Campers Encounter Christ's Love!

Near the Russian border in Kharkiv, Ukraine Chris was able to participate in a Deaf camp. This particular location was a new addition to the usual summer camps. Being in Eastern Ukraine, it was the perfect spot to bring in children and families affected by the war happening along the border. While there were many believing families that attended, the effects of the war have caused many to seek God for the first time. The week was filled with intense spiritual battles but Praise the Lord for all the mighty ways He worked at the camp and beyond. A group of teen girls had made a deliberate choice to follow the darkness and wanted nothing to do with Christ or Christians. In fact, three girls practiced satanic worship by lighting a ring of candles and partaking in occult rituals while all the other campers were sleeping. However, God turned this into a late night training opportunity as Chris taught the camp staff and Pastors about spiritual warfare, the power of the Holy Spirit, and overcoming darkness. With a lot of prayer and the unconditional love that they were shown during the week, their hearts began to soften. Many of the campers were very opposed to any kind of "religion" having been raised with a Russian mindset and hurt by the war and hurt by religion. Again, the love and kindness and genuine caring they received this week made a difference. They began to listen to the lessons and their hearts began to soften. In the end, one girl from this camp gave her life to Christ. The teens once worshiping the darkness have turned away from the occult and are seeking Truth. Many other seeds were planted! Please pray for all that attended- that the Holy Spirit would continue to speak to their hearts. In late September/early October the pastors will return to the areas where these campers live and will hold follow up events. Pray that the seeds that were sown will take root and soon be ready for harvest. 

And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” ... Luke 8:4-8