Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
1. Yura and Violetta are our church planters in Lviv, a large city in the far western part of Ukraine. They request prayer for Violetta’s father, Yuri. Recently he was conscripted into the military. Since Yuri is 57 years old, he does not qualify for the military exemption for men aged 60 years and above. After a short training period, this week he was dispatched to the warfront. Because he does not know the Lord, Yura and Violetta are requesting prayer for his safety and most of all that he would come to know the Lord.
2. As most of our readers know, through the generosity of BIEM supporters we provided warm clothing for over 1,000 soldiers each of the past two winters. This winter we are conducting a different project. Ukraine’s power grid has been taking a beating from Russian missiles and drones, leaving millions of citizens struggling to keep warm. Countless numbers of people are without electricity for many hours each day. We have received many requests from our partnering churches for help with heat—providing funds for wood, as well as fuel for generators, which are a lifeline. So far, we have sent $1,000 dollars each to 60 churches struggling to provide warm havens for desperate people in need. Because we have dozens more such requests, we could certainly use funds for this vital cause.
3. A husband & wife team, Vitaly and Natalia founded "The Cross" — a Christian ministry to aid and evangelize Ukrainians drafted into the military. Since almost the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, BIEM has been working with and through them. Here, Sam Slobodian asks each of them to share a particularly memorable event from this ministry...
https://vimeo.com/user37287229/testimonies
4. The situation for Vitaly Bilyak is unchanged. There are no updates regarding his court case to have his conscription reversed. The extremely harsh winter that has blanketed Ukraine also makes life more difficult in the forest encampment where he is stationed. Nevertheless, Vitaly continues to share Christ. Since the commander continues to use Vitaly for transporting soldiers and officers in his vehicle, this duty gives him excellent opportunities to share the Gospel. Please pray that, despite the lack of progress with the legal proceedings, Vitaly would remain encouraged in the fact that the Lord is with him and that many believers are upholding him in prayer.
Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM