Dear Pastors and Friends,

I’m sure all of you realize the value of reaching out to children with the Gospel. Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and other events for children provide wonderful opportunities to capture kids’ attention and to direct their thoughts toward the Savior. By introducing children to God’s Word while they are young, we get to impress the Truths of Scripture onto their hearts and minds before they have a chance to become cynical, worldly, or captivated by habits of the flesh that war against the soul.

But just imagine the worldview of kids growing up in Ukraine, which has been defending itself in a war that has been raging for over 3 years. Younger Ukrainian kids can’t recall a time when there was no war. They have grown up hearing air raid sirens and rushing to basements or bomb shelters before the explosions start. The mere sound of thunder strikes terror into kids who can’t tell the difference between the sound of bombs and the rumble from lighting. Such young ones are living through a terrible time, and they need solid Scriptural answers to questions about God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell, and the way of salvation.

Praise the Lord, you friends have provided 100% of the funds needed to host camps in the various countries where BIEM is active in Eastern Europe. Thank you! But we still need your prayers. Please pray for God to bless and empower leaders who will be teaching the Bible lessons, leading game times, preparing the meals, and simply chatting with the kids. May everything done in camp please the Lord and edify young hearts. Please pray, too, for God to prepare the kids who will be coming, so they will be open and receptive to the Word. Of course, concerning Ukraine, please pray for the safety of all camp kids and leaders, as no one knows when or where Russia’s airborne attacks may fall.

In our video for June, Sergei and Vika Skripnik talk more about the camp ministry. Here’s the link:

https://vimeo.com/user37287229/2025camps

Blessings to you!
Sam & Amy Slobodian