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

1. As the church in Lviv, Ukraine, steadily reaches out to refugees with war relief and the Gospel, the church has experienced growth. It’s quite timely that last year we began a construction project to transform their building’s spacious second floor (which had been unfinished) into a large auditorium. In these next few days, the workmen are entering a phase of their auditorium construction that requires 4 laborers to work at very high heights. Because of the dangers involved, Pastor Yura has requested special prayer for their safety.

2. Yesterday, on March 26, BIEM accepted delivery of an empty 40-ft. container. On Saturday morning, a crew of volunteers will help us to load most of the war-relief goods stored in our warehouse into that container for shipment as aid to churches in Ukraine. Please pray for the safety of our volunteers as there are plenty of possibilities for accidents.

3. In this week’s video, BIEM church planter Sasha Petrenko introduces us to a brother from his church who is also named Sasha. Other church members refer to this brother—who currently serves in communications in the Ukrainian military—as “Sasha the evangelist.” Please watch and learn why our church planter says, “Sasha hardly ever calls and asks for something, but when he asks for something, we know that it is very, very important.” You will also learn how financial gifts from believers just like you enabled BIEM to bless not only Sasha himself but also the untold numbers of men in uniform who depend on him for their very lives. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/sasha

4. On Tuesday, May 24, Russia launched its most massive attack on the western Ukraine city of Lviv and other areas. According to news reports from multiple channels, within a 24-hour period, Russia launched nearly 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukraine. Dozens of deaths and injuries resulted, not to mention physical destruction to properties. What was particularly unusual was that the attack occurred in broad daylight, which is a departure from the norm. Our church planters Yura and Violetta Levtseniuk live in Lviv with their children. They tell us that in recent weeks they had gotten accustomed to a lot of sirens but no bombs. Suddenly—this happened. Please pray for Yura, Violetta, and the church as they have opportunities to share the Gospel while helping those in need.

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM