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