Summer Bible Camps Bring Hope to Russia and Ukraine Youth

Hope is in short supply in war-torn Ukraine and its invader, Russia. The Slavic Gospel Association is giving children a respite from the fighting by holding summer Bible camps in Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet-bloc nations. Around 80,000 children and teens are expected to participate in the weeklong camps, offering a rare opportunity for joy and stability amidst ongoing conflict.

“Many of these children and teens have lost hope, and their hearts are broken,” association President Michael Johnson said. “Some have been orphaned by war, others abandoned and others have suffered abuse and neglect.” The Slavic Gospel Association is the only U.S.-based ministry currently serving evangelical churches in Russia. It supports local churches across a vast region, covering 11 time zones. “Local pastors are seeing more heartbreak, depression and confusion in children and teens than ever before,” said Eric Mock, senior vice president of ministry operations and a frequent visitor to the region.

The church-run summer camp ministry is an antidote to the growing hopelessness, Mock said, providing a caring, stable atmosphere that often is in stark contrast to chaotic home circumstances, where alcoholism fuels violent outbursts. “Instead of being surrounded by darkness, they’re surrounded by kindness and real joy,” he said. “It’s like nothing they’ve ever experienced before.”

Ivan is an example of a life that has been changed. As a teenager, he prayed that his alcoholic parents would change their ways. For a brief time, they became sober, but then Ivan’s father began drinking again and deserted the family. His mother suffered a series of strokes and died. Heartbroken, Ivan was encouraged by a local pastor to get involved in the summer camp ministry. His faith came alive as he responded to the gospel and the compassion of the volunteers. Ivan now shares with others the hope of the gospel that he says saved his life.

“For Ivan and many others, summer Bible camp is just the beginning,” Johnson said. “They start going along to their local church and discover they have a whole new family, a whole new life, a whole new hope.”

The Slavic Gospel Association supports an extensive grassroots network of local evangelical missionary pastors and churches in cities and rural villages across this vast region. For more information, visit www.sga.org.

–Lee Hartman | Metro Voice