Your support blessed believing and non-believing campers!

Pavel V.
SGA-Supported Missionary Pastor in Israel

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support of our tent family camp. By God’s grace and through your support, we were able to hold the camp earlier this year in May at Ashkelon National Park, which is known for its ancient artefacts. These sites were mentioned as early as the days of Samson, Saul, and David. God provided beautiful weather and it was relatively calm, even though the campsite was only eight miles from the border with the Gaza Strip.

It was the first time for our young church to participate in such a camp outreach. The children participated in a quest, completing various intellectual and physical tasks, as a result of which they were rewarded with “artifacts,” which would of course point them to biblical truths about Jesus Christ.

Masha, her husband, and their three children came to Israel from Russia two years ago. Masha said that after the camp, her children felt that Israel became closer to them. This is important for the assimilation process, because moving to a new country with another language and a different mentality is hard and stressful for many. Her kids became good friends with those from believing homes. Eniya, her husband, and their two children came from Belarus. Eniya testifies, “We experienced such an incredibly warm communication. Everyone added a part of their soul into it. We learned so many new things.”

Both Masha and Eniya were grateful to the people who donated for the camp. It was thanks to these donations that they were able to go to the camp.

Thirteen-year old Mila testified, “I enjoyed helping others. Also, everyone enjoyed the quest task where we had to set fire to a rope and rip it off, and we talked about Jesus being the Light of the World.” It was a delight to me to see Mila quoting the Bible, which was for the first time, as I do not remember her ever doing it in public!

It was also gratifying to see junior children developing a servant spirit, as they wanted to be involved in the ministry and not just be mere observers.

Please pray for the salvation of the unbelieving families, and for all the children who were in the camp, as well as for newcomers who moved to Israel so that they adapt in our church community.