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

1. Our church planter Sergiy Koop requests prayer for the following situation. Their church’s first baptized convert is a woman named Olga. Her husband Yuri was severely injured during a rocket attack in Donbas. The hospital in Donbas is severely overcrowded, making it likely Yuri will not get the care he needs. However, a military medic named Artyom (you may have seen him in our videos) is on his way to transport Yuri to a hospital in his home city of Ternopil. That hospital is also full; however, since BIEM has given it much-needed medicine and medical supplies, Sergiy is calling the director to request his personal intervention in making room for Yuri. Having Yuri nearby would give his wife and the church opportunities to minister to him. Also, please pray that God will use this situation to open Yuri’s heart to the Gospel, which he has thus far resisted.

2. On August 1, BIEM’s weekly video update was “Sisters in Service.” In it, volunteer aid worker Natalia mentioned battles being fought in the nearby town of Kostiantynivka. As Russian troops attempt to close in on that town, the area has also become the subject of secular newscasts. Also, the following video was not prepared by BIEM nor our believers in Ukraine, we are sharing for those who would like to see more closeup details about the fighting happening around a town next door to where BIEM personnel have been providing war relief:

https://share.google/a9fadxY9AEcRyhZbD

3. BIEM missionary Vitaly Bilyak had official permission to exit Ukraine for a temporary trip to the U.S. However, at the border military recruitment officials had other ideas. Not only was Vitaly not permitted to leave Ukraine, but he was sent to a military recruitment center, given a physical exam, and was informed that he is now in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. His son-in-law, church planter Sergiy Koop, managed to visit Vitaly with some personal supplies. Vitaly is in very good spirits and asks us to pray for 3 things:

a. That God would use him to share the Gospel among the soldiers, which he is doing.

b. That God would encourage, strengthen, and comfort his wife Katya.

c. 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.

Vitaly and Sergiy created a video message for family, friends, and supporters. Here’s that link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/inthearmy

4. The Story Behind the Story: When Vitaly Bilyak’s son-in-law Sergiy Koop resolved to go personally and deliver helpful items to him at the military training center, friends warned Sergiy not to try. They emphasized the very real danger that he, too, could be conscripted on the spot. Here, Sergiy shares additional details on what that experience was like and how God led him, both to the training camp and home again. We praise God for this outcome!

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/thestory

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM