Children’s camps have become extremely important for young people in Lebedyn, since the start of the war, as schools within the region do not open regularly due to it being too dangerous for children to attend. Before the war, Covid caused schools to close, – which means that any child under the age of 10 has not regularly attended school in their lifetime, with devastating social effects.
Our camps are for children and youth of all ages and run throughout the year, alongside weekend children’s clubs and youth groups. The biggest growth has been with the teenage group (between 40ؘ – 80 young people attending). Many are coming to faith and are hungry to study the Bible and know more about God and His purposes for them. These meetings have historically been held in the bomb shelter on site.
In 2024 we pioneered an extra camp week for 15+ teenagers to meet. It was kept deliberately small to have more one-to-one time with each person. Margarite attended the camp. She had a beautiful character about her, both inside and out, and loved being with her peers throughout the week. She was greatly challenged by the teaching which resulted in her giving her life to Christ and becoming a Christian. It was a beautiful moment where the Spirit touched her life and Jesus became real to her.
She went home to share her life changing experience.
Sadly, her parents didn’t like this news – being atheists – and said she could not go back there. She was distraught, but all the more determined to learn and grow in her faith.
She continued to attend youth club but her parents would not allow her to go to the church services. So she continued to read her Bible and fellowship with her peers over text messages.
Three weeks after she attended the camp her parents became so against it that they sent Margerite away to stay with her older sister to “detox” her from her faith and the influences of her Christian friends.
But this did not deter her. Whilst staying with her sister in the Lviv area she attended a church and continued to grow in her faith.
Whilst away Margarite missed her grandmother and the special relationship she had with her. She would call her most days and chat with her and tell her about her faith. She was still not talking with her parents that much. The conversations became so inspiring to her grandmother that she too started to attend church and began on her own spiritual journey to find out more about this God Margarite believed in.
Two months went by and the parents sent for her to come home. Their plan had backfired. Now aged 17, Margerite was able to choose to attend Bible study and youth group and is happy to be with her friends and growing in her faith.
The camps that are held by Hope Lebedyn have a lifelong impact. Through the years around 20,000 children have gone through them and many have come to faith. In fact, last year all the helpers and team at the summer camps were people who had become Christians at previous camps including our mission director Pastor Bohdan!
