I want to repent, I just don’t know what I’m supposed to say

Friends call Anastasia simply “Stasya.” Recently, she made some new friends who invited her to attend the summer camp at Word of Life for the first time. It was a Christian camp, and everything about it was new to her. The first few days were filled with constant activity and fun, all within a structured schedule. There were group meetings where they played games and also learned about God.

In Stasya’s group, there was an older girl named Diana who served as the team leader. As a counselor, Diana made sure everyone went to bed on time, but at the same time, she respected the girls, cheered them on in competitions, and—though it might be hard to believe fos Stasya—was genuinely interested in their lives and struggles.

Stasya is generally quiet and reserved, and being in an unfamiliar environment, she became even more withdrawn. But Diana began talking to her, asking about her life and interests. Stasya opened up and shared that she often thinks about spiritual questions. She used to regularly attend an Orthodox church, trying to understand who God is and what she must do to avoid going to hell. But about a month ago, she visited a Baptist church for the first time. She liked it—things were clear and interesting, and she made friends with other teens there.

Still, she had many unanswered questions about faith. And when Diana showed a willingness to listen, Stasya started asking all the things that had been weighing on her. Diana was able to answer some, and for others, she admitted it was complicated. But the most important thing was that Stasya felt seen, supported, and loved.

On the last night of camp, we usually gather around a campfire and invite the campers to take the next step in their relationship with Christ. Stasya listened intently, and after the campfire, she came up to Diana and said, “I think I want to repent and live with Jesus. I just don’t know what I’m supposed to say.” Diana offered to pray first, and Stasya could repeat the words after her if she agreed with them.

Later, Diana shared, “It was a really special and sincere moment for both of us. I’m so grateful that God is working in hearts, and I get to witness it firsthand.”

Every year at Word of Life Ukraine, we hold camps for kids and teenagers. And every year, our goal remains the same: to help participants take the next step with Jesus. Of course, we go all out to make it the best week of their lives—full of fun, games, friendship, and unforgettable memories. We put a lot of thought into creating meaningful and relevant messages for our group sessions. But above all, we encourage our student leaders to seek out personal conversations with campers and inspire them to either begin or deepen their walk with Jesus.