Kids Respond to the First-Ever Camps in Multiple Villages!

Larisa Z.
SGA-Supported Children’s Ministry in Kazakhstan

We are happy to share with you the news from this past summer season. With your help, we held seven outreaches, including two camps in remote villages. Altogether, more than 700 children of different nationalities and faiths took part in our projects. For many of them, this was their very first encounter with the Gospel, with an atmosphere of love, respect, and acceptance.

For the first time, we were able to hold camp ministries in remote villages. This was a special blessing for us. Despite the modest conditions, we were given a small building where we could gather the children. We prepared gifts for each child, but before giving them out, the children listened to the story of the Prodigal Son—adapted for kids and explained in a way they could understand within their cultural context. Each child heard this story in their native language, and through it—the message that every person can be reconciled with the Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. It was amazing to see the children receive this message with open hearts, and we thank God that we had the opportunity to serve them in this way.

We were also able to invite a new Kazakh-speaking group of children from an orphanage, as well as welcome back a group that had joined us last year. For us, this is a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness. With some, we continue building relationships, and with others we are just beginning. In our country, orphanages remain closed institutions, and it is very difficult to gain access there. But God opened the doors, and children who had never heard about Jesus before were able to learn about Him and experience His love! The team that worked in the camps consisted of about 30 people. What brings us special joy is that most of this team were young people who themselves once grew up in our camps. Years ago, they were just participants, and now they have become full-fledged ministers!

Some of them were baptized this year, while others are in the process of growing spiritually. Today they are already taking on responsibilities, helping in organization, and serving other children. This is a clear testimony that the seeds planted years ago are now bearing fruit. What inspires us even more is that this year graduates of orphanages also served with us. Just a few years ago, they themselves came to camp as orphans, but now they are encouraging, supporting, and helping today’s orphans! One of them said, “Thank you for continuing to do these camps. We were once kids just like them, and it gave us hope and strength. Now we are happy that we can serve others.”

All of this has been possible thanks to your support — prayerful, material, and spiritual. Thank you for building this ministry together with us and investing in the future of these children. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7). May the Lord abundantly bless you for your faithfulness and participation!