Praises – Rejoice with us!
In December, BIEM’s Field Director for Central Asia reported that one of our workers had a chance to do a presentation on the meaning of Christmas to an Afghani school. Over 400 students, teachers, and administrators heard. Later, three teachers attended a service and trusted Christ!
From the director of the orphanage in Velike Polovetske, Ukraine: “I’d like to express my great gratitude to our American friends who have been taking care of us for so many years.... Thank you for your charity, for your concern for orphans, children deprived of parental care, as well as children from low-income families. I wish you all earthly blessings. May God always protect you….”
In December we announced that our War Relief Fund had reached the required amount of $100,000 needed to receive the same amount in matching funds for 2025. Now more good news—another gift of $100,000 was made available to match war relief gifts in 2026. Praise God!
Church planter Sasha Petrenko has now conducted his first wedding in the church in Smolyn. Sasha included the Gospel as part of the ceremony. For some unbelievers, it was the first wedding reception where they saw no alcohol or fighting! May the Lord use even this ceremony to draw people to Himself.
Prayer – Pray with us!
In December, our church planter Sergiy Koop made an evangelistic trip to Ukraine’s east. “The most important thing I am taking with me is Bibles. Because Christmas is not just a holiday, it’s a reminder of Christ’s coming into this world....” Please pray for salvation decisions among those he visited.
Mikhail, the son of our director in Ukraine, reports that pastors there receive many phone calls due to the war. Even strangers call, talk, request prayer, or ask about God or the Bible. He urged us to pray for their pastors who minister to these people.
Central Asia: Evangelist Ruslan took gifts into a juvenile detention center and was telling the kids the real meaning of Christmas. Several of the detainees asked to know more about Jesus. As Ruslan was sharing the Gospel, police came and arrested him. During questioning, he said, “I wasn’t even telling them yet that Jesus is their only hope of eternal salvation and that they must repent of their sins and trust Jesus as their Savior... The police said, “Stop! He’s trying to evangelize us now.” They fined Ruslan about $1,500 but released him. Please pray the Gospel puts down roots and springs into eternal life.
The next session of our seminary in Kyiv is in January. Please pray for both the instructors and students, that God will give them a blessed and safe class time.
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