Welcome to Word of Life Ukraine Camp 2025!
Here, teenagers make decisions that change their lives forever.
Our goal is to help teenagers take the next step in their relationship with Christ.
Every part of the camp program - from morning gatherings to late-night talks around the fire - works together to help teens hear the Gospel, think it over, and make a decision.
In this post, we’re sharing stories, feedback, and moments - from the open mic, from mentors, and from the teens themselves. Our hearts are full of gratitude to God for what He’s doing!
*Caring for the privacy of the teens and respecting their personal decisions, we’ve changed the names in all the stories. The photos are not connected to the specific stories either. Still, every event and conversation we share here truly happened this year at Word of Life camp.
Games
The whole camp is split into two teams that compete throughout the week. Friendship never “wins” here - we want to teach campers how to win honestly and lose graciously. Through games, we build a healthy spirit of competition and strong team unity.
Anya, second-year Bible Institute student:
Week after week, I notice how the ice between us and the campers starts to crack during the first big games. Teenagers come with different personalities - some are very open, others avoid interaction. But during those first games, they see that we’re just like them. We cheer, get excited, shout, and compete right alongside them - and that helps them relax and later open up for conversations.
Marta, camper:
I’ve been waiting all year for the mud lake! It was really important for me to hear the messages about God being our shelter - I’d never heard that before. In a lot of what the speaker said, I saw myself and realized I need to change.
Melissa, camper:
This is the first overnight camp I’ve ever been to. What really matters to me is that here there’s no bullying, no cliques - you can just walk up to anyone and make friends! When I get home, I’ll probably spend three days straight telling my parents everything that happened here! I especially loved the atmosphere of support - and also the mud baths.
Alla, volunteer:
I came to camp not knowing how to lose at all. I knew it would be a problem, so I asked God to help me let go of my pride. I’m grateful He answered my prayer.
On the last night, I threw a stick into the fire as a symbol of giving my pride to God. The next day, I found out my team lost by a big margin, but I was able to accept it without bitterness or disappointment. I’m really thankful to God for that.
Angelina, camper:
This is my first time at camp, and I’m impressed by the kind of teens here - no one hurts or judges you. In my village and school, it’s normal for everyone to bully and laugh at you, but here, people accept you. (she cries) I was surprised that it could be different.
Ivan, camper:
I really liked how, whenever we lost and felt upset, our captain Pasha comforted and encouraged everyone!
Activities
Since one of our camp’s core values is personal mentoring, we design the program to give mentors time to connect with the campers. That’s why the camp has activities like pedal boats, a ropes course, and trampolines - so campers can find something fun to do during their free time.
Veronika, first-year Bible Institute student:
At camp, we learned a new Bible verse every day - and each one reminded us that God is our refuge, fortress, and shelter. These words felt especially real during the first week of camp, when, during a nighttime drone and missile attack, we sat in the hallway and all together repeated out loud: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” (Psalm 62:6)
The next day someone told me:
- Your girl was crying on the ropes course.
I got scared and ran to see what happened. She had already finished and looked calm.
- What happened? Why were you crying?
- I was really scared.
- Did you get taken off halfway?
- No, I made it all the way through.
- How did you get through it?
- I kept thinking of the verse we learned… and repeated it over and over the whole way. All the way to the end!
Katya, a first-year Bible Institute student:
When I first met the girls in my room, I couldn’t help wondering, Which of them is open to the Gospel? I spent a lot of time talking with one of them - she asked many questions, said she wanted to pray the prayer of salvation, but kept putting it off. In the end, she told me she wasn’t ready.
The other girl was the complete opposite. Very energetic, often getting into trouble with discipline. I never thought she’d be interested in anything about God. But one day, she came up to me and asked if I’d go paddle boating with her.
We started talking, and somehow the conversation naturally shifted to the Gospel. When the boat ride ended, she said, “Can we walk a little more and keep talking?”
As we walked, she suddenly began to cry.
“I want to pray,” she said.
We stopped. I listened as she prayed, and I realized - it was the prayer of salvation.
When she finished, I asked,
“Was that THAT prayer?”
With joy, she replied,
“Yes!”
Meetings
This year, we wanted to share with our campers the truth about a real, safe, and secure refuge - a place of shelter for anyone who comes to it. We believe that the only true refuge in times of trouble is the Name of Jesus. Every day we gathered together in the main hall to sing songs, learn Bible verses, and hear how Jesus can be our Refuge in different areas of life.
Tanya, camper:
What I’ll remember most from this camp are the messages. I realized that I often act hypocritically, trying to fit in with everyone. Now I want to remain a Christian even when I’m with my non-believing friends - and invite them to church. I want them to experience what I felt when I came to Christ.
Oksana, camper:
This was my first time at a Word of Life camp, and at first I was very skeptical. But the messages began to shine light into the darkest corners of my heart. I could see my own self-reliance, and at the last campfire I realized I couldn’t go on living without letting God into those places.
Angelina, camper:
Even though I was born into a Christian family, something kept holding me back from repentance. But during one message, the speaker talked about how you can either listen to the Word or ignore it. He listed the marks of each attitude. I realized that I thought of myself as a Christian, yet I matched every single description of someone who ignores God’s Word. That’s when I decided to repent.
Anton, camper:
This isn’t my first time at camp, but every time I learn something new. This year, though, I made a decision. I often wear a mask and act hypocritically. But now I want to unlock my heart and let Jesus in. I understand this is a serious decision, not just a game.
Songs and Bible Verses
We understand that much of what we shared with the campers might not be remembered. But the Bible verses they memorized can become a source of strength and encouragement - especially when they’re scared, hearing explosions, or sitting in bomb shelters.
We believe these verses from God’s Word can also be a tool through which the Holy Spirit continues to work in the hearts of the kids and their parents after camp is over.
That’s why memorizing Bible verses was part of the program, where campers could earn extra points for their teams by reciting verses each day. This became a huge hit. Every day, dozens of teens would gather in the hall to quietly practice their verses before reciting them. What was especially amazing was seeing boys taking part in the final verse battles. And of course, in one of the camps, a team pulled ahead mainly because of the points they earned from memorizing verses.
We also carefully chose songs to teach the kids at camp. We wanted songs with deep, easy-to-understand truths for children and teens, but that were also catchy enough to stick in their heads and come back to them when they needed encouragement.
At first, we wondered if the songs might be too “childish” for teens. But after praying and considering our audience, we realized most campers weren’t believers yet, and more complex, adult songs wouldn’t connect with them. So we decided to keep the songs as they were.
And our hearts rejoiced when we saw teens singing these lines from the heart - not only during meetings but humming them throughout the day:
“You became my Hero, I trust my heart to You”
“Today I want to walk with You, overcoming trouble”
“God loves you so much”
“Our Lord gives us strength! We are strong, we are brave!”
“Where You lead, I will follow, I trust only You!”
“I don’t have to worry, He cares for everything! Every breath comes from Him…”
Vitalik:
I want to thank my mentor, who talked with me about many different things. I also really liked the verses, even though the captain didn’t let me go on stage to say them. We definitely would have won! I remember a lot from camp, but the most important thing is the time spent with my mentor.
Apologetics Evening
We created a special evening program called “From Adam to Neanderthal,” where we shared the story of humanity’s origins and development from both evolution and creation perspectives. Our main goal was to use the example of the Stone Age and cultural decline to show the destructive consequences of sin and to offer hope for redemption through Jesus Christ. This unique evening was a mix of a theatrical performance, a lecture, and games.
Alina, camper:
My heart was won over by the little monkey! And everything shown on stage was so enjoyable - I couldn’t stop smiling. I took away a lot for myself and wrote down many things during the messages.
Counseling
Our counselors are students of the Word of Life Bible Institute. During their studies, they’ve gained a solid biblical foundation and practical preparation for serving in camp.
We place a high value on personal counseling, so our counselors spend time talking one-on-one with each camper. They share their lives and their own experiences of walking with Christ.
Pasha, BI student, counselor:
During the last teen camp session, I was happy to find out I’d only have six boys in my room instead of ten. After four intense weeks, that felt like a gift. But nothing went as planned - my co-counselor had to leave, there were last-minute changes, and I got moved not just to another group, but another team. That meant I had to switch from the “Blues” to the “Yellows” - and I looked like a traitor. The boys in my new group were closed-off, hard to engage with, and seemed indifferent to everything. Some even fell asleep during discussions.
But the more I got to know them, the more I respected and cared for them. I desperately wanted them to see the value of God’s Word, to make it part of their lives. Still, it often felt like they weren’t getting it.
Then, at the end of the week, they surprised me. They thanked me - sincerely, warmly. And the next Sunday, one of them went forward in church to repent. Someone sent me a photo of that moment.
It had been the strangest and hardest week - but in it, I clearly saw God’s work. And that brought me joy.
Julia, 2nd-year BI student:
In my room, there was a girl named Alisa. Her parents serve in church, but I felt the Gospel wasn’t yet personal or important to her.
By the second day, I felt defeated - every comment or question from me was met with an eye-roll. I wanted to cry and scream but tried to respond with love. Deep down I wondered why God had put her in my group.
At one meeting, she made her way over to me and whispered, “Can we talk?” Later, instead of complaints, she apologized and began sharing her story - how she dressed provocatively because she hated her appearance, how she avoided eating because she disliked her body, how she never left the house without full makeup for fear of others’ opinions. Rudeness was her shield.
I shared the Gospel with her. She told me she wanted to accept it - but what about parties, friends, and all the fun she thought she’d miss? She said Christianity seemed boring and God too strict.
That’s when I realized - this was me at 14. My fears at 17. I told her my story. She listened and cried, smudging the makeup she hid behind. She didn’t make a decision that night, but said, “I needed to hear that.” I hope my story helped her see God differently.
Oksana, mother of a teenager:
When my son came home from camp last year, he wouldn’t stop talking about his counselor, Sasha. He told me he decided to repent, and on Sunday, he went up to the pastor and prayed with him.
This year, he got baptized — and I brought a group of teenagers to camp myself.
Leo, camper:
Thank you to Sergey - he was the counselor I needed. I had never been religious, just knew there was a Bible and Jesus. Sergey didn’t try to force me to believe but simply shared what he believed himself so I could choose.
I think that if I keep going down this path, I will be able to accept Christ.
Diana, 2nd-year BI student:
One of the girls, Nastya, struck me with how seriously she took the idea of repentance. After I shared the Gospel with her, she had so many questions: Will I be able to be a Christian? What if I don’t have the strength to read the Bible every day? How do I pray? Should I stop spending time with my friends?
Her hesitations and fears were hard for me to understand - I’m naturally decisive. I wanted to just say, “Well, if you want to - go for it!”
But despite my impatience, her repentance became a true miracle for me. It was clearly God’s work. We didn’t feel an instant connection, and yet - He opened her heart.
It reminded me that ministry is not about how quickly we “click” with someone, but about how God moves, even when we don’t know what to do.
Marina, camper:
I loved all the counselors at this camp. What makes them special is that they are open and trustworthy. They know how to choose the right words and speak in a way that reaches the heart.
Kristina, 2nd-year BI student:
Tanya from Kharkiv came to a Christian camp for the first time, and from the start, it was clear she didn’t like it here at all. She avoided contact, got angry, yelled, and argued with the other girls. Since most in the room were from Christian families, the tension only grew.
I tried talking to everyone together, but it didn’t work. Finally, we made the difficult choice to rearrange the rooms. Tanya stayed with me, and instead of two Christian girls, we got two other girls from Kharkiv.
I feared the worst - last year, these two had drained me with their rebellious attitude. But this time was different. When they heard they’d be living in my room, they were… happy. They said they would help with Tanya - and they did. They explained the rules to her themselves and supported me as her counselor.
Later, Tanya told me, “I’m afraid to repent.” She started asking questions: What does it mean? Where do I start? She wasn’t ready to pray yet, but I could see something had shifted inside her. She began to think. I’m comforted knowing that back in Kharkiv, Tanya started attending a teen center where they share about Christ. I hope that’s where she will one day accept Him as her Savior.
Yana, 1st-year BI student:
One girl started gravitating toward me early in the camp session, and I immediately saw myself in her - the same kind of lonely I once was. She became my little shadow. I thought, Well, there’s a reason you’re following me…
As we talked, she began opening up about her home life and problems. She told me she had never shared these things with anyone before. That, too, reminded me of myself - it had always been hard for me to talk about my struggles, easier to open up to someone I didn’t know well.
She said God didn’t love her because He allowed such hard circumstances in her life. I told her, “God loves you. And you need to go through this.”
Then I paused - why did I say that? I realized it’s because all year I had been telling myself I wouldn’t make it. But there was always someone next to me saying, “God loves you. He accepts you. You will get through this.” That person’s name was Maryana. And now I can’t help but wonder… have I just become someone’s Maryana?
Kolya, BI student, counselor:
In my team, there was a young guy who already knew Christ personally. He regularly attended church and served in ministry. We talked about what it means to dedicate your life to Christ - to live for Him, to follow His values, and to influence those around you.
He admitted that when people asked him to take responsibility for something, he often got scared and backed out. But now, he wanted to be braver, to say “yes” when God was asking him to step up.
On the last day, he shared his decision with the group: to live a life of dedication.
Rita, 2nd-year BI student:
Alina came to camp last year and repented here. She wanted badly to return this year, but financial problems almost kept her from coming.
She was shy to ask for a conversation, so she sent me a message and immediately turned off her phone out of fear. When we finally talked, she opened up about deep pain and problems she’d never shared before. I had also had a difficult childhood, so I could share how God had comforted me.
Afterward, I cried a lot - from the helplessness of not being able to fix her problems. But I believe God sent me into these teenagers’ lives to show His love. And in these few days, I want to give them all the love I have.
Dasha, 2nd-year BI student:
Zhenya came to camp with a million questions about God. I was glad we could talk, and eventually the conversation turned naturally to the Gospel. She said she believed in Jesus and everything I had shared.
I explained that if she wanted to accept Jesus as her personal Savior, she could pray with me or on her own. A couple of days later, she came and said she wanted to pray. When I asked what she wanted to pray about, she said, “I want Jesus to be my Savior and take away my sins.”
Afterward, I asked, “What did you just do?” She smiled: “I think I just became Jesus’ daughter!”
For me, it was a miracle - I can count on one hand the times someone has repented with me. Usually, I feel like I’m just tilling the soil, and the seed grows later with someone else.
After the prayer, we kept talking - I showed her how she could read the Bible and what reading plans she could follow. A few weeks later, she messaged me saying she was still reading God’s Word every day.
Group Discussions
A key part of the program was the morning and evening group discussions. Guided by a counselor, participants would explore a Bible passage together and reflect on what they had heard during the day.
Olya, camper:
I’m the only believer in my family. I started going to church two years ago. At first, my parents didn’t care, but later they began to support me.
This camp was where I made an important decision. I had been going to church and knew about Jesus, but I had never prayed the prayer of repentance. Yesterday, I finally did.
The evening group talks in our room were especially meaningful to me. They were such warm moments - I felt loved and accepted.
Nikita, camper:
If someone asks me whether I enjoyed this camp, my answer is an absolute “yes!” This was my first time here.
I’m very grateful for the booklets we used in our group sessions — they helped me process and think through a lot. And the Bible verses we memorized will definitely be useful in my life.
Kuanish, group leader:
In my youth camp group, there were two guys, Vanya and Dima. Good guys — both members of their local church and already serving in teen ministry.
During our sermon discussions, many would try to give the “right” answers, but my goal was to push them into reality: Yes, you know the theory - but how do you actually live it out? My direct questions and openness shocked them at first, but later it opened the door to deep, personal conversations.
Both of them struggled with pornography addiction and had been unsuccessfully trying to overcome it for years.
Thanks to what they heard in the sermons and especially in our group discussions, they both decided to openly confess this sin, start fighting it, and invite others to help them in the battle. Dima shared that for six years, he had wanted to confess to someone and ask for help, but something always stopped him - until now.
At camp, they found a safe space where they could not only experience understanding and acceptance, but also face the direct questions that pave the way for change. Since they’re from the same church, they decided that after camp, they will hold each other accountable and support each other in this struggle.
Camp Fire
At the Word of Life camp, we strive to share the Gospel as early as possible—on the very first evening—in order to lay the foundation for fellowship and conversations. Nevertheless, the last evening by the campfire becomes one of the most vivid experiences of the camp.
This is a time when participants can publicly share their decisions and perform a symbolic act that reflects these decisions—throwing a stick into the fire. In the following testimonies, you will come across this phrase more than once. For decades, it has been a symbol of repentance and dedication—a visible sign of inner decisions.
Maryana, missionary at Word of Life:
This year, what brings me the most joy is that we’ve been able to create a safe space where teens aren’t afraid to open up about their pain and fears. Every week, the time by the campfire reminds me that what we’re doing really matters.
Diana, camper:
This was my first time at Word of Life camp. On that last night around the campfire, I truly felt God’s presence - and I believe everyone who was there felt it too. Throughout the week, I had mixed feelings about the people around me - some annoyed me, others I just didn’t get along with. But in that moment, sharing our struggles, weaknesses, and decisions, we were united. I felt all the hostility in my heart melt away. People didn’t change, but God helped me see them through His eyes - with love. And I want to keep learning how to accept others.
Anita, camper::
After the campfire, I opened up to my friend about what had been holding me back in my relationship with God. I confessed out loud a sin I’ve been battling, and that was my first real step in that fight.
Nastya, camper:
At camp, I realized Jesus is close to me - He’s here, and He hears me. At the campfire, I asked Jesus to forgive my sins.
Natasha, camper:
I don’t have many friends I can talk to about God, but at camp, I found so many. I was here last year too, and made some important decisions. Sometimes it was hard to stick with them, but I knew it was crucial for my spiritual growth. Yesterday, I threw my stick into the fire and decided to change my relationship with someone very close to me - my brother.
Maksym, camper:
I’d never been to a camp like this before, and I loved everything—especially the campfire night. That’s when I decided to follow Christ and gave Him my life!
Maryna, who brought a group of teens from her church:
I accepted Christ when I was 9, and at 13, I was at camp. That night by the campfire, I made the decision to dedicate myself to God. Since then, whenever I fill out a form asking about my spiritual journey, I always remember that campfire - it was the turning point of my life.
Misha, camper:
I want to build my life on a solid foundation. I want to read the Bible, get to know God, and fill my life with what He wants for me.
Katya, camper:
I struggled for a long time with a sin I thought was small and unimportant. I kept telling myself I’d give it up someday - and today, at the campfire, I did. Throwing my stick into the fire was my promise to grow stronger in my relationship with the Lord.
Ivan, camper:
Today, I’m making a decision to fully dedicate myself to Christ - not just to overcome my struggles with pornography, but to fill my life with Him so completely that there’s no room left for anything else. I want to dedicate myself not to ministry, but to Christ Himself.
Anya:
Even though I come from a Christian family, I chose not to go to church. I never thought these five days at camp would change my mind. Before, I barely paid attention to God - I might pray when I needed something - but now I realize God is right here with me. Jesus can forgive my sins and make me a new person.
