Summer Camps
August 05, 2026
After celebrating with family in June with two wonderful weddings, we headed back to Hungary to kick off our summer camp season. Every summer we have five camps that seek to reach out to kids from first grade to young adults.
Our teammate Roger in partnership with his home church from California kicked off our summer camp season with an English Camp for middle school aged children. This camp has grown in number every year and the majority of these kids will also attend our other camps which means we have an extended time to build relationships with them and share the love and truth of Christ.
Above: Petofibánya's middle school where Roger teaches Bible classes and is the location for camp.
Above: Our daughter Ziva volunteered to help with translation throughout the camp.
We're thankful for those on the team that return year after year to invest in the lives of these kids. Of course English is what draws them to this camp, but once they are here, they each experience a type of love and attention that is given through Jesus. In most school settings, kids are shamed in Hungary for failing and there is practically no culture of encouragement for those who need help. What they experience through this camp makes a deep impact in each child's life and the team makes sure to proclaim the One who equips them to live in such a different way.
Not sure if this picture catches these colorful personalities of these kids :)
In the middle of the week of our first camp, Gavin arrived who would be serving with us through a short term mission program with Pioneers. We were so thankful for his heart to follow the Lord into missions and to be a part our summer camp season.
We praise God for the wonderful team from Bible Fellowship Christian Church (all first timers to Hungary's English Camp) that came to join us for our second summer camp: English Camp for teens and young adults in Lakitelek, Hungary. The staff of this camp is made up of church planters from various teams in Hungary and of volunteers from various churches. We invite kids from the various areas where the teams are planting churches which gives us a better opportunity for follow up after camp if decisions are made.
Above: Balázs, one of the students on our yellow team small group that met together throughout the week of camp.
One of my responsibilities at camp was to lead our yellow team small group of students in our morning Bible reading time. Each day the stories build on one another as we seek to help the kids learn about the message of hope and salvation in Christ. In our first meeting, I asked after reading the story of the fall of Adam and Eve if anyone was hearing this for the first time. Balázs (pictured above) raised his hand. I'm sure that in the other small groups there were also kids that were reading and hearing these truths from God's word for the first time. And faith comes through hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).
Above: Color night when teams gain points by dressing up in their team colors.
Above: We were thankful for how teams began to develop closer connections through the week as we spend so much time together throughout the day eating together, laughing, crying and learning together.
(Sharon writing:) For the last several years, I’ve taught the highest level of English at our English camp. Lest you think this is because I’m a fabulous English teacher, let me set the record straight. I teach that level both because I do not need to teach grammar at that level, and also because it is so interesting to have kids for a whole week who speak such a high level of English that I can basically bring any topic I’d like to and have fascinating conversations.
This year was no different. It really is a great group of kids. We had lots of great class time and I had planned on telling them Allen & my love story on Thursday. Teens and young adults are pretty much always up for a good love story. On Wednesday though, one of the kids in the class said it was her last day and another student was visiting for the day. So I did a quick shuffle of my lessons and agreed to tell our love story that day with the condition that they had to ask questions boldly during my story. I started with my childhood and led into how I met Jesus in a powerful way at age 22 before eventually getting to the actual love story. They asked such great questions along the way. One of the questions that stuck with me (relating to my decision to follow Christ) was, “What prompted you to follow Christ instead of just continuing your life as it was.” Often, I saw teary eyes in the group as they deeply connected with my young adult struggles for meaning, purpose, and reason for living. It never ceases to amaze me how God used my deep pain many years ago to touch people now in significant ways. Nothing is wasted!
On Friday, there was a time for people to come who had more questions related to the gospel. I arrived late to find a nice handful of staff members and just one camper, Orsi (pictured above), present. I listened for a while to her questions and the helpful answers Allen and others were giving. After a time I left to take care of other things. Later that day, I saw her and approached her. I hadn’t even had a personal conversation with her yet. I just asked if she felt like she was getting answers to her questions from her time in the group. Orsi said she was, but suddenly began asking me about my own walk with Christ and how I became a believer. We had a lovely long conversation that I’d love to continue later on if God would open the door again for me.
In addition to these stories, I see the fruit of the year after year presence at camp with returning campers. I was highly honored that some of the kids from my class begged me to do a stand-up comedy set with them for skit night. We actually ran into some of those kids at the mall this past week! We are planning to have a “class reunion” in September in the coffeeshop space that our team started many years ago in Budapest. Pray that I would be Spirit-led in those conversations and in following up through the year. Some of these campers have begun following Christ, some are very curious and some are still skeptical. — Sharon
The drama team did a great job on Gospel night which was followed up with a few testimonies and pastor Jon's gospel presentation. This is the night we invite anyone that has more questions about faith or that is ready to make a decision to stay afterwards to talk with staff while anyone else is free to go to enjoy other activities. We praise God for those that chose to remain and those that made decisions this night.
Above: Our yellow team leader Guy talking with Sophia (left) and Aliz (right). Sophia had strengthened her decision for faith in Christ in last year's English Camp while Aliz made a decision this year. Aliz's parent's are atheist and she has had a difficult past with traumatic experiences. After Aliz's decision she shared with her roommate (on staff) that this pull toward Christ had been on her heart for a long time, but she was not ready in the past to want to make changes.
But that changed in this camp and Aliz now trusts that God would help her make the changes needed in her life. Before going to sleep, she asked her roommate, "Can we pray together?" Aliz prayed and thanked God she could believe in Jesus and after praying she said, "I feel so clean. I can't stop smiling." A great burden and weight had been lifted off of her. Please pray for Aliz to get connected to a healthy home church and have people in her life that can help her grow in maturity in her faith in Jesus.
Unfortunately, Sophia returned home from camp to experience the grief of her father Dave passing away from sickness. Dave has served in past camps with us and brought great joy and love while he was able to serve. I have received word that as of Thursday, our brother Dave has gone on to be with our Savior. Please pray for Sophia and her mother Réka to receive all the support needed to help them through this time of loss and pray that they may experience the powerful provision of comfort from the Spirit and be sustained by the hope we have in Christ.
God has answered so much prayer through the course of this camp and we praise Him for all of the seeds of the gospel planted and growing in the lives of the youth in Hungary. Enjoy this short film to see some highlights from camp:
Just last week, we held a local VBS for kids in our neighborhood and surrounding villages. We had over 100 kids attend from first grade to eighth grade, and many high school and college aged kids who volunteered to help.
Above: Teammate Heidi teaching in one of our morning sessions, acting in the role of Eve as she tells the story of the fall and also the story of God's provision of the snake lifted up on a pole to bring healing to those who had sinned.
Above: As Heidi went through her teaching, Gavin also joined on stage using his creative gifts to communicate the message of the gospel.
Above: We don't have projected lyrics for any of the songs we sing throughout camp. The kids are quick to learn and sing along with all the motions and the content of each of these songs carries a powerful gospel truth that remains in their hearts and minds. You can see in the video clip below as kids are doing crafts later in the week how much they know the songs and love singing them.
After our main morning teaching time, we break off into small groups to have the kids recount the biblical account and answer questions from that day's teaching. The kids also learn a new verse each day in their group with creative games that help them memorize the Scripture. The movie clip below shows one group learning Luke 6:35 "Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."
Above: 'Aunt' Edit's small group. With that joyous smile and passionate heart serving these kids, you would never even know that Edit is in her 70s and recovering by God's grace from a serious cancer diagnosis. Edit has been a teacher in Petofibanya's middle school for so many years that most parents' children that attend our camps were her students and have fond memories of her.
Edit first heard about us through our camps in Petofibanya and decided to bring her grandkids (now all grown up and pictured above) to a VBS many years ago and was later saved. God has done amazing works in her grandkids' lives with one of them doing formal theological training and involved in Christian ministry. We praise God for working through Edit to encourage her grandchildren to follow the One who saved her and transformed her life.
Above: Gavin was able to connect with Dávid (on his right) and Kende (on his left) who are brothers that have had a reputation (in the past) of being very difficult and 'the trouble makers'. Both Kende and Dávid have been to each camp that we held this summer and this has given Gavin good times to have deeper conversation with both of them. We have seen dramatic changes in them as far as growing in maturity and instead of the reputation of being difficult, they've been great. Their mother shared with me how amazed she has been as the boys find their place at these camps and how they enjoy being with us. Please pray for them to find true life in Jesus as they continue to hear the gospel throughout the summer.
Above: After our main teaching, and small groups we excuse the kids for free time where they can choose from various activities. We were concerned before camp seeing the weather forecast, as temperatures were in the high 90s to 100 degrees each day. This didn't stop any of them from enjoying the entire week, participating in art and painting, soccer, nerf battles, crate climbing and all kinds of great water games that helped cool them down.
Above: After free time, Sharon led the craft time for kids each day. No air-conditioning, but I guess the fold out fan does the job.
Toward the end of the week of VBS, our youth group invited the older kids attending to a gathering for singing, a testimony and of course food! There was an awesome turnout as many kids came who had never attended youth group. Please pray that they would continue to come and develop good friendships and follow the Savior together.
On the last day of VBS, parents were invited and were able to see the drama that the kids had been following throughout the week. The story is about a magician who lures kids to follow the way of the world while an evangelist shows the contrasting way of Jesus. Our theme for this entire camp was 'upside down kingdom' with lessons of how Jesus' kingdom ways are opposite the world's ways. In the drama, the kids who suffer the consequences of following the world come to their senses and turn to Jesus.
Above: I got to lead the parents small group time with lot's of ice-breakers. At the end, we invited the parents to consider attending one of our bridge building small groups that would be launched in a few months. Last year there were a few families that decided to attend and one that turned her life back to Christ after attending the group. Please pray that more would begin attending and respond to God's gracious invitation to know Him as Father through Jesus.
Check out this short film for more highlights from VBS:
We praise God for a wonderful team of volunteers and God's grace to sustain us through the record high temperatures throughout camp. With these three camps behind us, we look forward to two more as the summer comes to an end. We have our second VBS with around 80 kids attending, and we'll have our end of summer camp just for teen kids. Please pray that through the culmination of all these camps, the planting of the seeds, the consistent proclamation of the Gospel and every personal interaction of expressing Christ's love toward this young generation would lead to a harvest of new Hungarian believers.
We're so thankful for all of you and your faithful support that equips us to continue serving in Hungary! May the Lord encourage your faith, strengthen your hope in Him and give you every provision to fulfill the unique calling He has upon your life! Peace in Christ.
Our teammate Roger in partnership with his home church from California kicked off our summer camp season with an English Camp for middle school aged children. This camp has grown in number every year and the majority of these kids will also attend our other camps which means we have an extended time to build relationships with them and share the love and truth of Christ.
Above: Petofibánya's middle school where Roger teaches Bible classes and is the location for camp.
Above: Our daughter Ziva volunteered to help with translation throughout the camp.
We're thankful for those on the team that return year after year to invest in the lives of these kids. Of course English is what draws them to this camp, but once they are here, they each experience a type of love and attention that is given through Jesus. In most school settings, kids are shamed in Hungary for failing and there is practically no culture of encouragement for those who need help. What they experience through this camp makes a deep impact in each child's life and the team makes sure to proclaim the One who equips them to live in such a different way.
Not sure if this picture catches these colorful personalities of these kids :)
Welcome to Hungary Gavin!
In the middle of the week of our first camp, Gavin arrived who would be serving with us through a short term mission program with Pioneers. We were so thankful for his heart to follow the Lord into missions and to be a part our summer camp season.
And welcome to our team from Delaware!
We praise God for the wonderful team from Bible Fellowship Christian Church (all first timers to Hungary's English Camp) that came to join us for our second summer camp: English Camp for teens and young adults in Lakitelek, Hungary. The staff of this camp is made up of church planters from various teams in Hungary and of volunteers from various churches. We invite kids from the various areas where the teams are planting churches which gives us a better opportunity for follow up after camp if decisions are made.
Above: Balázs, one of the students on our yellow team small group that met together throughout the week of camp.
One of my responsibilities at camp was to lead our yellow team small group of students in our morning Bible reading time. Each day the stories build on one another as we seek to help the kids learn about the message of hope and salvation in Christ. In our first meeting, I asked after reading the story of the fall of Adam and Eve if anyone was hearing this for the first time. Balázs (pictured above) raised his hand. I'm sure that in the other small groups there were also kids that were reading and hearing these truths from God's word for the first time. And faith comes through hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).
Above: Color night when teams gain points by dressing up in their team colors.
Above: We were thankful for how teams began to develop closer connections through the week as we spend so much time together throughout the day eating together, laughing, crying and learning together.
Above: Sharon's english class this year
(Sharon writing:) For the last several years, I’ve taught the highest level of English at our English camp. Lest you think this is because I’m a fabulous English teacher, let me set the record straight. I teach that level both because I do not need to teach grammar at that level, and also because it is so interesting to have kids for a whole week who speak such a high level of English that I can basically bring any topic I’d like to and have fascinating conversations.
This year was no different. It really is a great group of kids. We had lots of great class time and I had planned on telling them Allen & my love story on Thursday. Teens and young adults are pretty much always up for a good love story. On Wednesday though, one of the kids in the class said it was her last day and another student was visiting for the day. So I did a quick shuffle of my lessons and agreed to tell our love story that day with the condition that they had to ask questions boldly during my story. I started with my childhood and led into how I met Jesus in a powerful way at age 22 before eventually getting to the actual love story. They asked such great questions along the way. One of the questions that stuck with me (relating to my decision to follow Christ) was, “What prompted you to follow Christ instead of just continuing your life as it was.” Often, I saw teary eyes in the group as they deeply connected with my young adult struggles for meaning, purpose, and reason for living. It never ceases to amaze me how God used my deep pain many years ago to touch people now in significant ways. Nothing is wasted!
On Friday, there was a time for people to come who had more questions related to the gospel. I arrived late to find a nice handful of staff members and just one camper, Orsi (pictured above), present. I listened for a while to her questions and the helpful answers Allen and others were giving. After a time I left to take care of other things. Later that day, I saw her and approached her. I hadn’t even had a personal conversation with her yet. I just asked if she felt like she was getting answers to her questions from her time in the group. Orsi said she was, but suddenly began asking me about my own walk with Christ and how I became a believer. We had a lovely long conversation that I’d love to continue later on if God would open the door again for me.
In addition to these stories, I see the fruit of the year after year presence at camp with returning campers. I was highly honored that some of the kids from my class begged me to do a stand-up comedy set with them for skit night. We actually ran into some of those kids at the mall this past week! We are planning to have a “class reunion” in September in the coffeeshop space that our team started many years ago in Budapest. Pray that I would be Spirit-led in those conversations and in following up through the year. Some of these campers have begun following Christ, some are very curious and some are still skeptical. — Sharon
The drama team did a great job on Gospel night which was followed up with a few testimonies and pastor Jon's gospel presentation. This is the night we invite anyone that has more questions about faith or that is ready to make a decision to stay afterwards to talk with staff while anyone else is free to go to enjoy other activities. We praise God for those that chose to remain and those that made decisions this night.
Above: Our yellow team leader Guy talking with Sophia (left) and Aliz (right). Sophia had strengthened her decision for faith in Christ in last year's English Camp while Aliz made a decision this year. Aliz's parent's are atheist and she has had a difficult past with traumatic experiences. After Aliz's decision she shared with her roommate (on staff) that this pull toward Christ had been on her heart for a long time, but she was not ready in the past to want to make changes.
But that changed in this camp and Aliz now trusts that God would help her make the changes needed in her life. Before going to sleep, she asked her roommate, "Can we pray together?" Aliz prayed and thanked God she could believe in Jesus and after praying she said, "I feel so clean. I can't stop smiling." A great burden and weight had been lifted off of her. Please pray for Aliz to get connected to a healthy home church and have people in her life that can help her grow in maturity in her faith in Jesus.
Unfortunately, Sophia returned home from camp to experience the grief of her father Dave passing away from sickness. Dave has served in past camps with us and brought great joy and love while he was able to serve. I have received word that as of Thursday, our brother Dave has gone on to be with our Savior. Please pray for Sophia and her mother Réka to receive all the support needed to help them through this time of loss and pray that they may experience the powerful provision of comfort from the Spirit and be sustained by the hope we have in Christ.
God has answered so much prayer through the course of this camp and we praise Him for all of the seeds of the gospel planted and growing in the lives of the youth in Hungary. Enjoy this short film to see some highlights from camp:
Vacation Bible Camp Petofibanya
Just last week, we held a local VBS for kids in our neighborhood and surrounding villages. We had over 100 kids attend from first grade to eighth grade, and many high school and college aged kids who volunteered to help.
Above: Teammate Heidi teaching in one of our morning sessions, acting in the role of Eve as she tells the story of the fall and also the story of God's provision of the snake lifted up on a pole to bring healing to those who had sinned.
Above: As Heidi went through her teaching, Gavin also joined on stage using his creative gifts to communicate the message of the gospel.
Above: We don't have projected lyrics for any of the songs we sing throughout camp. The kids are quick to learn and sing along with all the motions and the content of each of these songs carries a powerful gospel truth that remains in their hearts and minds. You can see in the video clip below as kids are doing crafts later in the week how much they know the songs and love singing them.
After our main morning teaching time, we break off into small groups to have the kids recount the biblical account and answer questions from that day's teaching. The kids also learn a new verse each day in their group with creative games that help them memorize the Scripture. The movie clip below shows one group learning Luke 6:35 "Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."
Above: 'Aunt' Edit's small group. With that joyous smile and passionate heart serving these kids, you would never even know that Edit is in her 70s and recovering by God's grace from a serious cancer diagnosis. Edit has been a teacher in Petofibanya's middle school for so many years that most parents' children that attend our camps were her students and have fond memories of her.
Edit first heard about us through our camps in Petofibanya and decided to bring her grandkids (now all grown up and pictured above) to a VBS many years ago and was later saved. God has done amazing works in her grandkids' lives with one of them doing formal theological training and involved in Christian ministry. We praise God for working through Edit to encourage her grandchildren to follow the One who saved her and transformed her life.
Above: Gavin was able to connect with Dávid (on his right) and Kende (on his left) who are brothers that have had a reputation (in the past) of being very difficult and 'the trouble makers'. Both Kende and Dávid have been to each camp that we held this summer and this has given Gavin good times to have deeper conversation with both of them. We have seen dramatic changes in them as far as growing in maturity and instead of the reputation of being difficult, they've been great. Their mother shared with me how amazed she has been as the boys find their place at these camps and how they enjoy being with us. Please pray for them to find true life in Jesus as they continue to hear the gospel throughout the summer.
Above: After our main teaching, and small groups we excuse the kids for free time where they can choose from various activities. We were concerned before camp seeing the weather forecast, as temperatures were in the high 90s to 100 degrees each day. This didn't stop any of them from enjoying the entire week, participating in art and painting, soccer, nerf battles, crate climbing and all kinds of great water games that helped cool them down.
Above: After free time, Sharon led the craft time for kids each day. No air-conditioning, but I guess the fold out fan does the job.
Toward the end of the week of VBS, our youth group invited the older kids attending to a gathering for singing, a testimony and of course food! There was an awesome turnout as many kids came who had never attended youth group. Please pray that they would continue to come and develop good friendships and follow the Savior together.
On the last day of VBS, parents were invited and were able to see the drama that the kids had been following throughout the week. The story is about a magician who lures kids to follow the way of the world while an evangelist shows the contrasting way of Jesus. Our theme for this entire camp was 'upside down kingdom' with lessons of how Jesus' kingdom ways are opposite the world's ways. In the drama, the kids who suffer the consequences of following the world come to their senses and turn to Jesus.
Above: I got to lead the parents small group time with lot's of ice-breakers. At the end, we invited the parents to consider attending one of our bridge building small groups that would be launched in a few months. Last year there were a few families that decided to attend and one that turned her life back to Christ after attending the group. Please pray that more would begin attending and respond to God's gracious invitation to know Him as Father through Jesus.
Check out this short film for more highlights from VBS:
We praise God for a wonderful team of volunteers and God's grace to sustain us through the record high temperatures throughout camp. With these three camps behind us, we look forward to two more as the summer comes to an end. We have our second VBS with around 80 kids attending, and we'll have our end of summer camp just for teen kids. Please pray that through the culmination of all these camps, the planting of the seeds, the consistent proclamation of the Gospel and every personal interaction of expressing Christ's love toward this young generation would lead to a harvest of new Hungarian believers.
We're so thankful for all of you and your faithful support that equips us to continue serving in Hungary! May the Lord encourage your faith, strengthen your hope in Him and give you every provision to fulfill the unique calling He has upon your life! Peace in Christ.
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