Image Above: A young people’s camp in Mongolia (2022)
Camps offer an invaluable experience for many who come from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds and who otherwise would have no opportunity to enjoy such an event.
All camps sponsored by SGA are run under the supervision of local churches. Camp ministry continues to be an important and effective means of reaching people for Christ. These may take the form of residential or day camps.
Pastor Peter Mihalchiuk, SGA’s Regional Coordinator in Moldova, pointed out that this year marks the biggest children’s project throughout the years of our partnership. There will be day camps in 15 locations [4 in Ukraine; 10 in Moldova; 1 in Romania] which over 1000 children will attend.
They will be invited from Moldova and Ukraine and include Ukrainian refugees in both countries. The camps events will take place mainly in communities where SGA-sponsored missionaries are serving.
Day camps run for 3-5 days in a given location, with programmes commencing at 10am and finishing at 5pm, including mealtimes. The first day camps started one week ago! Peter has requested prayer for the team which will work with the children, for child safety and for spiritual blessings.
Many Muslims from Central Asia have shared how camp experience has been crucial in their salvation.
The camp ministry in Mongolia is a platform for the further development of children’s ministry there. Camps are used as an opportunity to train leaders in Mongolia for children’s ministry. They plan to have two summer camps.
Following camp, partners meet with the children three more times – in the autumn, winter, and spring to conduct mini-camps. Teams will travel from Russia to carry out this ministry.
With our partners in Central Asia, we plan to support the local churches to conduct 45 camps for a total of 3,000 children. Many Muslims from Central Asia have shared how camp experience has been crucial in their salvation.
Pray that these special events will be an amazing experience for many children – a turning point in their lives!
This is an especially effective means of reaching people who have never previously encountered the Gospel message. It also offered opportunities to encourage and strengthen young Christians, especially those who do not have any encouragement from family.
Pray for the follow-up ministry which continues throughout the winter.