On the final night of camp, the children were no longer taking part in a programme. They were leading it.
The Right People at the Right Time
For the second year, our team had the privilege of serving at a summer camp for children. The privilege was real. So was the difficulty. Finding people who could come and serve alongside us was a challenge this year. But once again we saw that when God opens a door, He also provides what is needed to walk through it.
Small Things That Matter to God
There are moments in ministry that look small to the world and are significant in the eyes of God. A child singing a worship song. A small hand raised during prayer. A child opening the Bible and listening carefully. A young heart choosing to keep coming back — not because anyone made them, but because something in them is hungry for God. This summer, we witnessed many of those moments.
Through two more children’s camps, God reminded us that children are part of the Church today. As we served them, we found ourselves learning from them.
When the Children Led Worship
Art camp was full of creativity, music, friendship and games. Behind every activity sat a greater purpose: teaching children that God has given them gifts, creativity, voices and hearts that can be used to glorify Him. We explored worship and looked at people in Scripture who worshipped God when life was both easy and difficult.
Then came the final evening — one we will not easily forget. The children themselves led a night of worship. They sang with freedom, without concern about how they sounded or looked. They simply came as they were, with what they had.
Perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons they taught us, that we should be ready to believe what God can do through them.
Sport Became a Bridge
Our summer ministry continued at a sports camp. Games, movement, teamwork, competition and laughter created an environment where children felt welcomed, valued and loved. But sport was never the final goal. The goal was the heart.
On the first day, only a few children came, and at times this discouraged us. We prayed that God would bring more, and an amazing thing happened – the children had gone home and told their parents everything they had experienced and learned, and more children arrived. Even when some parents came intending to stop us sharing the Gospel, we continued faithfully with the programme and trusted God.
By the third day, the group had grown again, and every child there had the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Some of the parents heard the message too. We may not always see immediate results, but God is working even when we cannot see it. Our part is to remain faithful, pray and keep sharing the Gospel.
Seeds Now, Harvest Later
This summer also reminded us that ministry is not always easy. Resources run short. Willing workers can be hard to find. Plans don’t always come together as we imagined. But God continually showed us that His provision is never limited by our circumstances.
We are witnessing seeds being planted. Some may grow quickly. Others may take years. Every Bible story the children heard, every prayer they prayed, every worship song they sang, every time they heard “Jesus loves you” — each of these moments is a seed. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). We trust God with the harvest.
Would You Pray With Us?
When the final worship song is sung, the games are packed away and the camp comes to an end, we know that God’s work in the children’s hearts is still not over. Would you join us in praying for these children?
-Testimony from a worker in CEF of Kosovo (Bajrush)
(Image:Adobe Express)
