Boris has been attending the Children’s camp that LifeWay Church has hosted for years now. Currently he is 13 years old. But he also comes from a very troubled home, raised by his grandmother because his dad is nowhere to be seen, and mom has so many substance abuse issues she is unable to raise him. Boris is also a handful physically and emotionally. He is a non-stop basket full of personal insecurities, and it comes out. There have been times when those who have worked with him have in frustration called him “bad Boris.” But Boris is really a good kid that needed a hero… a mentor… someone to look up to. Scott Jackson became that hero for Boris at camp. Last summer at the end of camp session, Boris asked Scott  from the LifeWay team if he could stay after the camp and help clean up for a few days. It was his way to find an excuse to hang out with his hero, Scott.  After these days were finished, we dropped him off at his apartment complex to rejoin his grandmother. The gang of drunks and drug abusers met him in the parking lot to greet his arrival back. They all knew him. He knew all of them. We quickly realized the incredible value that these few days of camp were to Boris. Yolochka camp was like a spiritual oasis in the middle of a year of darkness. A dark home, a dark neighborhood, dark relationships. At summer Camp there was life, light, mentors, and the love of Jesus Christ. That’s what camp is for Boris. This is why summer Camp is so important.

This is the reason that we are in Russia and that we put on our annual auction to raise funds to send kids just like Boris to camp.  For more information on this year’s auction go to http://www.facebook.com/?sk=ff#!/pages/Federal-Way-WA/Russia-Mission-Auction/110516972313436?ref=ts

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Billy Arnold

To register to attend the auction go to www.russiamissionauction2010.com

Summer Camp Kids at "Yolchka"

During the month of July 2009, we will be hosting  300 – 350 children in an experience of SUMMER CHRISTIAN CAMP.  Churches throughout the region of Bryansk send children, both from Christian and non-Christian homes to experience a week of sports, crafts, swimming, healthy relationships, and lessons about how God can be real in their lives. The 2009 camp theme is “around the world with God,” as the children each day will take a ‘hot air balloon ride’ to visit continents and countries and see how people worship God.  The campground facility that is host to these camps is called “Yolchka” (which means ‘Christmas Tree’ camp in Russian).  For 40 years, “Yolchka” was a communist youth training camp (Pioneer Camp), but today that same stage that was used to teach that there is no god, is the same stage where the gospel in Jesus Christ is proclaimed and many come to follow Him.

Camp dates are the first 3 weeks in July 2009.

• You can participate by PRAYING for this ministry. We are asking you to pray that 300+ children will attend. Watch this web site through the summer for updates, blogs, and video feeds.
• You can help by contributing FINANCIALLY for Russian children to attend.  Cost of a week of camp is $80 US dollars.  LifeWay Church is hosting a camp fund raising auction on Saturday April 25th. Connect with the LifeWay web site to sign up for the dinner and auction.
• You can participate by maybe even GOING TO CAMP! There is nothing like falling in love with the children.

Soapy Bubble Blowing

"Capture the Flag" game at Summer Camp

"Uno" is the card game favorite at camp

Every camp ends with a Bonfire

Camp Theme for 2008 - Kings and Queens... and lots of fun

dozens of children accepted Christ at camp 2008

"We washed our hands for lunch!!"

Leadership Team for Kids Camp