Join Us in Empowering Children Across Eastern Europe!
This week is the time when we remember Pentecost (May 19th). It is the official start of sharing the Good News (or missions)! Some would call it the birth of the Church. Christ gave the Great Commission just before He returned to the Father. At that occasion, He told his followers to wait until the Holy Spirit would empower and fill them.
Then, on Pentecost day, his followers (that includes you and me today) were tasked to share the Good News of His death and resurrection to the ends of the world. Amazing to receive a worldwide mission at a time with no airplanes, no social media or television. At the same time, there was a world full of opposing religious and government rulers. But the Great Commission had and still has no restrictions or compromising “understandings” in light of hostile governments (like the church faced in its first 300 years). It was, and still is, a mandate to make disciples (followers) of Him, and He encouraged us with His promise “I am with you always, to the end of the age”!
Blessed to be a blessing!
It is easy to think that you and I cannot travel to the “ends of the world”, but there is more good news. We can by teaming up and partnering with tested national leaders that have already shown God’s fruit in their lives and know the culture and language. Together, we (you and I) can come alongside, and we can “put wind in their sails”!
Last year (2023), 4D partnered with 1,821 of those leaders and their volunteers throughout Eastern Europe, reaching out in weeklong camps to 9,775 kids (and another 7,100 through 3-day festivals). About 40% of them were unchurched! That’s more than 6,000 unchurched kids! It was an experience that was life-changing for many of them!
This year, Anna and others are asking: can you help us again?
Pavel in Czech Republic said: “Last year we established relationships with the parents of 120 kids (participants of the camp). Between 60 and 70 of those kids now attend ongoing programs. In addition, we hope that some of these kids will become young leaders. In our church we will baptize several participants who decided to give their lives to God at the camp last year.”
Though camps have been around for many years, they are still innovative and easily adapt to special needs and opportunities. 4D encourages small camps (50 to 80 kids) rather than the very big events. It takes the camps (and the follow-up) to the smaller churches and towns.
Because the ministry is “field driven,” local teams can adjust and, with our help, target also “special need groups” like Gypsy children, poor villages, minority languages, Ukrainian refugee children, and children of parents in substance abuse programs. Last year, we even had a camp for 60 deaf children in Moldova (communicating through sign language)!
Daniel, in the Czech Republic, reported on 19 missional camps (and would like the same or more this year). A number of these were part of the national scout movement. They are Christian camps, led by pastors and their volunteers from nearby local churches. They have both a nature as well as a Christian part of the program. And after camp, local follow-up is key. About 90% of participants were unchurched.
Doroteea, Rei’s assistant and national coordinator on 4D staff in Romania, says: “Rural areas and the big cities in Romania are different worlds…but the same needs of our souls. In Berezina, the poorest part of our country, there are only six kids in the village in the evangelical church. But there is a family that drives a long way and gathers all the kids in the village each weekend. They do sports and teach from the Gospel. Soon after they started, 30 kids were attending regularly. This past summer they had a “city camp”, which is an all week VBS morning, afternoon, and evening. Each day, 80 kids came (95% percent were nominal Orthodox).
“In another place, we worked among the gypsies. They had a difficult group. Nine brothers, loud and scary for the others. The camp leaders found out about their situation… how their father is in prison, they sleep on the floor, and don’t have food every day. By the end of the camp, they became attentive, quiet, and respectful. Fifteen campers decided to follow Jesus in that camp.”
When I asked Dorootea about where things stand in terms of 2024, she explained, “Right now, 60 partners are promised help so far, but 75 are asking. Usually, the number of participants grows each year as more people hear about it or have their people involved, and more people want to join [or start their own camp in a different town]. Larger churches that we have supported for several years, we tell them it is time to “fly solo”. So, we are not giving finances to larger churches.”
To be honest, there are also churches that don’t want new people joining who may create the potential of a bad influence for their “good kids”. But gradually there are less of them. Seeing the spiritual fruit and being able to call it their "own camp" makes churches have a sense of ownership. They are excited to see how God is using them and how new people are added. The local ownership and benefit of the spiritual fruit from the camps makes all the difference.
Last year, over 7,000 kids were involved in Romania alone. And this year…….? Much depends on fellow followers of Christ like you and me! On average, it still takes about $28 per participant for an entire week. Our financial help has not gone up per camp! But more camps also means that more total help is needed.
Please help today by partnering with Doroteea, Pavel, Daniel, and so many others by sharing the Good News and helping local churches throughout Eastern Europe to be Ambassadors of Christ!