CEE Story From The Mission Field
God Still Parts the Sea and Makes the Way
September 11, 2006
What happens when the sponsoring church for a summer camp pulls out at the last minute, leaving the leaders with no place to meet and no local help? Typically, the camp would be cancelled with apologies given to the dozens of children that had planned to attend. But for workers in southern Russia, canceling wasn’t an option, so they watched God do what God does—makes a way where there isn’t any hope of one.
These workers are praying for a church-planting movement. With that goal in mind, they planned a camp for the handicapped children this summer and arranged for volunteers from Tennessee to come and help. While the volunteer team was in route to Russia, the local church withdrew their support and left the camp in jeopardy. There were 100 participants planning on attending a camp that now had no place to meet. But God had a plan all along.
Through the generosity of the Tennessee team, a seaside hotel that could accommodate the camp was found in a resort town a few hours away. For kids who had never been to the seaside, this provision was a huge blessing. “But even more impressive was the love, care and affection that the American team from Tennessee shared,” said one worker. “And many of them heard the Gospel for the first time as the team taught from creation to Christ through Bible stories.”
The camp made such an impression on the local people that a city television station took notice. The film crew went out to the hotel and interviewed some of the American and Russian leaders and took video footage of the events taking place. It was broadcast on the evening and morning news. The next day, the newspapers wrote an article as well. All this publicity was used to promote the name of Jesus and the mission of evangelical believers in Russia.
They had no reason to expect that this camp would turn out the way it did. “If we were to rely on our good sense and experience, we should have cancelled the event,” said another worker. The fact that they only had 10 days to start everything over again and move to a different city with no church support, no budget and no place would have justified that decision.
“But we had already promised the children and the Tennessee team that there would be a camp,” said the same worker. So after much prayer they decided to go ahead with it, regardless of costs and difficulties. “Every closed door was opened by God and brought an unbelievable blessing,” the worker said, “and He continued to shape the event according to His plans.”
God is in the business of shaping plans. If you are wondering what His plans are for your involvement in reaching the lost of Central and Eastern Europe, find out how you can join us in this task.