Faith on the River

A youth mission camp filled with challenges, fellowship and opportunities to share the Gospel

This summer, 32 participants from BERG congregations across Germany travelled to Slovakia for a youth mission camp. Five came from Saxony, including the children of a family connected with the church plant in Dresden.

The group began its journey in Dresden, where everyone attended the Sunday service at BERG Dresden. The presence of so many young people was a special encouragement to the small congregation and a fitting beginning to their time together.

Learning dependence on God

Travelling through Brno in the Czech Republic, the group made its way to the River Hron for four days of canoeing.

The journey was demanding. There were long days of physical exertion, overturned canoes and campsites with very basic facilities. Each day, the group had to break camp, travel onwards and set everything up again.

Yet these challenges helped the participants form close bonds remarkably quickly. They also gave new depth to the group’s Bible studies and prayers. Biblical accounts such as Israel’s journey through the wilderness became more tangible as the young people experienced daily travel, uncertainty and dependence for themselves.

Through it all, they were reminded of their need for God’s grace and provision.

Sharing the Gospel in Roma communities

After the canoe trip, the second part of the camp began. Together with missionary Thomas Herwing, the group spent four days visiting Roma communities in one of Slovakia’s most economically disadvantaged regions.

Many families there face deep poverty, limited opportunities and difficult living conditions. The team came with a message of lasting hope: that Jesus Christ offers dignity, purpose and the power of a transformed life.

The young people shared the Gospel through songs they had learned in Slovak and Hungarian, short dramas, Bible messages and personal conversations.

Some visits were lively and challenging, while in other villages residents were already waiting for the team to arrive. People listened attentively, and the programmes often led to meaningful conversations afterwards.

The outreach took place in temperatures approaching 40°C. Even in the intense heat, the group experienced God’s provision through timely shade and cooling breezes.

A moving reunion with Monika

One of the most memorable moments was seeing Monika again.

The team knew Monika and her devoted grandmother from previous outreach visits. After Monika was struck by two cars and spent several months in a coma, they received regular updates and continued praying for her.

This summer, they were able to meet her again and hear her testimony. Monika spoke about Jesus and how He had saved her. For the team, it was a deeply moving reminder that God hears prayer and remains present through even the most difficult circumstances.

The group was also delighted to spend two days with the Gregoire family, American missionaries serving in eastern Slovakia whom they had previously met at a Come Over & Help conference in Zakopane.

Changed through mission

During the final feedback session, many participants said that the outreach portion of the camp had moved and encouraged them most.

Experiences like these do more than introduce young people to mission. They deepen faith, strengthen Christian fellowship and help participants see both the needs of others and God’s work in the world more clearly.

The hope is that the young people who attended will remain connected with one another, become firmly rooted in their local churches and invite their friends to discover the hope of the Gospel.

Please pray with us

Please thank God:

• For a richly blessed summer camp

• For His protection throughout the journey

• For every opportunity to share the Gospel

• For the encouragement and spiritual growth experienced by the young people

Please pray:

• That the participants will continue growing in faith

• That the young people connected with BERG Dresden will attend regularly and invite their friends

  
  

May the seeds planted during this journey continue to bear fruit in the lives of the participants and in the communities they visited.