Container of supplies is released by customs

Since last month, the 40-ft. shipping container of supplies for which we requested prayer has been released by customs. Distribution has begun.  Thank you to everyone who gave and prayed. Read the full report in September's BIEM’s of Light

400+ salvation decisions made by children and teens in summer camps

Although we haven’t yet received all the statistics from each camp, enough reports have arrived that we can rejoice about 400+ salvation decisions made by children and teens in various camps where BIEM ministers. Praise the Lord for these new names “written down in glory”! Read the full report in September's BIEM’s of Light

BIEM sends thousands of New Testaments for Muslims in Russia

Pastors in the Moscow area have written to thank BIEM for the gift of thousands of New Testaments in the Uzbek, Turkmen, and Kyrgyz languages. Muslims from all of these nations (which were once part of the USSR) have settled in Moscow for work. Praise God for willing workers, for whom these New Testaments in native languages are vital tools. Read the full report in August's BIEM's of Light

Russian Church baptizes 12, 6 of whom were delivered from drugs and alcohol through rehab center

Thanks to a donation from a supporting church, the property which houses the rehab center in Ternopil, Ukraine is fully paid for. Meanwhile, the church in Nahabino, Russia baptized 12 last week, 6 of them men delivered from drugs and alcohol through their rehab center. We praise God for this and trust that He will continue redeeming lives once ruined by various addictions. Read the full report in July's BIEM's of Light

16 graduates complete their studies at Kiev Theological Seminary

In May, 16 graduates completed their studies at Kiev Theological Seminary. These students came from Russia, Georgia, Belarus, and of course Ukraine. This item is also a prayer request for the graduates as they return home and go into various ministries. Taken from June's BIEM's of Light

God opens another field for BIEM in Latin America

Many friends of BIEM don’t realize that our founder, Ukrainian-born Peter Slobodian, received Christ and began serving the Lord in Argentina. He and his wife Mary occasionally returned to Latin America to visit friends and to evangelize in Spanish. Now BIEM has accepted an opportunity to boost church planting in Latin America, the continent of our roots. The “beachhead” for this evangelistic thrust is Peru. In that country, there are two fundamental Bible schools for national believers. The students receive a solid foundation of Bible knowledge and training in church-planting. However, after graduation these men face an uphill struggle. Despite ministerial training, they must work secular jobs simply to survive.

Enter BIEM. We have experience providing limited-time support to approved nationals to help them plant churches. What we don’t have is a Bible school in South America. Conversely, there are quality schools, but not a program to assist graduates. In this win-win scenario, the schools already there will provide the education, plus recommendations concerning graduates, and then BIEM would financially aid such men for two years while they focus on evangelism and church-planting.

This model is reminiscent of Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” When the goal is spiritual fruit for God’s glory, it’s unimportant who planted or watered (or who taught, and who financed). We merely want to see souls saved to the glory of God.

Why limit the support to two years? This time period was recommended to lessen the risk of nationals becoming dependent on American dollars. Another advantage is that U.S. churches who want to take on such a project don’t need to pledge support forever. In 24 months, their commitment is done. Even if the church planter ends up working part-time after the initial two years, in the worst-case scenario his church is two years farther along than it would have been.

The first candidate, Segundo Rodriquez, has already been accepted and is busy on his field in Peru. The second man that we aim to help was saved out of drug addiction. He has already started a church in his mother-in-law’s home, which is in a drug-ridden area of Urubamba. (At the moment, he drives a taxi to earn a living and can’t concentrate on church-planting.) The third and fourth men hope to work as a team in the Peruvian interior.

Of course, accountability is crucial. These church planters will be answerable to a team of five advisors (three Americans and two Peruvians) who teach at the schools in Trujillo and Urubamba. In addition, BIEM board member Pastor Andy Counterman will oversee this program as part of his regular ministry trips to Latin America.

The pluses are abundant: trained workers, endorsements, favorable economics, a system of accountability and oversight, local advisors, and good stewardship. If this program functions as well as we hope, then we can expand it into other Latin countries.

We praise God for another way to serve God and to grease the wheels for world evangelism!

[box type="info"] The church planters in South America will receive different amounts of funding, depending on whether they are single or married, and living in the jungle, a town, or a city. One-time gifts for this initiative can be designated “BIEM South America.” Just 10 churches giving $70/month for two years starts a church. Can you help? (Of course, gifts from individuals are also welcome.)[/box]

Giving God the Glory, The life of Peter Slobodian now available

The year 2011 marks BIEM's 30th anniversary. What better time to publish the life story of our founder, Dr. Peter Slobodian? Giving God the Glory is the fascinating true story of how the Lord plucked one man from a poor Ukrainian family and an obscure background to touch souls on multiple continents with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you love the Lord and marvel at His works, then this is the book for you. Order your copy today!

BIEM's Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center Waiting List Grows

BIEM's Drug & Alcohol Rehab Center is currently at capacity with men whose lives have been hurt by addictions.  The Rehab Center now has a waiting list that is continually growing with more and more men who want to change their lives for the better.  This is not done on their own power, but through the power of Christ in their lives.  Instead of the hopelessness of their addiction, hope is giving through a personal relationship with Christ. Current recovered addicts are making bunk beds with their own tools to accommodate as many men as possible.  There is also a need for a similar women's Rehab Center.  Will you consider giving to these needy ministries?

Natalie Tuttle Health Prayer Request

Natalie Tuttle recently found out that she has cancer. Please pray for wisdom for her and Bruce and the ministry in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine.

Luis David Toribio

Luis David Toribio

My Testimony

My parents were idolaters and supporters of feasts for idols in several areas of Northern Peru. In 2003, students from Baptist Seminary of Peru arrived in my town, which is called Viru. One of them invited me to the new church, and I went, but only a few times.

One day, at home, I felt my heart was empty. I remembered the Gospel that had been shared with me so many times. So I went to the small church and knocked the door. That student, Jose Churata, opened the door. I said, "I want to receive Jesus." He explained the Gospel to me again, and then I asked forgiveness from God and received Jesus in my heart. It was a Sunday, October 19, 2003. 

My Vision For The Ministry In Puerto Maldonado

For years later, in December 2007, my church, Bethel Baptist, sent me to Puerto Maldonado to spend two months there. Puerto Maldonado is the capital city of a rain forest region called Madre de Dios (Mother of God). Puerto Maldonado is close to Brazil and Bolivia, so there is a high level of commerce (legal and illegal), and there are a lot of natural resources that produce money, but there is also a lot of corruption and sin, which keep the city in poverty.

Madre de Dios has 109,000 inhabitants (14 years ago there were only 67,000 inhabitants). In the jungle there are several tribes that need the Gospel, but I want to work in the capital city to establish the first Baptist church there. (Currently there are fewer than 10 believers who can be the core for the new church.)

So my vision is...

• To strength the core of believers by teaching them at public meetings and at homes
• To disciple them with a vision for national and international missions
• To evangelize all the city of Puerto Maldonado
• To disciple the new believers
• To propagate the Gospel to the tribes. I want the new church to seek opportunities to establish churches in the jungle areas
• After training leaders to lead the new church (I think about 5 years), I want to work in another place, wherever God would lead me

Luis Escobar

Luis-Escobar-Prayer-Card

My Testimony Of Salvation:

When I was 14, I understood that I was a sinner and I deserved eternal condemnation.  I understood that God was righteous in bringing that judgment on me.  I confessed Christ as my only one and sufficient personal Savior; and I also understood that after that confession I will go to the heaven when I die. When I was 17, I was baptized.

My Vision For The Missionary Work In Tarapoto, Rain Forest of Peru:

Some year ago God put in my heart to plant a Independent Baptist Church in Tarapoto, a main city in the rain forest of Peru with 68,000 inhabitants.   There is no Baptist Church there, only universities, commerce and high levels of sin.  We want to establish in Tarapoto an Independent Baptist Church to the glory of God, and with worldwide reaching vision.

Ruben Quispe

Joel Gamboa

Joel Gamboa

My Testimony Of Salvation:

I was born on December 21, 1971. Everyone in my family was saved, except my father. They attended Shalom Baptist Church and took me to Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. I liked a lot of Bible stories.

On March 10, 1982, I entered a personal relationship with Jesus my Savior in a Vacation Bible School. I understood I was a sinner (Rom. 3:10), and living with a Christian family was not enough to save my soul (Eph. 2:8-9). When my teacher read about the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:15), I said, "I don't want to go there," so I received Jesus as my Savior.

In 1983, my family moved to another new church to help a missionary there. On October 12, 1986, I was baptized in Elohim Baptist Church, and there I started to serve God.

Mission

New Jerusalem Baptist Church is to glorify God by reaching all people for Christ and edifying believers to be like our Lord Jesus Christ.

Vision

New Jerusalem Baptist Church, Lord willing, seeks to be a large church with a missionary vision, strong ministries, and well-equipped leaders who use the Bible to impact our society.

Goals

To reach win souls for the Savior; to teach them to apply the Bible to their daily life; to train leaders; to visit and teach new believers at their homes; to labor with sister churches in the area to strengthen our missionary work.

William & Gina Suarez

This page under construction. Check back soon!

Wilber and Dayci Huillca

Location: Sepahua, Peru.

Wilber Huillca and his family are among BIEM's currently supported missionaries in Latin America.... More to come! (Page under construction)

Teodoro and Esperanza Berna

Location: Chepen, Peru

It is a delight to have the opportunity to share what our God has allowed us to do in His work here in Chepen, Peru. Currently we have 24 people attending our church—8 are baptized, and 12 remain to be baptized. Four are visitors. The Bible Club is made up of around 25-40 children and young people.

Two couples are in marriage counseling, and another couple is going through pre-marriage counseling. We are in the process of discipling two men and two ladies. On the weekends we conduct Bible studies at three members’ houses with the purpose of reaching their neighbors, and we go on visitation to members’ homes to encourage them. We hold a prayer service each week at the church, a once-per-week edification service, and on Sundays we meet to worship together in mornings and evenings. We are always taking advantage of opportunities to evangelize. So, as a small group we are dedicated to evangelism, discipleship, ministry, mentoring, and worship.

We never have to wait for the enemy to attack as he tries to derail God’s purpose for the people to whom we minister. However, God gives us strength as we continue on and stay faithful to the work He has given us. As we remain diligent in our service, the Lord will grow our church and will add to us those who are to be saved according to His promises. 

The church owns its own building. The lot is 7 x 30 meters, and we have completed 65% of the construction work. We ask for your prayers as we endeavor to finish the rest.

We ask for your prayers for God’s work here, that people would receive the Gospel. They recognize their sin, but are unwilling to make the decision to surrender their lives to Christ as their Lord and savior. They are stuck in their religion, traditions, etc. Let us pray that God would work in their hearts. We also ask you to pray for our holiness and for my wife’s health. We again are grateful to you all for supporting our ministry, for your prayers, and for your financial support. Our work in the Lord is not in vain. May God bless you!

Ruben and Laura Villar

When I was 13 years old, I went to a camp from my church. God used that camp to call me to serve Him. It was really amazing, because in that camp God was talking to my heart, saying, “You can serve me.” On the last day of the camp, I said, “God, use me however you want. I don’t know if You want me to be a pastor or a missionary.” The only thing that I said was, “God, here I am; use me.”

I’ll never forget that when I was between 14 and 16 years old, my relationship with God was very bad. Although my body was in the church, my heart was far away from Him. However, when I finished high school, I started to think about my life. I recognized that I needed to follow Jesus again and began to renew my decision to serve Him.

In 2008 I made the decision to prepare in a seminary. I studied for a year and a half in Lima. However, I thought to myself, “If I plan to serve full time, then I need to prepare full time too,” because I was working a lot during the day, and I had just a few hours to study and do my homework at night. For that reason, at the end of 2010, I decided to go to Trujillo to finish my theological studies at Peru Baptist Seminary.

Ruben graduated from the seminary in 2014. He considers his primary gifts from the Lord to be preaching, teaching, and counseling.

Samuel and Fiorella Vega

Location: Huancayo, Peru.

Praying for South American Pastors

OUR HISTORY IN PERU:

About ten years ago several pastors were actively teaching in the Bible College and Seminary in Trujillo, Peru. I had the privilege of being able to participate in this process. It was then that I met three of the five present advisers we use to get national trained men into the BIEM pipeline. I was invited to become a board member of BIEM soon after this Peruvian teaching opportunity. This sparked the expansion of BIEM into the S.A. field. Prior to this, BIEM was busy in Eastern Europe.

After presenting the idea and getting board approval, the process was presented, revised, given to the advisors in the field (now five in Peru) and fashioned as a prototype for this area of the world. Several mandates were incorporated:

• There must be local approval of any candidate;
• The advisers would not have the ability to make the final choice of candidates, but would defer to the board;
• Candidates must be a graduate of a recognized school in the targeted country (hopefully, expanding from Peru to other SA countries);
• Funding would be for a two year block for a church starter who would continue to pastor the church and continued support for the church starter who felt gifted in this position (upon review and approval).

Accountability would be in three tiers:

• The missionaries and teachers on the ground in the target country;
• Trips to the field by BIEM board member(s); and
• By BIEM itself with financial accountability to all who contribute. We pray that the program in SA will prove to be accountable and accepted by all who come under the burden to accelerate the gospel in this very open field.

This is the real advantage of the program: a national pastor/church-starter can be fully underwritten for about 500 dollars per month. They know the language, the country, the diet, the laws, etc. There is no language school, cross-cultural adjustments, and, they minister where their homes and families are. This is a win, win, win situation.

OUR PRESENT SUCCESSES:

BIEM started with five candidates. Of that group, one man, Segundo Rodriguez, is in church starting and evangelism as well as a teacher of his own countrymen. He came to BIEM fully supported. The second man Joel Gamboa ministers in Trujillo in a drug-infested area of the city. He is a graduate of the seminary in Trujillo and was driving a taxi to feed his family. The third man is Luis Escobar. He is a graduate of the school in Trujillo and is starting a church in Tarapoto, a high jungle city of 68,000 souls in central Peru. The fourth man is David Toribio, ministering in the south-eastern city of Puerto Maldonado near the borders of both Brazil and Bolivia. Here, David wants to start a Baptist Church with a 10 believer core. The fifth man is Parcemon Jiminez. JP is pastoring in a Baptist church in Zarumilla, Peru. He is another graduate of the seminary in Trujillo and, like the other men comes highly recommended by his peers. Future goals include expanding the influence of his ministry into Ecuador, specifically, the city of Machala. We already have the next man in BIEM’s pipeline for support. His name is Ruben Quispe in the Cusco-Calca area of central Peru. Ruben wanted to be a Doctor before God called him into the ministry. He also trained in Trujillo and has taught in the Bible college in Urubamba (the second school that we consider men).

OUR PRESENT GOALS:

In August, BIEM will again have a presence in Peru. This will be a trip to gather more men for the future underwriting program. Also, there will be an onsite evaluation of three of the existing works. Time will be spent in Trujillo and Urubamba interviewing and gathering solid recommendations.

OUR FUTURE VISION:

As churches and individuals get a burden for SA, BIEM stands ready to provide an accountable avenue for church expansion using graduates who are native to their land. The cost benefits are obvious as are the cultural benefits. This endeavor compliments the work of other men and mission boards and is in cooperation with several other Baptist groups for the stated ends. The target is needy, the men are trained and recommended by both peers and missionaries, the cost is very reasonable, and the goal is achievable.