War Relief Updates - June 13, 2025

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

1. Even though we just shipped a 40-foot container to Ukraine on May 24th, we have been blessed with so many donations of war relief items that we will be loading another 40-foot container of war relief aid tomorrow. This one is headed to Desna, Ukraine, and the church will distribute its contents primarily in the Chernihiv region to the north of it.

2. Lubyanka was under occupation at the beginning of the war. Many residents suffered both physically and materially. This is one of the churches that has been a recipient of our war relief efforts. Many fathers, husbands, and sons from Lubyanka are serving in the war. There is a military training facility not far from town, so on more than one occasion women from the church have prepared food for the soldiers. The soldiers are grateful, and some have come to church to express thanks. Their visits have provided another opportunity to share the Gospel.

3. In this week’s video, Vitaly Bilyak continues the description of his 23rd trip to the warfront to distribute war relief and the Gospel. During this part of the trip, he focused primarily on ministering to men in the military, including some members of his own church. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/trip23b

4. Fresh statistics on the state of the Ukrainian economy underscore what we at BIEM already knew from our coworkers—that our war relief activities are more important now than ever. Food prices continue to be affected by last year’s drought in Ukraine, which led to a decrease in vegetable supply. In 2025 fruit prices have risen by 17.6 percent due to unseasonal April frosts. Of course, the continued battering from Russian missiles and drones further undercut supplies and raise prices. In April, the State Statistics Service announced that inflation in Ukraine had hit 15.9% year-over-year, up from 15.1% in February. Our contacts there inform us that 43% of Ukrainian depend on war relief to get by. More details are available in this article:

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/54327

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

BIEMs of Light: June 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• We praise God and thank you friends that we have received 100% of the funds needed to host camps this summer. So, no need to send more funds, but please continue to send up more prayers for the Lord to bless and protect all the camps throughout summer.

• On May 30, a 40-ft. container of clothing, medical supplies, and other forms of aid for Ukraine departed from our BIEM warehouse. Today, the next empty container was dropped off. This week, this will likewise be filled with aid for another area in Ukraine. Praise God for all the needed, donated supplies!

• After a “dry spell” of no Muslims embracing Christ in our Central Asia ministries, on June 8 eight people from various ethnic backgrounds placed their faith in Jesus! Praise God!

• Starting this week, Christian camps are starting in the “-stan” countries of Central Asia. Of course, Christian camps are forbidden, so this is also a prayer request for God’s protection.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• In Central Asia, civil authorities still seek to persecute Christians. Recently, plainclothes police visited the neighbors of one of our church planters to dig up dirt against him. However, Muslim neighbors declared that pastor is a model citizen! Pray for protection.

• The Gospel puppet theater run by the church in Chervona Sloboda, Ukraine, often receives repeat invitations from school, churches, hospitals, and others. So, they are searching for fresh plays with recordings in Ukrainian. They request prayer for God to work in hearts.

• Displaced Afghanis who have trusted Christ in Central Asia are in difficult straits: they are not accepted where they are but returning to Afghanistan and as believers, it will mean persecution and possibly death. Please pray for God’s wisdom and guidance for them.

• Our newest Ukrainian church planter is Sergii Anokhin, who is planting a church in Bucha, Ukraine, which was brutally occupied by Russian forces. Russian atrocities committed in Bucha made international headlines. Sergii was interviewed by 15 international organizations and eventually testified before the UN in Belgium. Please pray that we would be able to raise the support needed for Brother Sergii. If you would like to support Sergii, please contact us.

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June Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

I’m sure all of you realize the value of reaching out to children with the Gospel. Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and other events for children provide wonderful opportunities to capture kids’ attention and to direct their thoughts toward the Savior. By introducing children to God’s Word while they are young, we get to impress the Truths of Scripture onto their hearts and minds before they have a chance to become cynical, worldly, or captivated by habits of the flesh that war against the soul. 

But just imagine the worldview of kids growing up in Ukraine, which has been defending itself in a war that has been raging for over 3 years. Younger Ukrainian kids can’t recall a time when there was no war. They have grown up hearing air raid sirens and rushing to basements or bomb shelters before the explosions start. The mere sound of thunder strikes terror into kids who can’t tell the difference between the sound of bombs and the rumble from lighting. Such young ones are living through a terrible time, and they need solid Scriptural answers to questions about God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell, and the way of salvation.

Praise the Lord, you friends have provided 100% of the funds needed to host camps in the various countries where BIEM is active in Eastern Europe. Thank you! But we still need your prayers. Please pray for God to bless and empower leaders who will be teaching the Bible lessons, leading game times, preparing the meals, and simply chatting with the kids. May everything done in camp please the Lord and edify young hearts. Please pray, too, for God to prepare the kids who will be coming, so they will be open and receptive to the Word. Of course, concerning Ukraine, please pray for the safety of all camp kids and leaders, as no one knows when or where Russia’s airborne attacks may fall.

In our video for June, Sergei and Vika Skripnik talk more about the camp ministry. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/2025camps

Blessings to you!
Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - June 6, 2025

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

1. Last week we shared how Ukrainian church planter Vitaly Bilyak had received temporary permission to exit Ukraine and travel to us in Indiana. We also requested prayer for a second church planter, Sergei Anokhin. We are glad to report that God has answered this prayer request as well! Brother Sergei has likewise arrived here in Indiana. It is a great blessing not only to have these men speak in churches but to assist us in loading another container of war relief for Ukraine.

2. We have been helping a church in New Odesa, Ukraine, with a bread ministry, which involves baking bread for those in their community who are needy because of the war. Brother Andrei, who organizes these outreaches, writes:

“Families in our area are experiencing losses of friends, fathers, sons, husbands, due to the bombings and shelling, which continue. Please pray for one of our church families, the Golosny family, who are struggling with the loss of their loving father and husband. Please also pray for the Mihali-Omelianchuk family. The husband returned from an intense battle with a serious wound that turned into a disability, which results in endless hospital visits, rehabilitation, doctors and hospitals.”

3. In this week’s video, “They Escaped with Just the Clothes on Their Backs,” a Ukrainian Bible student named Arthur shares how his church uses aid from BIEM to reach out to newly needy ones who had to flee their homes at short notice.

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/clothes

4. Our church plant in Bilogorodka, Ukraine, hosted another day of food preparation as an outreach for troops at the front. The pastor’s wife, Sofia Buyko, and other ladies worked non-stop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. By lunchtime, they were growing tired but motivated themselves with the reminder, “Our boys are standing at the front and it’s not easy for them, so we can stand too.” They report the day was also a wonderful time of prayer with each other for their country.

This even became especially meaningful when an unsaved neighbor came to help. Her husband and sons had laid tile in the church, but was not interested in church. Still, she’d said she would come to something like this. The women of the church chatted and bonded with her. They invited her to a Bible study. She even found a Bible in her own language. (She’s Armenian. Although she can speak Ukrainian, she can’t read the Bible in it.) In total, these ladies made 813 deruny (potato pancakes). That’s a huge effort — peeling, grating, frying, cooling, and freezing. They also made 350 varenyky (dumplings) in three varieties: with meat, potatoes, and cheese.

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

War Relief Updates - May 30, 2025

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

1. When Oksana Dikan’s husband went off to war to defend Ukraine along the front lines, she devoted much of her time and energy to providing war relief by helping wounded soldiers and assisting those suffering from the war. She established a charity that works together with the church in Bilogorodka. BIEM’s war relief funds have contributed to several relief projects they have done together. For example, several families from Kupiansk in the Donetsk region received aid that arrived on the BIEM container that arrived at the Bilogorodka church. Michael Buyko of that church writes, “Oksana Dikan finds the neediest individuals and shares what they need immediately, and we, the church, try to help as much as we can. We are glad that our church and mission can serve in this.”

2. Our church plant in Lutsk (in western Ukraine) held a special Mother’s Day event earlier this month. Geared especially for mothers and grandmothers who moved to Lutsk from dangerous regions, this event included a special presentation of the Gospel plus a distribution of packages of aid. Such people are called IDPs (internally displaced persons). These refugees have lost everything they had. Many have sons and husbands fighting in the war, and some of those have been wounded or killed. A report received from this event stated that everyone was grateful to BIEM for the support and treats they received.

3. While temporarily in the U.S. to assist BIEM, missionary Vitaly Bilyak spoke in churches and provided invaluable help with our next container of war relief for Ukraine. In this video, Sam Slobodian interprets as Vitaly shares about this shipment and about how vital your material donations are at this time:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/more

4. Earlier, we requested prayer for a couple of our Ukrainian pastors who were hoping to exit Ukraine and travel to the U.S., where BIEM schedules them to speak in supporting churches. Such visits are always a blessing as the men share how God is using our war relief efforts to open hearts to the Gospel. Praise God, one of these men—Vitaly Bilyak—has made it to our Indiana headquarters and was a huge help in assisting to load the war relief container that will be shipped out today. We are still attempting to get the second church planter here in the near future.

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

War Relief Updates - May 23, 2025

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

1. This Saturday, May 24, BIEM plans to load our next 40’ container of war relief for Ukraine. This will be our first time to send a container to Awakening Baptist Church in the Obolon district of the capital, Kyiv. Over 400,000 residents dwell there. As with prior shipments to other regions, this load includes pews for this church’s auditorium, plus the clothing, various medical supplies, sports equipment, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and similar forms of aid.

2. In connection with the first Update above, we thank Slavic Baptist Church in Elkhart, Indiana, for conducting clothing drives for our war relief shipments. More than once, men from the church have personally delivered full trailer loads of clothing for BIEM to ship. Some members of the congregation are from the same church in Zdolbuniv as BIEM’s Pasha Usach, who has started a new church on the campground in Derman.

3. No stranger to the perils of traveling near Ukraine’s eastern war zone, BIEM’s Vitaly Bilyak has now completed his 23rd ministry trip to the front lines. In this video, Part 1 about that trip, he shares about current-day ministry along the front.

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/trip23

4. Various international news agencies are reporting that Russian hackers have reportedly gained access to thousands of cameras near border crossings, rail stations, and military sites to track the movement of aid shipments into Ukraine. Reportedly, most of the affected cameras are in Ukraine, but others are in neighboring countries. Because BIEM regularly ships aid via large containers, vans, minivans, and buses, and because our personnel are active in distributing this aid, please pray for our shipments and our people, that they will be neither hindered nor hurt because of this situation. Here is one of many links that speak of this report:

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53132

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

War Relief Updates - May 16, 2025

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

1. The church in Lviv participated in our Warm Clothing for Soldiers project this past winter and was able to provide warm clothing for 60 soldiers. Pastor Yura asks for prayer for one of those men in particular. His name is Eugene. When his detail was ambushed, he was badly wounded and ended up in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Lviv, where brother Yura was able to talk with him and extensively share the Gospel. In looking for family members who could visit him, Yura managed to find his sister, who is suffering from cancer. It turns out that she, too, is open to the Gospel. Pastor Yura states that “through this terrible event the Lord brought Eugene to Lviv, where both he and his sister are now being ministered to. Please pray for both to be saved.”

2. Sergei and Vika, our Ukrainian missionaries in Borschiv in Western Ukraine, have been doing evangelistic outreach in the nearby village of Hlybochok. Although that town’s population is only 500, about 100 of them are away, serving in the war. Vika organized an evangelistic meeting especially for women whose husbands are serving in the military. A hundred women attended this special service. Some are already widows; many of their husbands have been injured. God gave Vika wisdom to answer their many questions about God and point them to our loving and compassionate Savior. Please pray for Vika as she continues reaching out to these women with the Gospel.

3. In the city of Lviv, Ukraine, God is giving BIEM missionaries Yura and Violetta Levtseniuk abundant avenues for ministry. In this video, Yura shares just a few of many examples, which include sharing humanitarian aid from BIEM.

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/lviv

4. A few weeks ago, we shared that Ukraine had halted the special program that allowed Ukrainian pastors to leave Ukraine temporarily for religious purposes. We requested prayer that this hold would be only temporary. Praise God, two of our men were recently able to obtain this kind of special permission once again. However, it’s still possible that border guards could halt or delay their border crossing into Poland, where they are to board their flight to the US. They will be crossing today since their flights are tomorrow, May 17. Their help is needed since we will be loading a container of relief aid for Ukraine in about a week. Please pray that they are allowed to cross and that their flights go smoothly.

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

War Relief Updates - May 9, 2025

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

1. Pastor Anatoly Kosyanchuk of the church in Shevchenkove, Ukraine, has sent us an interesting testimony. With aid from BIEM, members of this church regularly purchase food supplies and prepare meals for military units. They’ve been doing this ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In addition to the meals, Pastor Kosyanchuk says, “The main thing we do is distribute New Testaments. So, out of respect, many soldiers have come to the church at least to thank us. Some soldiers have even started reading the New Testament and ask for explanations and request that we pray for them.” But recently a particular military unit presented the congregation with a special thank you—a Ukrainian flag bearing the signatures of the soldiers in it. “They said that if it weren’t for our help and prayers—which they emphasized—they all would’ve died by now. ‘We are on the Ukrainian front, and you are on the spiritual front. It feels like God is helping.’” Those soldiers’ main request was not for more food; it was for more prayers.

2. Here’s a story from “House of Prayer” Baptist Church in Bilogorodka, Ukraine: Their pastor also serves as a military chaplain who travels to the east to minister to soldiers. This outreach inspired the ladies of that church. These women decided to prepare dernuli for the soldiers. Dernuli are traditional Ukrainian potato pancakes. Preparing them required much work—peeling, grinding, laying them out, frying them, cooling them, freezing them, and then packing them for transport. Seven women undertook this job, including the pastor’s wife Sofia, her daughter-in-law, and one lady who has not yet accepted Christ. These women worked all day and made nearly 600 dernuli. When they were finished, Chaplain Vitaly from another church arrived and drove them to the front that weekend. As they toiled, these Christian women talked, prayed, and shared their salvation testimonies with the unbelieving woman. Since then, that woman has been attending church and listening. (Because her husband and son-in-law are in the army, the church’s efforts to bless the military are especially meaningful to her.) The ladies’ conclusion was, “It’s very important that we not only helped the military but also witnessed to people who go to church but have not yet accepted Christ. We thank God for this!”

3. On May 4, 2025, explosive Shahed drones from Russia slammed into the Kyiv neighborhood where BIEM’s director for Ukraine Eugene Buyko lives with his family. In this week’s video, he and two bombing victims show close-up views of these ladies’ destroyed homes. Praise the Lord, in this particular bombing 11 were injured but survived. Thanks to donations to BIEM’s War Relief fund, Eugene was able to listen to these victims, hear their stories, pray with them, and  give them some funds to help them through the difficult days ahead. You can watch the video here:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/hithome

4. Last week the Spring session of our Kyiv seminary was held with 51 students. This is a record for us and quite remarkable that so many would attend during a time of war, especially during a week when hostilities were at a high. Praise God, everyone was safe. We had students from locations near the war front that are constantly under attack. These are areas where we have channeled war relief through our partnering churches there. It was a blessing to hear these students’ firsthand reports on how this aid from BIEM is meeting needs and lifting the testimony of churches doing the distributions, which always involve sharing the Gospel. This session of the Seminary also gave us an opportunity to courier more war-relief finances to those churches as the students returned home.In Christ,

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

BIEMs of Light: May 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Praise, God, the spring session of the Seminary has 51 students! Once again, we are thrilled to have new students. This is a record number for us during war time. Pastors from the U.S. are teaching Genesis and Christology; a Ukrainian pastor is teaching World Religions.

• BIEM has passed the 2-million-dollar mark for War Relief donations. Thank you for your generosity! Our missionaries and national pastors say they simply could not do the same level of evangelism and aid if not for aid from you American believers. Sadly, Russia continues to destroy, but weary believers still show God’s love in words and deeds.

• Hallelujah! In Central Asia, a man who has heard the Gospel multiple times finally placed his faith in Christ yesterday. Praise God for opening his eyes to the Truth.

• Our church plant in Druzhba, Ukraine, has now held their 3rd service in the new location God provided. Pastor Sergiy says, “We are grateful to God for answering our prayers, because we are very comfortable here. There is a lot of space, and it’s a very good location.”

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Pray for K_____, who had fled Afghanistan, found faith in Christ, but then was deported back to Afghanistan. Because he follows Jesus, his family rejected him. Non-believers try to hunt him down. He does simple jobs to survive. He says, “Don’t worry about me. I have tasted the Water of Life. I’m a solid follower of Jesus. No one can ever take that from me.”

• The Lord has opened an exciting door to plant a new church in Bucha, Ukraine, where Russian occupation forces brutally slaughtered over 2,000 in the streets. This would be our second church planted in the Bucha region. The first one, Nizhylovychi, also suffered horrific atrocities. Please pray for all details to be worked out. Praise God!

• Summer camps are now right around the corner. Our target amount to run the camps is $60,000. Praise God, $49,700 has come in. Please pray concerning the $10,300 still needed.

• During Russia’s April 24 attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine, one missile exploded near where BIEM’s own director for Ukraine lives with his family. Adults and children were injured with at least 13 killed in the attack. Many are missing. In the following video, Eugene Buyko’s son Michael pauses his aid work to give this on-the-spot report:

  https://vimeo.com/user37287229/missing

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May Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

In 3 John, verse 4, the Apostle writes, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” John wasn’t speaking of his kids but of younger Christians who were living consistent, God-glorifying lives. Here in Ukraine, I can echo the Apostle’s feelings: I rejoice to see the young believers (and a few not so young ones) attending our May session of the Seminary. The men are studying to become more knowledgeable preachers while the ladies study to teach in Sunday school teachers and to engage in musical ministries. 

By God’s grace and with His help, we currently have 51 students in the Seminary. No doubt, the military would love to give these men a rifle and send them to the front lines. However, these students are already engaged in spiritual warfare, the one Paul refers to in Ephesians 6: 12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Praise God, He is using the Seminary to prepare more laborers for the cause of Christ. 

During Soviet times, when believers were harshly persecuted for their faith, we could only dream of having such a training ground for Christian workers. But God answered our prayers and continues to make those dreams a reality. We don’t want to take this opportunity for granted.

In our video for May 2025, you will hear an introduction by Vitaly Yurchenko, the Rector of the Seminary, followed by some thoughts from the American pastors teaching this session, Dr. Troy Lohmeyer and Kevin Gaugler. Please watch and join us in thanking the Lord for both the Seminary and for eager students of the Word!

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/seminarymay2025

Blessings to you!
Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - May 2, 2025

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

1. In the area of Derman, Ukraine, where BIEM has assisted in constructing a Christian camping center, our missionary Pasha Usach was participating in an evangelistic outreach. Believers were distributing sacks of groceries and New Testaments to homes of disadvantaged ones. When Pasha knocked on the door of one house, it turned out to be a home where there is no father, only a mother trying to raise her daughter with the help of another relative. When Pasha offered a sack that included cereals, porridge, sausages, and other items, the mother broke into tears. She explained that she didn’t really believe in God, but they were very poor and had nothing in the house to eat. In desperation, she had prayed to God, begging Him to send them some food. Before long, Pasha showed up! He used that opportunity to agree that God had answered her prayer. He also testified of Jesus Christ and gave her a New Testament. This woman and her relative listened attentively and promised to come to church. May God be praised for working through needs!

2. There’s another exciting update concerning the most recent container of war relief that went to the church in Fastiv, Ukraine. That container carried a lot of medical supplies. Last week we shared that a hospital near the church needed many of the medical supplies on that container and how delivering them to the hospital resulted in hospital employees visiting the church to express their thankfulness. Some of those staff members have attended church services. A bit more challenging to distribute, this container included 44 boxes of kidney dialysis supplies with expiration dates of June and July. When our personnel began to contact hospitals where they had distributed before, they were directed to a hospital in Bucha, which has a dialysis center. That center said they would be happy to accept all 44 boxes! As it turns out, our newest prospective church planter, Sergiy, is in the first month of a new church being planted in Bucha. Involving him in delivering these items to the hospital is certain to develop new contacts for evangelism. Praise God!

3. During Russia’s April 24 hours-long missile attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine, one missile exploded into the residential district where BIEM’s own director for Ukraine lives with his family. In the community, adults and children were injured with at least 13 killed in the attack. Many are missing under the rubble. In the following video, Eugene Buyko’s son Michael pauses his aid work to provide an on-the-spot report.

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/missing

4. Even during this time of war, BIEM is conducting church-building programs in 4 locations. One of the effects of the war is a shortage of laborers. Even though dedicated church members do much of the construction themselves, many phases of a typical church-building program depend on hiring professional construction crews. In this case, roofing is an example. In discussing with one of our church planters the delay in roofing their building because of the difficulty in securing a roofing crew, we heard this statistic: On a typical work crew these days, 25% of the crew has been conscripted and is in active combat; 25% are in hiding to avoid conscription; and 25% have fled to the West, leaving only 25% doing the work since they have enough young children to be exempt from conscription. Nevertheless, the church construction aspect of BIEM’s church planting continues, albeit at a slower pace.

In Christ,

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

War Relief Updates - April 24, 2025

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

War Relief Updates - April 11, 2025

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

1. Although Eugene Buyko was already a missionary pastor with BIEM, in January the government of Ukraine also bestowed on him the title of military chaplain. Since then, Eugene has repeatedly traveled east, to where battles regularly take place. Most people might assume that soldiers need only humanitarian aid. But, as the chaplains say, “There are no unbelievers at the front.” No soldier has ever refused to pray with Eugene. Everyone asks about the Gospel, about God during the war. Yesterday Eugene’s phone rang, and it was one of the soldiers with whom he had prayed. The soldier said, “I just need to talk to you, to pray.” In another situation, Eugene talked with another soldier. He had already spoken with his father, and it turned out that he knew where Eugene’s town of Bilogorodka is, because he lived in a neighboring village. He’d often gone to Bilogorodka to visit friends or go fishing. He, too, exchanged numbers with Eugene. He promised that if he came back from the front, he would visit the church.

2. In addition to the weekly videos we post every Friday, each month we also email subscribers a link for our monthly BIEM video. While our Friday Video Updates focus on our war-relief efforts, the monthly videos are more general in nature. Following is a link to our April video, which features a Christian campground in Derman, Ukraine, which has also been a recipient of BIEM war relief. Here’s the link to the April video:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/birthcamp

This camp has become a distribution point for our war relief efforts as volunteers from the church in nearby Zdolbuniv sort, prepare, and deliver food packages to war widows, needy children, and families in the area. Last week when they delivered a package of food to a young war widow with 4 children she through a flood of tears, shared that they had just run out of food and that morning they were praying to God asking for Him to provide some “kasha” (a form of buckwheat which is a simple and cheap source of nutrition). She stated, “Here we asked God for some kasha, and through you He provided not only kasha, but meat, bread, vegetables, fruit, and other groceries.” Praise God!

3. A couple of weeks ago, our video of the week BIEM missionaries Eugene and Pasha, along with Pastor Sergei Kostin in Vysokopillia, Ukraine. They were expressing gratitude for the war relief aid received from BIEM. Vysokopillia is a formerly occupied territory that was devastated by the Russian attacks. This week’s video features more information from the town and shows examples of the scale of the damage inflicted upon that area. Again, they express heartfelt gratitude for all your aid. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/thanksfromukraine

4. BIEM would like to share the final figures on the Warm Clothing for Soldiers outreach. This winter, donations for the project totaled $114,000. Praise God, this means that—through the churches BIEM has planted or works with—we provided warm clothing and New Testaments for 1,140 soldiers this winter. If we add to that figure the number of soldiers touched last winter, the combined total equals 2,790 soldiers! Please continue to unite with believers everywhere in praying the war will end soon, before Ukraine undergoes another frigid winter of war. (We still have on hand laminated Ukraine war prayer reminders suitable as book markers or for mounting.)

In Christ,

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

April Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

There are times when BIEM and our coworkers overseas plan specific evangelistic projects, and we pray for God’s guidance and blessing in those outreaches. But other times, the Lord goes ahead of us and prepares opportunities even before we realize how He is directing. Such was the case in Zdolbuniv, Ukraine.

Several years ago, BIEM missionary Pasha Usach in Zdolbuniv stumbled across a large parcel of land that was for sale in the nearby town of Derman. When he investigated, he discovered the property was in excellent shape, except for a couple of run-down buildings that could easily be torn down. This spacious piece of ground was available for only $3,400! Pavel wasted no time in contacting the BIEM home office. He suggested this would be a wonderful location for holding camps and other outreaches. We prayed about it. Then I shared this opportunity with some supporting pastors. One of those churches provided the necessary funds, and the property in Derman was purchased. Men from the church in Zdolbuniv enthusiastically began improving the grounds to transform a bare property with a couple of ramshackle buildings into a functional campground. Friends of BIEM provided additional funding for numerous improvements.

Even before completion as a campground, this property has hosted many children’s and youth camps. Also, multiple outreaches to refugees and war widows have been held there. Best of all, when some parents in Derman came to observe camp life, they heard the Gospel! Some placed their faith in Christ and asked if it was possible to have Sunday services there year-round. That desire led to a new church being established right on the campground. The congregation will soon hold its first baptism.

The following video from Pasha Usach spans from the beginning of the project to the present. Currently, there is a need to complete the construction of the multi-purpose building you will see at the end of the video. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/birthcamp

Blessings to you!
Sam & Amy Slobodian

P.S. A fleeting moment in the video gives the impression that three young volunteers may have been injured while standing on a roof that completely collapsed. We’re happy to report they simply brushed off the dust and continued working!

BIEMs of Light: April 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• When the church plant in Ternopil, Ukraine, outgrew their rented storefront, church members were shocked to learn a place the size they needed would cost $1,300 monthly. (They pay $200/month now.) But God answered led Pastor Serhiy to a businessman who agreed to lease a spacious, facility only 5 minutes from their current location for $350 monthly! Praise God!

• BIEM’s new missionary has begun church visits for deputation. She shares, “It’s incredible to walk into a church and feel instantly embraced, cared for, and supported. It reminds me that God is building a big family — one that is united in the purpose of serving and glorifying Jesus Christ. I’m also deeply grateful for your financial support, which will allow me to bring the Good News to Ukraine and serve some of its most vulnerable people – orphans.”

• Concerning BIEM aid, pastor Anatoly Kosyanchuk in Shevchenkove, Ukraine, says, “We sincerely thank you for giving us walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, and other things for the disabled.… We give them to those who need them. Some return theirs after recovery; others pass them to other people in need. This is how it works. We are all grateful for this help.”

• In answer to prayer, our missionary Sasha – who ministers in a Muslim land – was able to visit the U.S. and speak in churches in multiple states. He is now back on his field!

Prayer – Pray with us!

• Still an urgent prayer request: Although Ukraine now exempts clergy from military duty, permission for them to travel outside Ukraine have not resumed. BIEM has scheduled church planters to speak in U.S. churches in April, so please pray they will be granted exit permits.

• In Russia, a church started by one of our missionaries received a visit from government security services. They drew up an interrogation report, took photos, and looked for signs of “extremism.” The church requests prayer for their protection.

• Our director for Central Asia shares this: “Please pray for a girl named Shokhsanam. She is Uzbek. She was beaten by her brother again. Her brother is Muslim. She went to a camp in Samarkand for 2 days. Her nose is bleeding every other day almost. She has concussion. Her brother and his wife forbid her to attend the House of Prayer [church services].”

• Please pray for our Spring Seminary session starting later this month in Kyiv, Ukraine. Sam Slobodian will be going along with pastors from Minnesota and Indiana. Conducting these sessions during a war is quite challenging. Keep praying for this war to end.

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War Relief Updates - April 4, 2025

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

1. Once again this week, Sophia Buyko traveled to Denmark to help needy Ukrainian refugee women. Her daughters Angelica, Solomia, and Ivanka went along. Once again, there was a good turnout of ladies, some of whom heard the Gospel presented for the first time. Most of these needy women are widows who lost their husbands due to the war. These Buyko women were particularly encouraged they saw one lady who had been undergoing cancer treatment during a previous visit. The last time they had seen her, she looked emaciated, and the doctors gave her almost zero chance of survival. The Buykos rejoiced to see this lady who is now cancer free, even though at first they did not recognize her because of how well she now looks. Praise God!

2. BIEM’s missionary pastor Sasha Petrenko has made numerous trips eastward, toward the warfront. On each trip, he and those who travel with him distribute New Testaments and various forms of war relief to both civilians and soldiers. Because of such trips, he and the church have become well known. Recently, a lieutenant colonel phoned. Would Sasha help him to sell a garage? Sasha agreed to help advertise it, so the man went to the church to see him. (This soldier’s wife and son are also familiar with the church since they had sheltered there during a Russian bombardment.) After discussing the garage, the two sat down to coffee, and Sasha steered the conversation in a spiritual direction, toward Christ. However, that lieutenant colonel expressed resentment toward God because his two brothers were dead. “Why did God simply allow their deaths? Why is it that some people like drug addicts and drunkards who don’t value life are alive, but my brothers are already in the ground?” Sasha spoke about God and tried to comfort the man. He reminded him that all of us will die and that it’s vital for each of us to prepare for death now, while we have time to place our faith in Jesus Christ. When Sasha suggested that the soldier pray with him, he agreed! After praying, Sasha handed him a New Testament with a camouflage cover and shared more truths from it. What a blessing that coffee and a conversation had led another soul to Christ!

3. In the Obolon district of Kyiv, Ukraine, Awakening Baptist Church continues to lovingly assist and minister to refugees of the devastated city of Bakhmut. Here, Pastor Nikolai Rozhnyatovsky and his wife Tanya sing “Why, My Lord?” over a video collage of displaced persons receiving aid, spiritual counsel, and new hope, all in the name of Jesus Christ.

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/whymylord

4. This weekend Sam Slobodian is giving an update on our war relief efforts in a mission conference in Pennsylvania. Sergei Debelinsky will also be speaking in this conference. Brother Sergei was BIEM’s first church planter in Ukraine over 20 years ago, when he planted a church in the Obolon district of Kyiv. This church has been self-supporting for many years and has grown to be quite large. Today Sergei is the president of the Brotherhood of Independent Baptist Churches of Ukraine with whom BIEM partners in the Kyiv Seminary and many church planting projects. At the conference, Sergei will be sharing how God is using these churches and BIEM to reach souls during this time of war.

In Christ,

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

War Relief Updates - March 28, 2025

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

1. Every Sunday after their service, the River of Life Baptist Church in Fastiv, Ukraine, prepares a meal for people who have suffered from the war. This includes military widows, displaced children, and servicemen themselves. This past Sunday, much humanitarian aid from our container was distributed to military wives and widows. Most of these women, who are unbelievers, are open to the Gospel. Some are already attending services, singing along during hymns, and are helping to prepare the meal. With the assistance of war relief, people in the community see that the church is truly concerned for them and is doing everything possible to help people in need, regardless of whether they are church members. 

2. This week Eugene Buyko and his son Michael delivered war relief to the city of Makariv. This city is in the general Kyiv region but is especially needy because this area was under Russian occupation. This city is significant to Pastor Anatoly of Fastiv because his childhood friend died during that occupation. When Russian troops entered the town, Anatoly’s friend hid in the basement. The occupiers came in, found him, and said everything was fine, that they would not touch him. However, at the same time they mined his car. So, when he started his car to leave the city, he died from the explosion. The Buykos also helped the family of a man named Nazar, who works as a security guard. He and his whole family went through the occupation and so have received BIEM aid multiple times. This time, when Eugene and Michael visited, they had a wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel at length. The family asked many questions about the Gospel and things in the Bible. 

3. Imagine being the blind pastor of a Ukrainian church during wartime. That is the challenging role of Alex Abramstov in Korostishiv. In a brief video, Brother Alex sends greetings and sincere thanks to BIEM for the war relief sent to this church. A widow and her children who attend that church join in expressing gratitude. We pass along those thanks to all of you who care and are helping our War Relief fund. Here’s the video link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/blind

4. During this past winter’s Warm Clothing distribution, the church in Lviv, Ukraine, submitted a list of 60 soldiers they personally knew and wanted to bless with much-needed warm clothing. Thanks to friends of BIEM, we were able to honor each application. Last week, Pastor Yura received an invitation to a birthday party for one of these soldiers. When Yura arrived, that soldier plus a number of his comrades in arms all profusely thanked him and the church for the warm clothing. They declared that it was much warmer than what they were wearing before the gifts arrived. Best of all, they asked if they could hear more about the Gospel and the Bible. They asked so many questions and expressed such great interest that the ensuing Gospel discussion continued until midnight! Praise God!

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

War Relief Updates - March 21, 2025

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

1. We received a nice thank-you note from Ihor Dudas, a soldier from Bilogorodka who is recovering from a knee operation. He expresses thanks for the crutches the church in Bilogorodka gave him from our container. He describes how these crutches have helped him and requests prayer for a quick recovery so he can rejoin his unit on the battlefront.

2. Our most recent container of war relief went to Fastiv, a large city southwest of Kyiv. Fastiv is a railroad hub serving much of Ukraine. BIEM has planted two churches there, and they are active in distributing the recently received aid. One of their points of distribution is 30 refugee families who have been displaced from Donetsk, Luhansk, and the Kharkiv regions. The refugees have been evacuated to Fastiv. The pastor in Fastiv writes about how extremely grateful these people are for the clothing and other supplies provided by the container.

3. Early in 2024, BIEM shared a story from Sergei Kostin, the pastor of the church in Vysokopillia, Ukraine. In it, he recounted how his home had come under fire by Russian artillery. His granddaughter ended up losing her leg. Here, Pastor Kostin joins BIEM’s Director in Ukraine Eugene Buyko (left) and our missionary Pavel Usach to thank all the American brothers and sisters in Christ who have blessed his village church with a portion of the war relief that arrived via container.

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/leftwithnothing

4. The latest issue of our ministry newsletter, The Challenger, has now been printed and is going out in the mail. This issue emphasizes the war relief that BIEM ships in 40-foot containers from the viewpoint of the recipients. Because war relief is so crucial and is serving as such a valuable evangelistic tool for the churches distributing it, we hope you will take the time to read it. If by chance you are not receiving The Challenger but would like to, you can ask to be added to our mailing list by emailing your name and street address to missions@baptistinternational.org. Or simply call us at 317-718-1633.

In Christ,

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

BIEMs of Light: March 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• Our latest container of war relief arrived in Fastiv in February, and the church there has been distributing its contents, both locally and through churches in other towns. May God be glorified through this aid!

• In February we requested prayer for our plans to bring one of our missionaries in a Muslim country here to speak in supporting churches and bring updates. God blessed, and Sasha has arrived safely. During March, he will speak in churches in North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

• Last week, men from Prairie Creek Baptist Church in Kingman, Indiana, delivered an auditorium’s worth of pews to BIEM. These pews will go to Awakening Baptist church in Kyiv. That church has been meeting in the basement while constructing their auditorium. Nearing completion, they had no idea how to provide seating. They rejoiced to see photos of the pews and thank God for this answer to prayer!

• Last winter, we provided 1,650 Ukrainian soldiers with $100 worth of warm clothing and New Testaments. Not just any soldiers but soldiers directly connected with members of our churches. In repeating the project this winter, we shared how we had received applications representing 1,076 soldiers and needed $16,000 to meet this need. Praise God, we received $16,890! The extra $890 will go toward additional applications that have since come in.

Prayer – Pray with us!

• After studying in John, one of the newest Afghani students in the Central Asia Bible Institute realized his faith was only a head knowledge about Christ. The next day, he gave testimony in front of 80 Afghans that he had previously not been born again but was now fully trusting Christ. Through tears, he challenged the church to not play games with Jesus but to truly know Him.

• Last year we shared the remarkable story of how the Lord used two elderly ladies to re-establish a church that had been closed and largely destroyed under Russian occupation in their town. Our missionary Pavel Usach requests for prayer for one of those ladies. Her health has suddenly deteriorated, and she can no longer walk. Please pray for Anna.

• BIEM director for Ukraine, Eugene Buyko, and others drove to within 10 miles of the fighting in Donbas. They set up a roadside kitchen, where they offered free hot soup and New Testaments. God gave Eugene many spiritual conversations. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to work via His Word.

• As Russia’s war against Ukraine enters its 4th year, please continue to pray for a fair conclusion to the aggression. If you’re interested, We have free postcard and bookmark reminders that list ways to pray. 

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War Relief Updates - March 14, 2024

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

1. Bogdan is a young soldier connected with BIEM through our church planters in Western Ukraine. He’s a strong believer with an excellent testimony. He has a leadership role in his division, which is stationed along the war front in the vicinity of Slavyanskova in the Donetsk area. The commander there has developed a strong confidence in Bogdan, to whom he has given significant responsibilities. Through Bogdan, our Ukrainian missionaries who minister along the front lines have been able to access soldiers to give aid and share the Gospel. This week Bogdan asked for a specific electric station (basically a large power bank), which we were able to provide. Please pray that God would keep Bogdan safe and continue to use him in evangelizing his fellow soldiers.

2. This week Vitaly Bilyak will be leaving on his 22nd trip to the war front. Igor, one of his deacons, will go with him. This trip will once again take Vitaly and Igor to Kherson in the south and then east towards Zaporizhia in the Donbas region. As usual, they will minister to both civilians and soldiers. Please pray for their safety and that God will use them as they demonstrate the love of God, both by preaching the Gospel and supplying food parcels.

3. Here are some words of appreciation from overseas. Many of you donated to help Ukrainian churches in their outreaches to their military. Here, we present a sampling of videos and photos from grateful recipients. BIEM passes their thanks to all of you, who gave to make this ministry outreach possible. May God use this effort to draw souls to Himself!

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/morethanks

4. BIEM received a letter from Ukraine, which we have translated for you: “Greetings, dear American brothers and sisters! I want to thank you for the wheelchair that we received from the container that came to Bilogorodka. I phoned the pastor of the Bilogorodka church, Eugene Buyko. He is my childhood friend; we lived on the same street and attended the same church. I called him, and he said there was an opportunity to help because a container had arrived. We have a man who was hit by a car. He’s 42 years old. He was hospitalized. His spine was broken, and it’s difficult for him to walk. It’s hard for him to move in general. 

“We also want to thank you for the clothes, shoes, and all the aid. We sense the concern and love that we receive from you in the form of containers. Thank you very much for sending containers with humanitarian aid to Ukraine.” —Igor Romanovych, pastor at Velyka Snitinka

In Christ,

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM