Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
1. Our April 28 update told how BIEM’s Pasha Usach and others from his church had returned from distributing aid near Kherson, in the towns of Archangelske and Posad-Pokrovsk. We also shared how enthusiastically locals received these men and told that Pasha and his team wanted to return to replace blown-out windows in some of the homes. They have now completed a follow-up trip where, in addition to distributing food, supplies, and the Gospel, they installed nearly 20 replacement windows in homes. How the people rejoiced! That area still has no running water or electricity, so receiving replacement windows was a huge blessing. Your gifts to our war relief fund help in ways you might not imagine.
2. Once again we can say that, praise God, none of BIEM’s Ukrainian missionaries have been injured or killed in the war thus far. However, there have been casualties among people close to them. For instance, last week Mark, a 25-year-old man with a wife and small child from the home church of several of our families in Kyiv, was killed in battle. One of our missionary wives messaged to say, “Pray, please, for our defenders. It is very difficult morally. Everyone is weary. Death all around is depressing.”
3. Occasionally, friends tell us they haven’t heard much news about the war in Ukraine. We guarantee that fighting and dying and destruction take place every day. But amidst the horrible backdrop of war God’s people are actively ministering to countrymen and glorifying God. The following recent video from the eastern Donbas region contains footage that might make your heart ache, but other scenes might warm your heart!
4. As the above video shows, while making frequent War Relief trips right up to the battlefront, Brother Vitaly Bilyak of Ternopil, Ukraine, distributes aid and shares the Gospel with civilians and soldiers alike. However, back in Ternopil, he has also developed a friendly relationship with two military hospitals that are treating injured soldiers. This aid comes in the form of food products as well as medical equipment and hospital supplies. One of these hospitals functions as a rehabilitation facility while the other performs surgeries on soldiers with battle-inflicted wounds. Because many soldiers treated there have lost limbs, the hospitals are in constant need of prosthetics and special equipment. Thanks to a recent generous gift to BIEM from Operation Renewed Hope in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Vitaly will be able to supply still more needed aid for more wounded defenders.
5. As the war continues and casualties rise in Ukraine (as well as Russia) the government has stepped up its conscription efforts. One huge concern for us is for our missionary pastors, who could also be conscripted. Losing a pastor to the war would be devastating to any church. Recently the Ukrainian government introduced a program that would enable pastors to obtain specially issued identification cards that would exempt them from conscription. Our men are all in the process of applying for these cards. Please pray they will all receive this exemption for the sake of continuing their spiritual and war-relief ministries both inside and outside the church.
Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM