In August, the Dolyna Bible Church held a Christian camp for teenagers aged 12–17 at a recreation center near the village of Trukhaniv, Lviv region. This time, the organizers chose a format that allowed teenagers to invite their parents, as well as younger brothers and sisters, to the camp. This was done deliberately to share the Good News not only with teenagers, but also with their family members. And also to build relationships with entire families.
The camp was called “Returning Home.” For five days, based on the parable of the Prodigal Son from the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, we step by step spoke about sin, which separated us with our merciful Father; about the consequences of sin; about the mercy of God, Who with open arms awaits the sinner who is ready to repent; about repentance; about the sacrifice of Christ, which allows the “prodigal sons” to reconcile with the Father. We unpacked all these topics through morning Bible lessons, discussion groups, and evening sermons.
On the last day of the camp, a camp-wide game “Life for a Day” was held, which demonstrated to its participants the transience and futility of earthly pleasures, reminded them of the imminent coming of Christ and God’s judgment, which can come suddenly. This game touched many hearts. One adult woman, Maria, even cried. She testified that she and her family are far from God, and earthly vanity prevents her from seeking a relationship with Him. And this game made her think about the need to seek God and the forgiveness of sins.
In total, 59 people participated in the camp. Among them were 35 teenagers, 15 parents of the teenagers, and 9 younger brothers and sisters. Only five of the participants were believers. For 16 participants, this was not their first experience, as they had previously attended our church camps. The rest of the guests came to us for the first time. Most of the camp participants were from the city of Dolyna, Ivano-Frankivsk region, and nearby villages. There were also refugees from eastern and southern Ukraine.
Camp Schedule:
7:20 Team meeting
8:00 Wake-up
8:30 Exercise
9:00 Breakfast
9:45 Gathering in the auditorium/discussion groups
12:00 Master class/Free time
13:30 Lunch
14:30 Free time/swimming in the pool
16:00 Camp game/hiking
18:00 Dinner
19:00 Evening service
21:00 Thematic evening or communication by the fire
23:00 Quiet hour
00:00 Dismissal
The camp was held in a picturesque mountainous area; there was a very interesting and rich entertainment program, which left many warm impressions on the camp participants.
On the last evening, after the sermon, we invited everyone who wanted to invite Christ into their lives. After the evening service, two teenage girls came up to us and testified that they had prayed the prayer of repentance and now want to follow Christ.
Thank God for the opportunity to hold such a wonderful camp, which allowed us to witness about Christ to many people! Now we will try to do our best to continue our relationship with the camp participants through children’s, teenage, and women’s meetings. We sincerely thank everyone who supported and prayed for this camp! May God bless you!
Serhiy Kyrylenko
Testimonials from Children – camp participants:
Olexandra, 14 years old
“This year was my first time at a Christian camp. I was invited to the church. I really liked swimming in the pool, parties, and contests with games. At the camp, I learned that God forgives sins if you sincerely repent. I want to thank the camp organizers for their invaluable work. I wish everyone God’s blessings!”
Sofia, 13 years old
“Returning Home” is the best camp of my life! I returned home with incredible emotions and a bunch of new friends. No one was bored there. Every day we were waiting for super interesting contests, fun games, and exciting master classes, where we constantly did something new and cool. And the hike in the mountains is a fairy tale! The landscapes are simply incredible, and it was a real adventure. When it got hot, we were excited to swim and have fun in the pool.
But the most important thing is the special atmosphere that reigned there. I felt very comfortable and wonderful to be among everyone. This camp really helped me open up my heart, learn more about God, and strengthen my love for Christ. Thank you to every mentor for this unforgettable time! I dream of coming back here again!”
Gleb, 12 years old
“I was at the camp with my mother. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to relax in the mountains. A very good place to be – a nice campsite. I really enjoyed every day’s program. There were interesting lessons with the instructor and time for sports games and relaxation. And also the excitement of the game “Life.” My mother and I learned a lot. Thank you to the whole team; they made our vacation unforgettable. I was very reluctant to leave the camp.”
