Update: Urgent Prayer Request - August 7, 2025

Vitaly Bilyak was able to call me, and we talked for a while. He is in a training center, which is basically a tent camp in a forest. Apparently he can call us, but we cannot call him. However, I can SMS him. He is in very good spirits and asked us to pray for 3 things:

1. That God would use him to share the Gospel among the soldiers, which he is doing.
2. That God would encourage, strengthen, and comfort his wife Katya.
3. 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.

Thank you for praying for Sergiy Koop’s safety as he traveled through areas infested with conscription units to visit Vitaly. Praise God, Sergiy has returned home safely. In this week’s update—which goes out every Friday—we will highlight a video of Sergiy’s visit with Vitaly, as well as him sharing how God protected him on this trip. If you are not on our email list to receive these weekly updates, you can subscribe here:

https://www.baptistinternational.org/urgent-war-updates-sign-up 

Sam Slobodian

BIEM

Update: Urgent Prayer Request - August 6, 2025

Thank you for praying for Vitaly Bilyak. Not good news. As you know, he was detained at the border as he was attempting to leave Ukraine to catch flights to the United States from Poland. There were army conscription officials at the border, so he was conscripted into the army and assigned to an artillery division even though he is 50 years old. So, it looks like he will have to do some military service. These army conscription officials have very broad authority and are highly motivated to conscript as many as they can. What this means, we do not yet know. It is possible that Vitaly will be assigned to non-combat duties of some sort, because he has consistently stated that he will not bear arms as a pastor.

He was transferred to a training unit about 200 miles from Ternopil. There, we had one of our other missionaries, Sergei Koop, meet with him and bring him some items from home that he requested. Sergiy made a video of Vitaly addressing the church, which he will share with the Ternopil congregation. They prayed together and then Sergei headed to the border to retrieve Vitaly’s car which he will bring back to Ternopil. Please pray for Sergiy now, since if he is apprehended by the army conscription units roving the country, he would most likely end up with Vitaly. Sergiy has a wife and two very small children, so please pray today that he will be able to return to them safely.

The church in Ternopil has excellent leadership in place with seasoned deacons. The assistant pastor Andrei, who heads up the Drug and Alcohol Center, will lead the church in Vitaly’s absence. Our brethren are trying to get Vitaly into a chaplaincy position. If that is not possible, he will likely be assigned non-combat duties, but this is not guaranteed so please pray about this. Our brethren are also seeking legal advice to see if there are any legal procedures that can be used.

Vitaly is in good spirits and is trusting that the Lord is with him and will use him where he is. He has already had several opportunities to share the Gospel with those around him. Please continue to pray for Vitaly, his wife Katya, and their church in Ternopil. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

Sam Slobodian

BIEM

Urgent Prayer Request

Please pray for BIEM missionary Vitaly Bilyak. Vitaly is one of our nationals whom we periodically invite to the U.S. to speak in churches, assist with container details, etc. Today he had official government permission once again to exit Ukraine for a limited time. However, at the border crossing, not only did the guards not permit him to leave the country, but they instead sent him to a military recruiting office. There, he was told he would be given a physical exam. After that, communication with him ceased. His wife Katya is also unable to communicate with him. From our perspective, Vitaly is much more valuable to Ukraine as he conducts his war relief activities than as a soldier. Please pray that he would be allowed to remain a civilian and free to travel.

As soon as further information is available, we will share it. Thanks for praying!

Urgent Prayer Request

In Central Asia, Pastor Righteous requests prayer. He has led a number of Muslims to Christ in recent days. The local mosque responded by stirring up a group of angry men to come and pelt the house with stones four days in a row. He and his seven-year-old son were nearly hit. He's concerned for the safety of his family.
 

Urgent Prayer Request

Our container bound for Ukraine is due to arrive in the port city of Odessa on December 7. Please pray that it can be successfully dispatched to Kiev and that our brethren there can succeed in the huge task of clearing it through customs.

Urgent Prayer Request

In the same restricted-access country of Central Asia where police recently raided Pastor River’s church, Pastor Mark ministers in a totally different region. As Pastor Mark exited a building supply store today, two men attacked and viciously beat him. The attackers took no money. The assault is apparently related to his Christian faith in this predominantly Muslim land. Pastor Mark is currently being treated in a hospital. At the moment the extent of his injuries isn’t known, but doctors used many stitches around his mouth and his injuries are affecting his vision.    Please pray for him and his wife, Fern, who is expecting.

Urgent Prayer Request Update

Thank you for praying for Brother River. While he is not in the free and clear, the persecution has eased for now. He wrote, "Thank you for your prayers, God has answered. Things have eased up and we are able to meet again." Please continue to pray for them as they can still be raided at anytime. Pray for wisdom and safety.

Urgent Prayer Request

Please pray for our national pastor, River, and his family who have been serving with BIEM for 12 years in a Muslim country. Sunday night, police broke into his home and disrupted a gathering of believers.  All the Bibles were confiscated.  The police demanded to know who the pastor was and declared they would put him in jail for a minimum of 15 days.  No one would say who the pastor was.  Ever since, an armed guard has been stationed at River's house.  River can't leave, nor can anyone come visit.  This is like an unofficial house arrest and local authorities may also be using this opportunity to collect more information about the group of believers.  River's wife, Hope, is eight months pregnant.  Please pray for their safety, especially that the intense pressure will not affect the pregnancy.

Urgent Prayer Request

Our missionary Tim and his family are courageously serving the Lord in a country strongly opposed to Christians. The spiritual attacks have been increasing weekly especially from false believers who try to destroy their ministry. Recently, Tim held a camp for children and there were 6 campers who accepted Jesus as their Savior and 2 other people who have just come to Christ. Now he is being summoned to appear before the authorities. Please pray God will intervene in this meeting and preserve their ministry there. Pray also for these new converts who are already facing strong opposition for trusting Christ.

Urgent Prayer Request

Thank-you for praying for our brothers and sisters in Peru which is
experiencing floods and mudslides of historic proportions.   A "state
of emergency" has been declared for 1/2 of the country.

Our missionaries are attempting to assess the damage; however, heavy
rains are expected to continue for 20 - 30 more days. The
missionaries expect overall repairs and replacements to total tens of
thousands of dollars. Medical needs are expected to arise in the
coming weeks. Drinking water and food are in short supply at best.
Cell phone service is spotty.

We value your prayers for our missionaries and their congregations in
this time of great suffering. Those desiring to help with these needs
should designate funds "PERU RELIEF" via BIEM.

Urgent Prayer Request from Baptist International

Answer to Prayer:

What an answer to your prayers!  Our missionary Tim was facing such difficulties and trials while recently traveling to a Muslim country.  He was going there to train and encourage our national pastors and workers.  However, he was threatened and detained by authorities, then closely monitored by the police.  Shortly after our request for urgent prayer, things greatly improved and the trip became very beneficial. On his return trip no one harassed him, but problems with his ticket threatened to delay his flight home.  God overruled, and after several days flying and staying in airports, he arrived home very tired, but very happy.   Thank you for praying for his safety and a successful trip.  It worked!   Praise the Lord.

Original Prayer Request:

Our missionary Tim is in a Muslim country to train and encourage our national pastors and workers. He has been there before with no major problems from the authorities, but this time he is facing hostile treatment, making his trip very hard and physically exhausting. Tim says Satan is causing many problems and even the small community of believers are under attack. He has been dealing with everything from gossip to drunkenness. Much prayer is needed for the rest of this week and a safe trip home. Thank you!

Urgent Prayer Request

Tragedy has stuck Pastor Almond’s family.  His middle son, 17 year old Samir, died from electrocution while connecting a water hose to wash the family car. Our BIEM missionary, is flying back with Pastor Almond’s oldest son who is here for college.  Samir had just accepted the Lord as his Savior at the Teen Camp which our missionary conducted recently.  The family is devastated.  Now there is a huge threat from the Muslim community.  It seems they are planning to cause problems at the funeral because Samir was a Christian.  

Please pray for traveling mercies for our missionary and Pastor Almond’s oldest son.  Ask God to comfort and sustain the family and other believers.  Pray for a peaceful funeral.  Also pray the Gospel will be proclaimed during this time and others will be saved.  Your prayers are so needed and greatly appreciated by all.