Along with other churches and Connect International mission, the Second Slavic Baptist Church in Sacramento were able to get involved in a short-term missions trip to Ukraine to organize two family camps for widows and orphans. Hundreds of people experienced the call of Christ and responded in submission to following Him.
The first camp took place on June 23-30, and the second on July 1-16 in a beautiful Lviv region, Stara Sil, on the Zaltsbog base. Both camps were held in Ukrainian. The team of leaders consisted of 50 people, 18 of whom were from America. The speakers were: pastors Aleksandr Chmut, Vladimir Omelchuk, Aleksandr Kalinskiy, and Aleksey Melnichuk who is the head of Connect International mission. Igor Livtsenyuk, a pastor from Dubno in Rovno was overseeing the entire program organization. Six different worship groups were involved in leading church services. There were also a few individual singers, musicians, and poets. There were church services twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. During these services, the attendees were learning the Inductive method of studying the Bible and focused on Mark 1-6 chapters.
On top of this, there were a lot of other activities such as sports, crafts, archery, theater, hikes, and much more. The adults had an opportunity for individual biblical counseling as well. The children were glad to receive presents in the form of humanitarian aid. The leaders jokingly called the camp "four in one" because women, youth, teenagers and children are the four categories for which the camp program was designed, and these programs ran in parallel to each other. On one of the Sunday services, there was a time of Communion as well.
The camp’s director, Oksana Kopchuk said: “God is good and merciful. He accomplishes real miracles even today, even in the midst of tears and sorrows. The people are opening up their hearts, are repenting, and are beginning their new life in Christ, a life full of hope, and faith in the victory”.
The next upcoming trip is scheduled for next year. Everyone is welcome to serve.
Svetlana Iotko
