During the months of July and August over 400 children from underprivileged families in four villages of the Nickolayev region, were blessed to participate in a very special summer camp program. Operation Blessing International partnered with local churches in each of the villages this summer to provide four week long Bible camps for these children who are growing up amidst very trying circumstances. Poverty, alcoholism and abuse are all too commonly known by the children who attended the Bible camps. But during the camps the children were given hope as they learned about the love of Jesus and the power of prayer. At several of the camps all of the campers accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior and recognized that God can answer their prayers of healing for their families, even in the direst of situations. It was difficult for the church volunteers to see the state in which so many of the children live, but they were encouraged knowing that they were providing these children with hope. As the volunteers developed relationships with the children they were able to invite them to attend the Sunday school classes offered at the church each weekend, in hopes that these adults can continue to be a light in their lives throughout the year, when the home life may not be. The mayor of a neighboring village council visited one of the camps to express his admiration and to invite the camp leaders to come and do another summer camp the following year. This was a true blessing and surprise to the leaders, as in Orthodox Ukraine it is very uncommon for a local administrator to accept or even welcome evangelical activities. At the culmination of each camp the campers were able to invite their parents to attend a special concert where the children could share what they learned and a special musical team performed a program. One pastor from a church in the region was amazed at the changes he was seeing amongst the people- “This camp has brought wonderful fruits for God’s glory, as the word of God has been preached and children have been saved. Their happy faces are evident, as are the changed lives of the parents. We believe that through these camps the lives of 400 children and 150 parents were profoundly affected. We are so thankful to God for his mercy and this opportunity. Operation Blessing is doing great works for the glory of God- may he bless your ministry and staff workers abundantly.”

All news