I asked that God would help me to be obedient to my Mum

We have received many wonderful reports and testimonies from our missionary pastors through the years—some reporting on summer camp fruit, others with the fruit of Christmas ministry with children, Sunday schools, sports activities sponsored by the church, and a host of others. One exciting component that we often see in these reports is how the love shown to their children has drawn many parents and caregivers to hear the Gospel as well. Whole households have become saved as a result. The children themselves are used by our all-powerful God as young evangelists sharing what Christ has done for them.

Churches can hold camps at any time of year, as Nikolai, an SGA-supported missionary pastor Belarus, shared this week. He writes that the team could clearly see the Lord at work.

“Greetings, brothers and sisters! I am very thankful to God for my salvation. Now I try to tell everyone about the joy that Christ has brought into my life. In our church we have different ministries through which we tell people about Christ. When I think back to my childhood years, I remember how much joy I had when my parents would take me to church, where children were told about Christ. Even now I remember those Bible stories that made me excited!

In April, the children had a break from school. Our church held a children’s camp with 46 children, and they heard about Christ through the camp. There were 32 kids from non-believing families, and 14 were from believing families. Some were from large families and some were from low-income families. They came to the church in the morning and left in the evening. When they arrived, things began with prayer and breakfast. After breakfast, they went to the church where they learned songs and Bible verses, then went to fellowship with each other in groups. There were games, and afterward a Bible lesson.

After they had lunch. I saw God touching the children’s hearts, and they were changed. The Holy Spirit was working in them. Karina is the oldest of four children in her family. She said, ‘I was preparing for camp and I really wanted to come to the church on holiday. I fell in love with the church after Christmas this year.

Then two days before spring camp started, I broke my leg. I love going to church and hearing about Christ, singing songs and playing cool games with the kids. I cried a lot that I would not be able to be in church at the camp, but my parents got crutches somewhere and brought them home. I tried walking on them at home and decided to come to church on crutches. I brought my brother and two younger sisters with me. I love being in church.

I realized that Christ is beginning to change my life. I used to hurt my mum a lot and disobey her, but the church told me that it is a sin if you do not respect your parents. I did not want to obey my mum, and I asked Uncle Sasha to pray with me that God would help me to be obedient to my mum. Now I ask God to heal my leg so that it would be healed, and I could walk without crutches. I believe that Christ will do it. When my mum saw that I changed after church, she told my brother and two sisters to go to church with me too.

I realize now that disobedience is a sin. Now I realize that God is helping me to keep from misbehaving.”