Summer camp is an opportunity for children to be exposed to sound biblical teaching and godly influences. Camps can be a unique experience which shape lives, making them into channels of blessing that God can use.
Many of us can testify to how the experience of camp moulded our young lives and directed us in the paths of righteousness.
Part of SGA’s growing ministry is to help reach another generation with the Gospel.
One initiative was in Ukraine, west of Kiev, where SGA’s Project70 missionary, Denis Kharuk, organized a children’s day camp in Maryanivka village.
Forty-four children attended, eight of whom were from Christian families. Every day they played games, had contests, listened to Bible lessons and enjoyed other activities. Great emphasis was put on helping children to memorize the ‘Bible Verse of the Day’.
Denis shares about some spiritual fruit from this special Gospel effort:
‘After the camp, a 13-year-old came to the worship service on Sunday. She had been crying listening to God’s Word, and at the end of the service she confessed her sins and accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour. She had never met Christians before, and it was her first experience at Bible camp. She said that she saw an absolutely new way of life and behaviour at camp. Every day she told her mother about everything she was doing at the camp and her mother was happy to let her daughter attend camp and church.’
‘This was the first time for a 14-year-old boy to attend a Christian camp and church. He was very active; he liked everything, and emotions overwhelmed him. At the end of the camp, he said that he wanted to accept Jesus into his heart and trust Him all his life. We prayed together kneeling before God.’
At the end of the fourth day of the camp they invited parents to join their children and spend time together. Two dads and seven mothers responded to this invitation.
One mum on social media told how her children liked the camp. Another mother visited the worship service on Sunday and thanked them. Another lady who actively helped at camp came to the church and told the leaders that she had accepted Jesus into her heart and wanted to dedicate her life to Him.
Praise God for spiritual fruit as a result of this special effort. This is just one of a number of camps which SGA supported in Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, and Central Asia during summer 2021.
Pray that those who have trusted Christ for salvation will grow in God’s grace.