The Mission
Life is good. We live in an amazing and incredibly blessed country. We not only have everything we need, but we also have the opportunity to reach out and make a difference in other parts of the world. We believe that because we are blessed we should pay it forward, and be a blessing to others.
When it comes to the world of missions, we often are encouraged to send money & resources. That’s ok, BUT, there is something far greater that we have, or you can do. Simply, come. Russians love spending quality time with people. You are a much greater gift than spending money. We challenge you to PAY IT FORWARD!
What is ‘Pay It Forward’?
For most of us someone has benefited us in our journey of life. Our challenge to you is to STEP UP & BENEFIT someone else. This is what we mean by the term PAY IT FORWARD.
We don't just want you to donate to a missionary, but we invite you to be a part of it, for you to go, for you to be the one who gets to reach these kids! Without your DECISION there is no MISSION.
The Experience... Unforgettable
Within the camps, there is such a variety of kids, many of them facing difficult circumstances, whether it is because they have come from backgrounds of broken homes, personal or financial neglect issues, or unfortunately abuse. We have been to camps where there were orphans as young as 5 years of age.
Time spent with these amazing Russian children will do two things;
- It will challenge your personal outlook on life in regards to the value of humanity and materialism.
- It will build and create a sense of value and hope within the lives of these children, vastly improving their outlook on life. Seeing empty eyes fill with a sense of purpose, even just a little bit, reflects back into your own world, being one of the crucial instigators of your own personal life change.
When you choose to step up to YOUR mission, and take your place in these camps, it causes the love and light of Jesus Christ to shine through you. Thus lies the answer - YOU CAN BE the solution.
The history of the Mission
In 1992 we were invited by the town Mayor near St.Petersburg to send teams of Christians to the children's summer camps, and after seeking them out, we were given permission to visit some of them with small outreach teams. The programs usually consisted of one or two hours of songs, skits, testimonies, concerts, games etc., and then the teams moved on to the next camp. However we were challenged by the camp directors that this was not good enough because for all that it was worth, from their point of view, they were not much different from any other entertainment that was organized for the camp. What has developed and grown over the last years, is that the teams of Christians spend 15 days or longer in the camp, which has a much greater and more permanent impact.
Originally the camps were youth training centres under the former regime of the USSR. Today the camps host between 100 and 1 000 children at one time on 21 to 26 day cycles, 3 to 4 times each summer. Most of the camps operate only in summer time while some function during the winter as well. There is an approximate total of 3 000 camps still operating in Russia, with about 5 million children attending each year.
God has really opened up incredible opportunities. Nearly every day a new opportunity comes our way. Challenges and invitations come to us from a growing number of camp directors, as well as big institutions like boarding schools and orphanages, trade unions and universities. The Camp Associations across Russia has asked us to provide an educational programme that can be taken to all their camps, and St Petersburg parliamentarians and town leaders have requested Christian education programs and teaching materials for the local children. They want us to provide their children with a foundation for life that does not collapse.
