War Relief Updates - July 11, 2025

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

1. In the Sumy vicinity of eastern Ukraine, the 158th Brigade had access to food. However, the soldiers serving there have experienced various sicknesses in their ranks, with no way to return home and rest. So, when believers inquired about their needs, those military men expressed one main request: over-the-counter medications, primarily for colds, flus, headaches, and for digestion. With aid from BIEM, believers were able to purchase a quantity of these basic medications and filled 4 large boxes with them. These were then forwarded to the 158th Brigade. A reply came back with sincere thanks to both the church and to the American believers.

2. In the western Ukrainian city of Zdolbuniv, the church sent warm greetings to you, their American brothers and sisters. With their greeting they included this message: “This summer, Pasha Usach and his team are planning a tent camp in Derman Druha, where brother Pasha ministers. The camp is planned for many children who have just arrived from occupied territories, such as Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. These children are traumatized by the war. Supposedly, they left the war behind in the territories where the fighting is going on, but the constant bombs falling all over Ukraine simply wreak havoc on these children. Also, most of these children are non-believers. Summer camp is an opportunity for them to get away from military affairs and live with Christians, where they will hear about Christ. We kindly request your prayers, because this will be a difficult camp, with difficult children who have no less difficult parents. We ask for your prayerful support for these people and us.”

3. Last week’s video highlighted the ministry of roadside stations where believers offered free meals, conversation, and prayer to soldiers. As a follow-up, this week’s video emphasizes the vital role of Christian literature in these outreaches. New Testaments, Christian tracts, or a Gospel of Luke become spiritual food for the road. They are Biblical truth that members of the military can take and read later. In this brief video, Eugene and Natalia discuss the importance of handing members of the military literature that points their thoughts toward Christ:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/foodtogo

4. BIEM missionary Sasha Petrenko and the church he leads in Goncharivske/Smolyn have channeled much humanitarian aid from BIEM to bless both soldiers and civilians. He says, “Last week, the commander of the 110th Brigade was killed. Previously he had been assigned to serve in this area. I knew him. It turns out he had three children. His deputy and chief of staff were also killed. He was a special person with his own story. Therefore, we need to pray for his family, for these three children, and for other families of wounded military men. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a regular soldier, a commander, a general, or just a civilian—you’re constantly under threat. Wherever you are, pray for the military, for their safety, and for us.

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

War Relief Updates - July 3, 2025

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

1. Last week, BIEM received 15 specialty hospital carts from friends with connections to local hospitals. Each cart features several sliding trays, which can hold an assortment of medications, bandages, instruments, etc. BIEM’s war relief efforts include providing medical supplies for Ukrainian hospitals in the areas where our church planters serve. Such gifts certainly elevate the testimony of the churches and open doors for evangelism.

2. Anya Korbetska, a volunteer in Bilogorodka whose husband is serving in the front lines, assists in BIEM’s war relief efforts. She has access to many soldiers and families of soldiers. Anya has reported on how this aid helped three families whose fathers were killed in battle. These families are from the eastern occupied territories (Donetsk), and the state has not provided the funds normally expected after the loss of heads of households in battle. Therefore, these families are impoverished. As the mothers search for work to meet the needs of their children, Anna was able to help with food. She says these families are extremely grateful for the aid provided by BIEMs supporters.

3. In this week’s video, Eugene and Vitaly take us to an intersection near the warfront, where they and other volunteers manned a soup & Scripture evangelism point. This is their 10th time to conduct such 3-day outreaches with assistance from BIEM. We invite you to click the following link for an inside look at this evangelism project made possible by BIEM donors. Thank you for helping us to help them!

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/roadside

4. Toward the end of last year, we announced a matching-funds opportunity for donations to our war relief efforts. In that arrangement, every dollar that BIEM received for our War Relief outreach through the end of 2025 was to be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. Praise God, that $100,000 mark was reached! As if that news weren’t exciting enough, the same source has now earmarked an additional $100,000 to be used in the exact same way. In other words, a new matching-funds offer that doubles each financial gift we receive toward War Relief (up to $100,000) is now starting. Of course, we thank God and our donors for every dollar received, but we especially praise God for this opportunity you have to double the impact of each dollar you give toward War Relief. May the Lord be glorified as believers demonstrate the love of God in action!

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

BIEMs of Light: July 2025

Praises – Rejoice with us!

• In the month of June, BIEM shipped not one but two containers of war relief to Ukraine. A huge percentage of each shipment consists of donated clothing and medical supplies, but they contain other helpful items, too. Contents will be distributed by our churches in Obolon and Desna. Praise God!

• Hallelujah, we received 100% of the donations needed to fund this summer’s camps for children and teens. In fact, the first camps have started. We praise God and thank you missions-minded friends!

• Recently, another Christian ministry delivered to BIEM 4 pallets stacked high with boxes of adult disposable diapers. Because the pension for a retired Ukrainian is only about $30/month, a box of these is invaluable for those who need them. We praise the Lord for directing this aid our way!

• Our newest church planter, Sergei Anokin, was with us for a few weeks. He’s planting a church in Bucha, where Russian forces committed atrocities. Because he sheltered 170 residents in a church, the UN asked him to testify when they initiated war-crime procedures. Sergei’s presentation in churches was riveting. You can view one here:

  https://vimeo.com/user37287229/anokhin2

Prayer – Pray with us!

• “K___” embraced Christ after fleeing Afghanistan but was arrested and sent back. He said, “When we go back to Afghanistan, the temptations are great... Satan will throw all his power at us to deny our faith and walk away from God to find ease. I was tried as never before in my life, but Jesus held me through the pain, storms, hunger, sicknesses, and beatings. He was closer than any relationship we can ever have.” Please uphold such new believers in prayer.

• In the country of Georgia, constantly changing laws are creating challenges for ministry. Please pray for our Gospel workers to have vision, wisdom, and discernment as they go forward in faith.

• In Belarus, our missionary Nikolai Ryzhuk and another brother spent weeks visiting small, far-flung churches of just a few members. In addition to encouraging believers, they have led souls to Christ! Please pray for the encouragement of tiny churches and for more souls to come to the Lord.

• A couple years ago, we were able to purchase land in Western Ukraine for a Christian camp. With the help of BIEM friends, a camp building with a bomb shelter is also under construction there. Please pray they can complete this extremely difficult challenge before camps begin at the end of July.

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July Video Update

Dear Pastors and Friends,

When we BIEM staff members visit churches or create newsletters discussing the desperate needs in Ukraine due to the war, so many of you reply generously. We regularly thank the Lord (and you!) for your war-relief contributions in the form of donated clothing & housewares, wheelchairs and walkers, funds for shipping, and your prayers.

However, as grateful as we are to see all of you demonstrating Christian love in action, our Ukrainian friends and coworkers are, of course, even more grateful. After all, they are the ones who are enduring the air raids, bombed apartment buildings, destroyed businesses, and loss of loved ones. So, whenever practical, we try to spotlight our Ukrainian personnel so they can express appreciation in their own words.

Thus, for our July 2025 video, we decided to highlight one of BIEM’s weekly video updates. In this video, our church planter Sergei Anokhin and Sam Slobodian are standing at the rear of a container loaded with aid bound for Ukraine on June 20. Because Sergei lives in Bucha, the city where Russian troops committed so many atrocities before being driven out, he certainly has firsthand knowledge of the heartbreaks and needs of the local population. You can view the video at this link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/moreaid

Also, although Sergei has already returned to Ukraine, you can view one of the presentations he did in U.S. church services. In it, he shares about Bucha and the beginnings of his own church-planting ministry there:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/sergeianokhin

Thank you again for caring and for sharing of your means for the Lord’s work.

Blessings to you!
Sam & Amy Slobodian

War Relief Updates - June 27, 2025

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

1. Yesterday a fellow Christian ministry delivered to BIEM 4 pallets stacked high with boxes of adult disposable diapers. Because the pension for a retired Ukrainian is only about $30/month, a gift of these is invaluable for those who need them. We praise the Lord for directing this aid our way!

2. BIEM’s newest church planter is Sergei Anokhin. He and his family live in Bucha, the city that was horrifically brutalized when Russian troops occupied it. Because many BIEM supporters have never had an opportunity to see one of our church presentations in person, we’re sharing this June 15, 2025, presentation by Sergei, with Sam Slobodian interpreting. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/anokhin2

3. The church in Bilogorodka, Ukraine, was blessed and a bit surprised when a famous Ukrainian war hero attended their Sunday service. Vladislav Stotsky (call sign “Vogon”) was highly decorated after surviving being surrounded by the enemy for 67 days but still managing to escape with his men back to friendly lines. He was seriously wounded and is undergoing rehabilitation. He thanked the church and the “Cross” charity (with which BIEM partners in war-relief efforts) for the encouragement, food, and supplies he and his men have received during evangelistic trips to the warfront. His thanks were a special encouragement for the ladies of the church, who cook food for the military. One church member said,

For our sisters from the church, this [food preparation] is an important ministry. They spend all day preparing such food, but normally the only thanks they see are brief video clips from the front. Then this highly respected military hero of Ukraine showed up in person. This made an impression. Unbelieving grandmothers join our sisters in the church as they do this work. Because, for the military, many women are willing to assist. Our sisters from the church talk with them personally, and this is the best form of evangelization. Thank you [BIEM] for helping our church….

 4. Although Lutsk in western Ukraine is far from the ground combat happening in the East, like most of Ukraine, this city has come under Russian missile attacks. Our church plant there (whom we have been supplying with war-relief supplies) recently reached out to a location where an apartment building had been devastated by such a missile. The believers provided food, clothing, and water to victims who had lost everything. This ministry provided a wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel. The church especially requests prayer for one family who received them warmly (grandmother Olena, daughter Svitlana, and grandson Nazar).

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

War Relief Updates - June 20, 2025

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

1. Hlib, the son of a church family in Lviv, is one of the soldiers we have helped with warm winter clothing. They are from Mariupol, which is under occupation and has suffered much destruction. Though he is not a believer, Hlib recently stated, “My parents pray for me, the church prays for me, I need to stop by to pray too.” It is evident that God is working in his heart. Therefore, we ask you to pray that God will protect and continue to work in his heart.

2. In this week’s war-relief-update video, Sam Slobodian interprets for Sergei Anokhin. Sergei is BIEM’s church planter in the city of Bucha, where occupying Russian troops committed horrible atrocities. Sergei took part in loading our next container of war relief for Ukraine and shares his thanks.

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/moreaid

3. The container that BIEM shipped (June 20th) today contains 8 wheelchairs, which are in high demand. We are grateful that we have been able to put a good number of wheelchairs on every load to Ukraine. We often receive testimonies like the following:

When my wife and I went to Fastiv, we had a chance to talk with people at the River of Life Church, where a container had arrived. As it turned out, while we were there a family in need of a wheelchair arrived. This family received a used wheelchair that had come in the container. It was for the grandmother in that family; because of her age she can no longer walk, so she was granted this assistance. Also, a man and woman received a wheelchair, too, for their son, who went to this church as a child and graduated from Sunday school and knows about God. And when the pastor of the church was bringing medicine to the hospital, this boy was in the hospital with a serious injury. He saw the pastor, they talked, prayed, and he requested a wheelchair. He has a complicated injury, but the doctors did everything possible, and in the future everything should be fine. But the Lord is mighty, and He connected this man with the pastor. The young man goes to church while undergoing rehabilitation. Therefore, the church sincerely thanks American believers for the container and requests prayer for their ministry.

4. As our full slate of camps are underway in Ukraine, we are hearing that many campers come from homes where the fathers are active military and are fighting in the war. In some camps, as many as 50% of the children have fathers who are away in the war. Going to a Christian camp is a huge blessing for such children and youth. As one of our workers said, “The war and the devil are trying to steal the youth from our children. It is our goal to bring some joy into their lives and the peace of God into their hearts as we introduce them to Christ.”

Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM

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.

• Click here for a printer-friendly version.

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

• Click here for a printer-friendly version.

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!