Understanding that Christ is right beside us as we navigate life’s challenges is one of the many lessons taught to Ukrainian children as they attended SGA-supported Summer Camps this year. Read the testimonies of Makariy and David, two children who attended the camp:

Learning to trust and believe that God is with us, even in the difficult times, can sometimes be challenging.  Loss, divorce, wayward children, financial burdens, illnesses, or war can make us doubt that God is with us, or that He even cares.  Thankfully, we can overcome these doubts when we turn our eyes from our circumstances and instead turn them toward Him.  When we can keep our focus on the Son, the One who shares His great light with us, we can then put all darkness aside and believe that we are in His hands.  This is when we can feel the peace that is only provided by our Savior.   It is when we are finally able to believe that no matter what the circumstances, God has not forgotten us.  In His sovereignty, He has allowed the circumstances.  But in His love and mercy, He walks with us.  This is what many Ukrainian children have experienced as they have attended SGA-supported camp ministries these past weeks.  As the summer has come to an end, please continue to pray for these children who are learning to trust that God is with them in the midst of the war.

“Greetings, dear brothers, and sisters! 

Thank you very much for your prayerful and financial support! Owing to your help, we were able to host a Christian children’s day camp at the venue of our church!

Just four days before the start of our camp, the most massive missile attack since the beginning of the full-scale war took place, including shelling of 236 air targets (127 missiles and 109 UAVs) on the territory of Ukraine in one day. However, during all the days of our camp, there were no air raids, and it was a true blessing! Glory be to our Lord!  

A total of 45 children attended our camp, including children from families of IDPs (Internally Displaced People), fostered children, children of military servicemen, children from large families, etc. A great joy for us was to learn about the desire of children to attend Sunday school and their parents to come to our worship services, all thanks to the camp! And most importantly, some children prayed to our Lord Jesus Christ for the first time! 

For three days, the children spent time in an interesting and useful way: they did some interesting experiments, made crafts devoted to biblical themes, took part in sports competitions, music classes, sang songs, as well as were getting acquainted with the work of paramedics, policemen, and firefighters, tried themselves in culinary art, and most importantly, attended Bible classes where they were learning to turn to God in prayer!

Testimonies of two children…

Makariy, 9,  reads a Bible passage for everyone at the Bible lesson. Makariy was the first of the children who wanted to pray at opening and closing of each Bible lesson. In his prayers, Makariy, without fear or hesitation, would thank the Lord for keeping everyone from missile shelling and air raids and for giving wonderful time of rest and study of His Word. At the end of the camp, Makariy said that he wanted  to come to Sunday school. Please pray for Makariy and his parents.

David, 9, learns to play the accordion at a music lesson. When we met with David for the first time, he asked me to take him by the hand and lead him to the main hall, because this is his first time here and he was a bit scared. In the morning of the closing day of camp, David gave me a bracelet that he had made himself. I put it on my wrist, and David ran smilingly to play and interact with other children. It was a great joy to see how the Lord filled everyone in the camp with His peace and love.

We are sincerely grateful to Our Lord for providing us the opportunity to hold this wonderful camp together with you, and to sow His Word in the hearts of children and their parents!”

In a time of great uncertainty, God is bringing help, healing, and hope to the people of Ukraine through SGA-supported pastors and churches. Be a part of God’s incredible work with your generosity and prayer support.

Choose from our Gift Catalog to help struggling Ukrainians receive emergency supplies like food and water . . . or even help provide a Solar Power Survival System or a generator for a church!