A Time for Reflection & Decisions

Focus on: English Camp Ministry 

“I see that they are thirsty to know God and have many questions about the basic foundations of the faith,” says a counsellor from the winter English camp that was held in July in Uruguay. She is also a teacher at a Christian school in Latin America. Most of her students are not Christians, nor do they have Christian parents; yet their parents send them to study at the Christian school because of the strong principles and values.  

However, non-Christian parents sending their kids to Christian schools does not always make for a smooth transition. The student does not always see it as a positive move. 

Christian school influence 

For one of these students, his non-Christian parents transferred him to a Christian school after checking his social networks online. The parents discovered conversations that showed the boy was really struggling emotionally and mentally.  

The desperate parents took their son out of the school he was attending and sent him to the Christian school. But this ended up initially going badly: the young man saw school as a punishment and became a rebellious student, who constantly confronted teachers and maintained a defiant attitude.  

However, with kindness and grace, teachers showed the love of Christ to him and little by little how to make room for the Gospel.  

Life-changing decision at camp 

When the upcoming English camp was announced, he became interested and wanted to participate. There were 35 campers there this year. On the night of the bonfire, he was deeply touched by the testimony of one of the missionaries serving in Uruguay. The missionary gave an invitation to campers and staff to surrender their lives to Jesus, and acknowledge Him as their personal Lord and Savior. The young person gave his life to Jesus right then. 

Camp and school staff pray that he will want to attend church and be discipled, but are praising God that his attitude towards the Gospel and the school has changed.  

The impact of a transformative experience at camp can be seen in various ways. Camp staff  noticed subtle and profound changes of attitude in each participant. “The campers reflected on their relationship with God and realized they should be a bit more focused, or open to letting God begin to work in their lives." They note this was a very gradual process. "One of the girls was a bit closed off from the beginning and didn't talk much, but slowly over time she started opening up and asking questions. Campers participated in every activity and enjoyed themselves, even though they weren't Christians or had little knowledge of the faith."

Similarly, a staff member shared that one of the campers had many doubts, but in the end was willing to draw closer to God.  

Denise Keller Lüdcke, Director of English Camps, Latin America asserts, “In the least evangelized country in Latin America, opportunities like these are small seeds planted in people's hearts to bring them closer to Jesus.” 

Pray for: