Where is your “safe place?” My safe place is my home, as I’m sure it is for many people. Our house is no “mansion on a hilltop,” but it would seem like a mansion compared to millions of homes in the developing world. I thank God every day that I have the means to live comfortably in a beautiful, safe country like Canada. I might not know anything about your home, or your day-to-day life, but I pray that you also have a safe and comfortable place to call home.
As Christians, we have the added benefit of knowing that, regardless of our life circumstances, we can trust a God that loves and protects His children. In fact, Psalms 91:4 (amongst several other similar verses) tells us that we can take refuge under His wings. Wow! We are kept safe under the protective, sheltering wings of the almighty God of the universe. What an awesome God we serve!
But what if your home was not somewhere safe OR comfortable? What if you had no food, much less the resources to keep your home from serious disrepair? What if your home wasn’t safe at all? What if the political or economic situation in your country had spiraled out of control and you felt constantly vulnerable or in danger? What if you did not even have the reassurance of a loving, sheltering God to cling to in challenging situations like these?
Last fall, we shared the tragic political and social turmoil being experienced in Belarus. This dangerous and unstable situation is an added challenge for families who also struggle with poverty. Our partners, the Together Camping volunteers, are fearlessly determined to forge ahead with the work of the Kingdom. They have been busy planning and organizing their annual summer evangelistic camps. These three-day VBS-style outreach camps take the hope of the Gospel along with practical aid to children in villages across Belarus, to the poorest of the poor.
Any event like this could easily expose these volunteers to unfavourable attention. But each chooses to do so without reservation because they believe in the sheltering God of Psalms 91:4. Their deepest thoughts and desires are not about their own safety, but on the families who still desperately need Christ. These volunteers work all year developing relationships and building trust with the families. The summer events are always followed by small group meetings, home visits, and social supports like food. People are coming to Christ because of the groundwork that started with the first three-day evangelistic events.
You and I may not be able to change the political situation in Belarus. Sadly, we can’t end all poverty either. But we can help children and their parents hear the redemptive message of the Gospel. We can introduce them to the God of refuge. We can be a part of a beautiful year-round story of restoration! That’s what your financial and prayer support can accomplish. The cost for each village is approximately $400, or about $25 per child.
