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A Wider Gospel Work
This is one of the most important ministries a church can do.” Vadim Musurivski (SGA sponsored missionary)
Vadim is convinced of this because he sees that camp ministry among children and young people is not only impacting their lives, but the families and communities from which they come.
SGA’s support of camp ministry stretches back many years, and continues to increase, as churches across Eastern Europe and Central Asia recognise the importance of reaching the younger generation with the message of salvation, and how through this ministry there is a wider Gospel work being accomplished.
Many of those in church leadership today testify to the fact that it was while at camp they first heard the Gospel message and trusted in Christ. God’s Word is bearing lasting fruit in the lives of these children and enriching the local church.
However, the impact of camp ministry is reaching further than the young people themselves. One young girl, Nastya, from Moldova, said “Every day when I came home, I told my parents about the Bible lesson we had studied, and they listened with great interest.” Camps are making a difference as God’s Word enters homes, and wariness and suspicion of the church begins to diminish.
One church leader commented how that as a result of a camp in his area the Sunday School attendances have increased and relatives of the children are coming along to the various church outreaches. Barriers are being broken down and bridges built.
The local church is also seeing the importance of camp work in the lives of young people who are helping as leaders. There is a growing and maturing of their faith through their experiences at camp. A young girl, Sara, from a camp in Mongolia, was unsure about becoming a leader at first. However, she later wrote “I realised that the children of my people need God, and this ministry needs active support from church people… This experience showed me how God’s love can change lives when we simply open our hearts and hands to others. We can be instruments in God’s plan for children and young people. I thank God that I was able to overcome my self-doubt.”
This summer as many attend camps through the support of SGA, pray that God will open young hearts to receive the Gospel, and that through them an even greater work will be accomplished for God’s kingdom.