Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
1. Earlier this year, BIEM passed the 2-million-dollar mark for War Relief donations. Both we and our churches in Ukraine all express heartfelt thanks for your generosity! In their notes and emails to us, our BIEM missionaries and national pastors regularly express how it would be impossible to carry on the same level of evangelistic outreach and aid if not for the help from American believers through BIEM. Unfortunately, the needs continue as the war drags on. Russia continues to destroy and damage homes. People continue to perish. Refugees continue to struggle to relocate and survive. Like everyone else, church members are weary of this useless war, but they continue to demonstrate the love of God in action as they reach out with aid.
2. The last container we shipped to Ukraine went to one of our early Ukrainian church plants in Fastiv, Ukraine, which is a big railroad center. This container held a lot of medical supplies. One of the church’s neighbors is a large hospital, which has been converted into a military hospital. As it turns out, many of the medical supplies on the container consisted of bandages and other items constantly needed by this hospital. The unexpected arrival of these supplies turned out to be a great blessing for both the hospital and the patients. Many of the hospital staff dropped by the church to express their gratitude. Some have attended church services. Praise God!
3. Like everyone else in Ukraine, Christians are weary of the war and all the misery it brings. Yet, amid war, believers still strive to fulfill the first and second greatest commandments: To love God and others. In the following video, Vitaly Bilyak shares moments from his 22nd trip to the war zone, where “the church continues to serve and to help.” Here's the link:
https://vimeo.com/user37287229/trip22
4. Last night, Russia launched its most vicious missile and drone attack in months on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. One of the missiles struck very close to the home of BIEM's director for Ukraine, Eugene Buyko, killing at least 8 people and injuring over 70 others. Their neighbors' windows were blown out, and the school where the Buykos' youngest daughter attends was also hit. People are still missing and are possibly buried under rubble, so the death toll could still climb. Unhurt themselves, the Buykos went out to minister to victims. This horrific event reminds us that our prayers for the protection of BIEM’s missionaries are vital. Please continue to pray for an end to the aggression toward the Ukrainian people and specifically for God’s hand of protection on His people there.
In Christ,
Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM