Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
1. Today (April 17), our director for Ukraine, Eugene Buyko, and his wife Sofia join Vitaly and Natalia Khmelnitsky and other believers on a 3-day evangelistic outreach near the war front. As in the past, they plan to set up tables and stands where soldiers can enjoy a free, hearty meal of bogrash soup and also pick out various helpful supplies for themselves. While ministering to these soldiers’ physical needs, believers will also engage them in conversations about the Lord and their spiritual needs. BIEM supports these evangelistic outreaches from our war-relief funds and considers them an excellent opportunity to witness of Christ to souls heading into danger. Will you pause even now and pray for the Lord to bless and save souls through this ministry?
2. Yura and Violetta, our church planters in Lviv, Ukraine, have been visiting a nearby hospital where numerous wounded soldiers undergo treatment. Many of those soldiers have extremely serious injuries. As Yura and Violetta share Christ and try to encourage these patients with words and prayers, their efforts have been very well received. This past Sunday, several of these patients were well enough to come to the church. Although some were without arms or legs, they still came to worship and hear Yura preach. May each one open their heart to the Lord’s way of salvation.
3. As friends of BIEM know, the mission regularly collects funds and used clothing in the U.S. for churches in Ukraine to distribute as humanitarian aid. But our workers inside Ukraine also are active in raising funds among their countrymen for special needs. BIEM church planter Alexander Petrenko joined the mayor of the town of Smolyn to spearhead a drive to buy a used van for a military unit composed of men from their own city. Alexander and Mayor Vitaly had promised to take a dip in icy, winter water if donations reached the goal of $5000. In this lighthearted video, they live up to that promise!
https://vimeo.com/user37287229/plunge
4. On April 4, a Russian missile exploded into the top of a building in Kriukivshchyna, Ukraine. Sadly, Russian missiles wreaking destruction have become a common occurrence. But for BIEM this instance was significant because House of Peace Baptist Church stands nearby. Structurally, the church building remained intact. However, it suffered damage to doors, windows, and parts of its roof. Thanks to your donations to our War Relief Fund, BIEM was able to provide finances to repair the damage.
Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM