Iran Joins Russia in the War Against Ukraine! EU’s Shameless Appeasement of Iran!

Iran Joins Russia in the War Against Ukraine! EU’s Shameless Appeasement of Iran!

Iran – Russia Summit

EU’s Shameful Appeasement of Iran

8/1/22 by Tim Buck
Fotet.org

The lame-duck Biden administration has left a vacuum urging bad actors to rise in the world. They smell blood against America and her allies and are beginning to rise.

As soon as President Biden returned from the Middle East, Vladimir Putin made a visit to Iran. A rare trip! As a result, a deal was struck with the Iranian regime giving its backing and full support to Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine.

This is an alarming expansion in Iran’s military ambitions beyond the Middle East and into Europe.

The most alarming comment during the visit was the Ayatollah’s call for Iran and Russia to increase what he termed “reciprocal cooperation” between the two countries to counter the threat of Western sanctions: a veiled admittance to the emerging military cooperation between Russia and Iran.

Biden’s confused position on Iran has recently been exposed by the head of Britain’s MI6 intelligence agency, who told this month’s Aspen Security Forum that, in his view, Iran had shown little interest in negotiating a new nuclear deal. Imagine that! Biden’s policy on Iran has become completely untenable.

Iran is partnering with Russia. Now what will Europe do? Appeasement isn’t working!

In the last month Iran has delivered numerous loads of military equipment, armaments, and drones to Moscow to assist the Russian military in the defeat of Ukraine. Iran’s deepening involvement in supporting the Russian war effort against Ukraine should serve as a wakeup call to Western and U.S. leaders.

While European leaders continue to beg and bribe Iran for some kind of renewed nuclear deal, Russia is cutting off Europe’s energy and Iran is stabbing the Europeans in the back by rebuilding Russia’s war chest.

While in Tehran, Putin met with key figures including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the country’s hardline president, Ebrahim Raisi.

The summit ended with Khamenei praising Putin for launching his invasion of Ukraine, and claiming that Russia would have been the victim of NATO aggression if he had not made the first move.

Since the summit, there has been a marked escalation in Tehran’s involvement in the Russian-Ukraine war.

Russia and Iran signed a $40 billion energy memorandum of understanding between the Russian energy giant Gazprom and the National Iranian Oil Company.

Russia and Iran have already been cooperating on energy issues, with Tehran offering to help Russia avoid Western sanctions imposed following the Ukraine invasion by making available its global oil-smuggling network.

US officials have reported that a team of Russian military experts have twice visited an airbase in central Iran to make a detailed assessment of Iranian-made drones.

This follows a report by the US National Security Council that Iran has provided hundreds of drones to aid Russia’s war effort.

Iran’s very public displays of support for Russia certainly undermine the false assumption of the Biden administration and European policymakers that the Iranian threat, allowing Iran unlimited nuclear weapons, relates only to the Middle East — and specifically against Israel.

This belief is one of the reasons that Britain, France and Germany, the three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal, have given their backing to the Biden administration’s efforts to revive the agreement.

Iran’s active support for Russia in its war against Ukraine, which is receiving military backing from NATO, completely refutes that argument.

The expanding military partnership between Russia and Iran is bad news for the world. It’s also bad news for the Biden administration, which has invested all his political capital in reviving the nuclear talks, but now finds itself trying to negotiate with a country that is actively supporting its adversary in the Ukraine conflict.

Just as Europe disregarded Trump’s warnings that relying on gas from Russia would leave them open to Russian blackmail, they are again ignoring warnings that a nuclear Iran will leave them open to Iranian blackmail.

Ukraine Bombing Hits Close! Pray For the BIEM Summer Camps, and God’s Grace on His Servants In War!

Ukraine Bombing Hits Close! Pray For the BIEM Summer Camps, and God’s Grace on His Servants In War!

Tim’s friend, Dr. Sam Slobodian, will be leaving August 2 for his third trip to Ukraine focusing on war relief efforts with the BIEM Mission Team. Once again Sam will be helping the distressed, delivering supplies and holding prayer meetings. Please remember Sam in your prayers and pray for his safety and that he would be a blessing to those in need.

Bombardments
Hit Close
 

Concerning Message
From Dr. Sam Slobodian

Pray for the preaching during
Summer Camps

July 31, 2022 by Tim Buck
Fotet.org

Dear friends and family,

1. Please pray for our people in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. Early today our media reported that Russians launched a large-scale attack on this area. Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from the Black Sea, and X-22 missiles from Tu-22m3 long-range bombers were fired from a Russian airfield roughly 160 miles from Ukraine’s border. In addition, short-range Iskandar ballistic missiles were fired from the Gomel region in Belarus. Twenty-five missiles hit the city of Chernihiv. Goncharovsk was also hit. Our media are reporting loss of life, though the numbers are not clear.

BIEM has churches in both Chernihiv and Goncharovsk, which is a military city. I was able to speak with some of our men there just moments ago. Thankfully, none of our people have been injured, and our church buildings in these areas have not been hit. However, as you can imagine people there are frightened and anxious. (Note: US media reports use various spellings for Goncharovsk.)

2. In our update of July 15, we requested prayer for Vitaly Yurchenko, who was trying to get permission to leave Ukraine to visit the United States through a new Ukrainian program. That program allows pastors to leave Ukraine for up to one month for religious conferences. Yesterday he was told he would be approved but needed to buy tickets to demonstrate serious intent to travel.

This is unusual, because normally consulates warn people not to buy tickets until their travel documents are approved. However, things are certainly not normal in Ukraine these days. Therefore, we are in the process of buying tickets for Vitaly and his wife Alona, with hopes they will soon be able to come. They will be a great blessing to whichever churches we can schedule them in. Please pray that their case will be approved.

3. Yesterday, BIEM personnel drove another 5 tons of food from Poland into Ukraine, this time for the Kharkiv region. We praise God for thoughtful donors and for those driving and distributing.

4. Despite the war, we are receiving reports of young people coming to Christ in BIEM-sponsored camps in Estonia, Ukraine, and Russia. The nearly 30 camps in Ukraine this year are all operated on church properties. The children stay most of the day and receive two meals. They return to their homes in the evening. This is proving to be a very effective way of doing camp during war.

5. Despite the war in Ukraine, one of our seminary graduates is deeply burdened for a particular district in a large city in Western Ukraine that has been flooded with refugees. Many of them plan to stay. This brother has recruited others to help start a new church, and they are praying and fasting every Friday for God’s direction and provision for that goal. Please join them in praying.

In Christ,
Sam Slobodian
Baptist International Evangelistic Ministries

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

Baptistinternational.org

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More Photos

Recent Video Update

Volunteers unloading a container filled with lifesaving supplies shipped to Ukraine from BIEM headquarters in Indiana.

 

Vehicle delivering aid and supplies to the churches and families.

Please continue to pray for the missionary families who are split up and find themselves trusting the Lord for every detail in their upside-down life!

 

Ukraine War Update: Pray For Summer Camps, and God’s Grace on His Servants In War!

Ukraine War Update: Pray For Summer Camps, and God’s Grace on His Servants In War!

Tim’s friend, Dr. Sam Slobodian, will be leaving August 2 for his third trip to Ukraine focusing on war relief efforts with the BIEM Mission Team. Once again Sam will be helping the distressed, delivering supplies and holding prayer meetings. Please remember Sam in your prayers and pray for his safety and that he would be a blessing to those in need.

150 Days!
Bombardments and War on Ukraine 

Ukraine Update

From Dr. Sam Slobodian

Pray for the preaching during
Summer Camps

July 25, 2022 by Tim Buck
Fotet.org

Dear friends and family,

1. Praise God, we have shipped another large container from the United States! This is the 7th container our dedicated Ukrainians are distributing to needy places. This one went to the city administration of a region that contains several settlements that were occupied by Russian forces, so these goods will reach some of the neediest recipients in Ukraine.

2. We rejoice that the Keller family has received their documents to travel to the United States. At first, only Alexandra and the girls received travel documents. We were concerned since none arrived for Vitaly, the only family member who is not a Ukrainian citizen. Vitaly has Russian citizenship, so we thought this might be a problem. However, yesterday Vitaly, too, received his travel documents. Praise God!

3. Soon I will be making another trip to Ukraine, leaving August 2. We will be in 3 or 4 cities in the west, then 3 or 4 cities near Kyiv, including areas where the Russian army invaded from Belarus to attack Kyiv before being driven out. Ukrainian forces have now liberated over 1,000 settlements that had been occupied by Russian forces. Besides focusing mainly on war-relief efforts, we will also partake in a baptism and an ordination.

4. Praise the Lord, on our website BIEM has now posted nearly 60 videos featuring our Ukrainian missionaries distributing aid. If you have not seen these videos, please go to our website (BaptistInternational.org) and click on “View Video Updates” beneath the main banner. If you have already viewed these videos, you may have noticed that our men often wear hand-me-down t-shirts of all sorts.

Pray For Souls To Be Saved
At Summer Camps Across Ukraine

5. Since Russia continues to bomb Ukraine indiscriminately, no place in Ukraine is totally safe from bombs and missiles. Nevertheless, our missionaries are conducting summer camps all over Ukraine. Right now, it looks like we will operate between 25 and 30 camps in Ukraine this summer.

This week we ordered custom t-shirts with “BIEM” and American & Ukrainian flags imprinted on them. When we asked what color they wanted, they replied military green, which their president often wears. So that’s what we ordered, and they look great! Our coworkers are really looking forward to receiving these t-shirts, which I plan to deliver personally.

This year, all our Ukrainian day camps are being conducted on church properties, where campers can spend the day and eat their meals but return home every evening. Meanwhile, our missionaries in other areas like Russia, Belarus, and Central Asia are also conducting summer camps.

Please pray for a harvest of souls and for inroads into many unchurched homes.

In Christ,
Sam Slobodian
Baptist International Evangelistic MinistriesBaptistinternational.org

Donate Here

More Photos

Recent Video Update

Volunteers unloading a container filled with lifesaving supplies shipped to Ukraine from BIEM headquarters in Indiana.

Vehicle delivering aid and supplies to the churches and families.

Please continue to pray for the missionary families who are split up and find themselves trusting the Lord for every detail in their upside-down life!

Ukraine War Update: Testimony, Tragedy and God’s Grace on His Servants During War!

Ukraine War Update: Testimony, Tragedy and God’s Grace on His Servants During War!

 

 

 

 

Tim’s friend, Dr. Sam Slobodian, is now on his second trip to Ukraine meeting with the BIEM Mission Team, helping the distressed, delivering supplies and holding prayer meetings. Please remember Sam in your prayers and pray for his safety and that he would be a blessing to those suffering. 

Ukraine Update
From
Tim’s Friend Bruce

At the End, Story of Tragedy

June 7, 2022 by Tim Buck
Fotet.org

Dear friends and family,

I should do much better in keeping you informed concerning the situation here. I am concerned, though, that what I write may now be repetitious and of little interest. Still, I owe you a more regular stream of communication.

We had begun classes again about two and a half weeks ago. Classes went well and we were able to finish an in-depth study of the book of Revelation and a study of bibliology (the doctrine of the Bible). We were missing 3 of our students, but 2 joined us intermittently on Zoom, from afar. What’s more, we recorded the classes for those 2 men and for another who is still traversing the country to take people to safety and to deliver products into areas that have been destroyed.

With those products, of course, there is the opportunity to give folks Bibles, gospel literature, and a witness for the Savior. Some of those products come through a larger Baptist church here in the city, and some are coming from Dr. Mike Petersen in the area of Warsaw.

Our city has still been spared from major destruction, though we still have frequent warning sirens. One of my interpreters you’ve heard from before – Kateryna – is heading back here from Germany. She feels that she is emotionally and spiritually languishing there, and longs to be back home. We will be overjoyed to see her again, but I’ve told her that I wish she would still stay out of the country. With the war going more poorly for Ukraine in the heavy fighting to the east, I think we’re living in a fool’s paradise to think that we’re going to be safe here.

Maybe our people would prefer to live under the dangers here than to remain so far from their homes for so long.

It’s distressing to hear the news and the opinions that the war will drag on for more months, and years! And the reports of the horrible atrocities committed by the Russians in areas they now control (or have controlled) is both sickening and frightening. I wish that all of our women and children could be safe somewhere else. One practical issue for us is that, with all of the uncertainty, it’s difficult to plan for the future.

I know, though, that we are in the Father’s hand, and we will yet see His will and purposes accomplished. I often think of something I heard in a sermon from Dr. E.R. Jordan. It was something like this: “If God fails you, you’d have to be the most special Christian who has ever lived. You would be the very first child whom your heavenly Father has ever failed!” I often reflect upon that. When I’m tempted to fear, I remember the psalmist saying, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in you!”

Yesterday, I met with our graduate, the one who has so often gone back into the eastern part of Ukraine to evangelism and camps, and to take products to the folks who have been so afflicted there. I came away from that meeting with a heart so full! He showed me photos of the help we’ve recently sent to that part of Ukraine.

I suppose I’ve told you about the family there – believers – who have 8 children and lost their house in a bombing. We have purchased an unfinished house, built on a rock and with walls of rock. It will house the needy family and also provide a place for a church to have services and camps.

People have been meeting in that village for the last 2 weeks, with 6 adults attending. The house is being finished by a crew of volunteers, some of whom are unbelievers. The father of the 8 children has had a dream since he was saved a few years ago. He has wanted to begin Bible classes for all the children of his village. When his house was destroyed, he figured his dream also died. Now, he is elated and eager to begin that ministry.

An older pastor in a nearby city will begin to meet with him and teach him how to prepare sermons and preach. I mentioned to our graduate that it would be great if he could teach that man all he has learned, and he responded that this has been his dream! At present, he would not be allowed in that part of the country. Please pray that our mighty God will yet further intrude upon Russia’s plans and drive them from our borders! I am eager to get the opportunity to travel there and meet the believers and rejoice in their progress.

I received a “thank you” letter from a Baptist church that has received funds sent from here and distributed them in the form of food products and medicines. We are now sending further funds to help purchase firewood and coal, especially for destitute widows in that area. Oh, I neglected to tell you that the wonderful generosity of you folks also enabled us to buy 30 chickens each for about 49 families. We figure that will give them some food for more than a few days.

If you read the letter I’ll attach, it makes me seem like a wonderful man, a hero! I have no illusions about this, nor do I want that attention. The humanitarian part of our ministry here is simply to act as a conduit for the gracious and generous gifts you folks have been sending.
Oh, another prayer request I’ll make is that you’d pray that we will continue to be able to find diesel fuel and gasoline, which are almost impossible to acquire from day to day.

Story of Tragedy

Please Pray for Lyudmila Lutsenko

Pastor BT,

I am Lyudmila Lutsenko living in the city of Ilovaysk, Donetsk region, where there is a war I was after my husband I have two children and have three grandchildren.

One evening my husband and I were sitting near the front door and a mine flew into our house when it exploded and shrapnel shattered from it. Some pieces of shrapnel hit my husband, others shrapnel hit me. Shrapnel cut off my leg, cut my face and when the ambulance took me and my husband to the hospital, my husband died in the ambulance on the way because he had punctured lungs and they filled with his blood and he died.

I was miraculously operated on by doctors and I survived. I did not want to live as a disabled person, my whole body hurts, my soul hurts, my husband is gone and all sorts of bad thoughts came what to do next. One day, a Christian woman who had worked with me for 20 years and talked about God found out about my grief and she came to visit me, she reminded me once again that God loves me and He wants me to believe in Jesus Christ.

I did not resist for long I in the prayer of repentance truly called into my life Jesus Christ. I really saw God in Christians, and I also wanted to make a covenant with him through water baptism.

I want to thank you that the merciful God provides me with the help that you convey. I received grocery help, received medication since I do not have a leg and is cut by fragments of the body it always hurts me I need debilitating medicines. I feel very bad sleeping on a hard sofa I have a lot of pain from it my whole body I thank God that you helped to buy an orthopedic mattress you made my life easier.

Thank you very much, Thank God for your merciful heart. With love and prayer, sister in faith Lyudmila Lutsenko.
In Christ,
Pastor/Teacher Bruce
Baptist International Evangelistic Ministries
Baptistinternational.org

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Ukraine War Update, God Is Protecting His Servants During War

Ukraine War Update, God Is Protecting His Servants During War

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Sam Slobodian, on his recent trip to Ukraine, with four missionary’s as part of the BIEM Mission Team who are still pressing on during the war by winning souls, helping the distressed, delivering supplies and holding prayer meetings in Ukraine.

Their incredible bravery is a remarkable testimony of God’s grace – none of the BIEM Team members have been injured yet and none of the BIEM funded church buildings have been hit yet! Thank You Lord!

Ukraine Update
From
Dr. Sam Slobodian

May 16, 2022 by Tim Buck
Fotet.org

  1. Pray for our displaced BIEM personnel who have been scattered across various places in Europe. We have folks in Poland, Switzerland, Germany, as well as a good number in Western Ukraine. Those who were displaced from the Kyiv area are contemplating and praying about returning since the situation in Kyiv has improved after the Russian army withdrew. However, this is not an easy decision since rocket and missile attacks continue.
  2. One BIEM missionary family (Vitaly & Alexandra Keller) likely will not be able to return to Ukraine for ministry purposes. Since Vitaly has Russian citizenship, the current anti-Russian climate will likely necessitate a change of field for the Kellers. Please pray for wisdom and direction in this matter.
  3. Pray as well for our application for BIEM to be a sponsor for the “Uniting for Ukraine” program. This would enable us to sponsor Ukrainian refugees who want to come to the United States. With the likely upcoming change in mission field, the Kellers especially are considering their need to come to the United States to touch base with supporters they have not reported to for years.
  4. Praise God, BIEM has surpassed $400,000 directed to Ukraine for our War Relief efforts. This has purchased hundreds of tons of aid, plus covered the cost of transporting and distributing this aid. It has also enabled the evacuation and care of many hundreds of refugees.

In Christ,
Sam Slobodian
BIEM
Baptist International Evangelistic Ministries
Baptistinternational.org

Donate Here

More Phots

Recent Video Update

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteers unloading a container filled with lifesaving supplies shipped to Ukraine from BIEM headquarters in Indiana.

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle leased by BIEM to travel and deliver aid and supplies to the churches and families.

 

 

 

 

 

A rare scene in Ukraine 2022. Sam delivering a message of hope and encouragement to pastors, families and friends in war-torn Ukraine.

Please continue to pray for the missionary families who are now split up and find themselves trusting the Lord for every detail in their upside-down life!

Ukraine Update and Special Message to the FOTET Family From Dr. Sam Slobodian

Ukraine Update and Special Message to the FOTET Family From Dr. Sam Slobodian

 

 

 

 

Please pray for the safety of our good friend Sam Slobodian as he leaves for Ukraine this Monday, April 18

The war is far from over and every day has the potential of unexpected dangers. Please pray that the Lord will give Sam a safe trip and the strength to lift up and be a blessing to all the heavy hearted servants of the Lord in the war-torn country. He will be meeting with pastors, teachers and lay leaders who remain in Ukraine under the mission of BIEM for the purpose of encouragement and to plan and assess theirs and their family’s needs.

Please pray for the women and children of the men who are missionary’s who have had to leave the country and are now scattered over multiple nations. It’s hard to imagine the turmoil, confusion and culture shock on these woman and children by leaving everything behind as refugees and watching their country being destroyed.

Despite the darkness and devastation of the war, Sam reports of souls being saved across Ukraine along with the continuation of prayer meetings wherever possible and even basement Bible studies often by candlelight. 

 
Tim and Nancy,
 
Thank you so much for what you and all the wonderful folks at FOTET are doing for Ukraine.  We want you to know how much we cherish your prayers and support. We can be busy working, doing all kinds of things night and day, but if God doesn’t bless our efforts nothing for the kingdom will happen. 
 
Since God does answer the prayers of His people we want you to know that the folks in Ukraine desperately need your prayers and that God has been answering and using your prayers. 
 
I have attached a couple of pictures that show that a good number of our churches are right in that corridor from Kyiv straight north to the Belarussian border. 
 
These areas were hit hard since this is the path that the Russian army took towards Kyiv. The fact that none of our people were hurt and not one of our church buildings was damaged is truly amazing and evidence of God answering prayer. 
 
That does not mean that there were not some close calls. You will see a picture of Sasha next to an unexploded device embedded in the road right by his church. And you also see him standing in front of a heavily damaged elementary school. The apartment building he lives in with his family is right next door! 
 
God is definitely answering your prayers.
Praise God for his mercy. 

In Him,
 
Dr. Sam Slobodian
Baptist International Evangelistic Ministries