 32 students. Our Director for Central Asia says, “This is the easiest group we have worked with, largely due to our graduates being involved in the Institute’s discipleship and leadership. Please pray for us as we endeavor to continue the Institute.... We don’t have full funding for it, so we cry out to God to supply our needs month-by-month.”

• We requested prayer concerning Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Georgia. The prayer was that election results continue permitting evangelism. The election is now past, and the ruling party remains in power. However, opposition figures—including that nation’s president—claim meddling in the election and do not accept the results. So, the outcome remains in question.

• Our new church planter, Sergiy Koop in Druzhba, Ukraine, writes, “I am especially grateful to God that I can live in this country during its most difficult times, because in this way we can truly testify to people about God’s love and grace not only with words, but also with very practical actions.” He requests prayer for opportunities to meet and talk with many more unbelievers.

• Marynka—Pastor Sergei Kostin’s granddaughter who lost a leg to Russian artillery—remains cheerful and trusting God as she gets around on a prosthetic leg. Next week she will be at a special hospital in Kyiv to continue rehabilitation procedures. Please pray for this step and for funds to cover expenses.

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BIEMs of Light: October 2024

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Last month, we requested prayer that our Ukrainian national Igor Fomichov be allowed to leave Ukraine long enough to visit supporting churches in the U.S. We’re happy to report that he is with us and will be speaking in Indiana, Illinois, and Kansas. Praise the Lord!

• The autumn session of the Seminary in Kyiv is currently in progress. It has 35 students, including 4 new ones, which is encouraging during this time of war, which makes it much harder for students to attend.

• Our missionaries in Western Asia report another 4 souls have joyfully placed their faith in Christ! 

•  Our director for Central Asia states, “Our believers have just come through intense persecution from the secret police. Praise God that our church plants are meeting, and the kidney function has returned to the men who were beaten. Another brother’s arm has healed after having been broken by a police baton.”

Prayer – Pray with us!

• The church in Lviv, Ukraine, is growing, which opens more doors for ministry than our church-planter can handle alone. Besides regular meetings with the church, youth, men, and a regular Bible institute, he conducts Bible studies with new converts and those interested. Please pray the Lord will send someone who can assist Yura in this ministry.

• In the nation of Georgia, Parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 26. The current ruling party has been strengthening its ties with Russia, resulting in protests and polarization among its citizens. The election could greatly affect all missionaries in that land. Please pray for election results that permit evangelism to continue.

• Although we are still only in the beginning stages of collecting donations for our next war-relief shipment to Ukraine, we are monitoring the current strike by dock workers with concern. Without them working in the ports, it will not be possible to ship out aid. Pray for a resolution soon.

• In Central Asia, our third year of the Afghani Bible Institute has started smoothly regardless of the persecution. We have 32 students. Please pray that we will be able to meet our funding needs for each month.

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BIEMs of Light: September 2024

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• We previously announced that Oleg—the brother of BIEM church planter Sasha Petrenko—was released from Russian captivity and is back in Ukraine. Home, Oleg is gaining strength spiritually and physically. He regularly attends church and has regained 20 kg (44 lbs.) of the weight lost. Praise God!

• The last week of August marked the very last of the summer camps. Our camp workers can breathe a sigh of relief, and we rejoice for the multitude of opportunities to evangelize unsaved ones and to edify those who have already accepted Christ! Thank you for helping to make it possible!

• Praise God, a pastor friend in New Jersey teamed up with one of his friends who is in the musical instrument field in donating over 25 trumpets for church orchestras in Ukraine. These gifts have been huge blessings for musicians who had been attempting to praise God on worn-out instruments! (BIEM accepts donations of most musical instruments. If you have questions, please contact us.)

• On August 29, Sam and Amy Slobodian returned from Ukraine, where they participated in a children’s camp and touched base with BIEM church planters. The Lord blessed! During the children’s camp there were no air raids, although Kyiv did come under fire on the day they departed.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• On August 30, a memorial service was held for the father of T. Smith, BIEM’s Field Director for Central Asia. Pastor Smith’s hope was that any unsaved who attended or saw his funeral online would accept Jesus as Savior. We invite you to join in praying for salvation decisions!

• A graduate of the Bible Institute in Central Asia is returning to Afghanistan to take the Gospel there. Please pray for God to protect and use this young man for His glory.

• Igor Fomichov is the next Ukrainian church planter that BIEM plans to bring to the U.S. to speak in supporting churches. Getting permission to exit Ukraine is becoming more complicated. Igor had to submit documentation from the army proving he had registered. But the border guards have the final authority on whether to allow someone to exit. Please pray that he can come and that he will be a blessing in the churches where he will speak.

• BIEM’s current container of war relief for Ukraine (shipped from our Indiana headquarters on August 8) is expected to arrive in the Polish port on September 10th. But even after its arrival, the container must travel overland to central Ukraine, where our people must once again navigate a sea of bureaucracy to receive it. Please pray for God to pave the way in these matters.

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BIEMs of Light: August 2024

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• BIEM missionary in the nation of Georgia says, “The youth group held a children’s activity attended by nearly 100 children, mostly unsaved. In the past, I have … organized most of the program, but this time, the youth took the baton. The program was well done, the gospel lesson clear, the music vibrant, the games interesting, and the program 100% Georgian. How encouraging to see the next generation begin to take the lead!”

• BIEM’s director for Ukraine, Eugene Buyko, and his family are now in the U.S. to speak in churches and help raise funds for war relief. In answer to prayer, Ukraine granted Eugene’s request for temporary permission to exit the country. Thanks for praying!

• Last week, 10 former Muslims in Turkmenistan were baptized on profession of their firm faith in Christ the Savior!

• From Belarus, BIEM missionary Nikolai Ryzhuk reports, “On Sunday the Lord gave our church the gift of a baptism. Two souls had made a covenant with the Lord. Therefore, although it was physically very difficult … my heart filled with joy that the Lord is glorified by doing the work.”

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Praise God, we have enough donations of clothing and other items to ship a container to Ukraine. We also have the full shipping amount. But to leave the container there as a storage place, we need $3,200. Please pray, since leaving the container for the church would be a huge blessing since building a storage building of similar size would cost far more than $3,200.

• August is our third and final month of summer camps. Please pray for God to give continued energy to the staffers and salvation decisions and spiritual growth among campers.

• We want to repeat our request to pray for the nation of Georgia. A sudden shift in direction has resulted in new laws that could make Georgia a restricted-access nation, which would be a hardship for our missionaries as well as many other missionaries.

• In August, Amy and Sam Slobodian will go to Ukraine to work in BIEM’s summer camps and check on our War Relief efforts. The fact that this is the 3rd summer of war has not deterred our folks from holding camps for kids and youth. Neither has it stopped Sam and Amy from participating. In 2023 Russia intensified their aerial attacks while the Slobodians were there. But God protected the camps. Please pray for God to protect campers, staff, and the Slobodians.

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BIEMs of Light: July 2024

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• We have requested prayer for Oleg Petrenko, the brother of BIEM missionary Sasha Petrenko. Recently, Russia returned Oleg to Ukraine as part of a prisoner-of-war swap. Oleg is weak and was taken straight to a hospital, but he and his family thank you for all prayers!

• On July 18 we received word from Central Asia of a family of 6 Afghanis who put their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. Praise the Lord!

• The Christians who print our Challenger newsletter do a wonderful job, for which we receive many compliments. The current issue featuring last winter’s distribution of warm clothing and New Testaments may be their most attractive effort ever. We had so many photos and thank you’s that it was a tall order to fit a sampling even into 6 pages. Somehow, they formatted a beautiful and informative issue featuring a creative, bulletin-board layout. We thank and praise God for the outstanding work on this newsletter. May it warm the hearts of all who gave and prayed for this project.

• Various Ukrainian pastors whose churches helped to distribute winter clothing to soldiers have established ongoing connections with some of the recipients. In one case, a soldier asked the pastor if the church could post videos of church services online to watch them from the war front! May God work and bless through these new connections.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• The Christian camps for children and teens are continuing overseas. Through quick updates, we are hearing of salvation decisions and fun times. Please pray for God to give energy to the camp leaders and to work in the hearts of the campers.

• We have occasionally shared news about Misha, a young Ukrainian believer who is the nephew of a BIEM couple. He has been serving in the army since the early days of the war. His uncle writes, “Please pray for Misha. He is still on the front line, in the heat of battles. Hot, tired, filthy.”

• In mid-July, our missionary Eugene Buyko and his family plan to be in the U.S. for a month to visit supporting churches and bring updates. Please pray for smooth travels with no glitches.

• In the Republic of Georgia, the Pro-Russian parliament has passed a new law, which will severely restrict our missionaries. This is despite massive protests and warnings from the US government and many other nations that this law will end democracy and religious freedom. Please pray that elections in October will bring in a new government that will overturn this law and that God will direct missionaries there how to respond.

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BIEMs of Light: June 2024

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• In response to BIEM’s need for chairs for Ukraine, Valley View Baptist Church in Shakopee, Minn., is donating about 100 stacking chairs and 50 folding chairs for Ukraine. For our churches in Ukraine, such a gift will be a huge blessing!

• In Zdolbuniv, Ukraine, BIEM missionary Pavel Usach says, “I want to thank all our friends who contributed in one way or another to enable BIEM’s latest container to come to us in Ukraine. This is a great blessing…. We will be able to respond to the needs of people who need it!”

• Thank you for praying for Vitaly Bilyak to receive the special permission needed to exit Ukraine temporarily. God has blessed church services where Vitaly Bilyak has spoken in various states. Before he returns to Ukraine, he will have time to visit family in the U.S.

• In Smolyn, Ukraine, a non-Christian firefighter who lives near the new church has actively assisted church members in distributing humanitarian aid. When he was summoned for military duty, he expected they would send him to the war front. But the church prayed for him, and he was assigned to the local military base. He was amazed. May God work!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• The Russian bombing of Ukrainian power infrastructure is causing rolling power blackouts all over that country. This situation affects BIEM’s missionaries in their daily lives and in their ability to stay in touch with the home office since internet access becomes sporadic.

• The nation of Georgia (between Turkey and Russia) is changing. Formerly pro-West, the current administration is suspicious of foreigners (including missionaries). With new laws, this nation might become a restricted-access land. Please pray for wisdom for our missionaries in Georgia.

• Concerning our upcoming summer camps, so far, you all have blessed us with donations of $34,000 toward 2024 camps. We are so thankful. On the other hand, the war in Ukraine keeps driving prices upward. For example, on June 1 the cost of electricity in Ukraine doubled. This upward trend is typical of what our churches there are facing. Although we had set $50,000 as our goal, $60,000 now looks more realistic. Please pray for the Lord to provide.

• In Central Asia, God continues to use BIEM’s Christian shelter for battered women. Several years back, a Muslim woman named Guyla came to the shelter for healing. She heard the Gospel but didn’t embrace it. Recently she returned with a broken hand. This time her heart and mind were ready… Guyla put her faith in Christ! Please pray for Guyla and others there.

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BIEMs of Light: April 2024

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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BIEMs of Light: March 2024

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• By God’s grace and your generosity, BIEM received $165,000 for our project to provide warm clothing and Scriptures for Ukrainian servicemen in active battle zones. This amount enabled us to respond churches’ request to provide for 1,650 soldiers known by their members. May the Lord use these gifts to soften hearts and to these servicemen’s eyes to their greatest need—Jesus Christ!

• A BIEM missionary in Central Asia wrote, “One of our Afghan leaders just led a family of 6 Afghanis to faith in Christ!” Less than 24 hours later, that same missionary wrote, “Four more Afghanis, 2 men and 2 women, were just led to faith in Christ by 2 faithful college-age girls who started and lead a women’s Bible study for one of our Afghani refugee church plants.” Hallelujah!

• In Ternopil, our new missionaries the Koops are thrilled that God provided a friend who is licensed in the technical aspect of electrical and plumbing work. By providing such a friend, who donated his time and expertise, the Lord greatly stretched the dollars you friends gave for construction materials to aid the Koops in the first phase of preparing their rough shell of an apartment.

• We rejoice that our most recent shipment of humanitarian aid and supplies is being distributed to churches for their outreaches to their own respective communities. Praise God! Thanks for prayers!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• We have scheduled BIEM missionaries Igor Fomichov and Pavlo Usach to visit America for 3 weeks in March. During this time, they will speak in churches and share firsthand about ministry in Ukraine during the war. Please pray for God to bless both the speakers and listeners during these meetings.

• From one of our missionaries in Central Asia: “One of our Afghan leaders just led a family of 6 Afghanis to Faith in Christ. Praising God with His angels….” This is just one of multiple reports of former Muslims trusting Christ. Please pray for more such spiritual fruit in those lands!

• This is the time of year when we begin preparations for Christian summer camps for kids and teens. Funding all our camps in multiple countries will require $50,000. Such dollar amounts seem huge to us, but not to God. He will send us caring Christians to help with finances. Might you be one? 

• BIEM plans to ship another 40-ft. container of supplies in the last half of March. Please pray that all goes smoothly with packing the container that we hope to purchase and deliver to Zdolbuniv, where it can serve as a permanent place to store items for the new Christian camp and church there. 

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