Ukrainian Focus: “Today I Believed. I Tried God.”

For the last three years, Ukrainian young people have gathered from across Romania to participate in sports, games, and relation-building activities. Though the camp is Christian with daily chapels, bible studies and discussions, most of the youth attending are non-believers. The teens complain about the rules and do everything possible to break them, yet they return to the camp each year.

Vera, our BIC liaison with Ukrainians who are living in Romania, had never attended a camp. She understood, though, the positive impact the camp has had on the sixty young people who go each year. She agreed to give leadership to one group of ten girls, ages 17 and 18. Vera was with the girls 24/7 – sleeping in the same cabin, attending all activities with them – and the girls repeatedly tested her patience. Often, as soon as chapel would begin, four of the girls would suddenly become desperate to use the washroom and, instead, sneak out to have an e-cigarette.

One morning while discussing the prepared study material, it was obvious that the girls were not interested in participating. Vera asked the next question in the guide: “Why do we trust God?” The reply: “Why should I trust someone I don’t even know? I’m not into this. I’m not into religion.” Vera considered for a moment and then said: “I understand why you wouldn’t trust someone you don’t know. You need to try it for yourself. Ask God and let him show himself to you. See if you can trust him.” She went on to briefly tell them about Gideon and how he learned to hear and trust God’s direction.

At the end of the next meal, one of the girls suddenly came to Vera and gave her a hug. “I’ve got to tell you something,” she said. “I tried what you told us to do. I can tell you that today I believed. I got to believe. But don’t expect me to get into any religion … I’ll tell you, and that’s it. I lost my hair clip and I couldn’t find it. Everyone looked. It wasn’t anywhere. It disappeared. We moved all the beds. One of the girls I don’t like opened a drawer and it fell from underneath where no one could see it. I prayed that if my hair clip still exists, that I find it. I tried God.”

A few weeks later Vera unexpectantly met one of the girls on the street as she was leaving her school building. During their brief discussion she told Vera: “I tried what you told us to do. I tried him on two or three things. It’s working.”

Every two weeks on a Friday evening, a group of 25-30 Ukrainian young people meet at our R10 Activity Center. They talk through bible discussion questions; they sing and play games. David, son of a Ukrainian pastor, along with Vera, bring direction to the group. They are praying about the most effective way they can offer a Sunday afternoon meeting for those who show greater spiritual interest. Most of the young people do Ukrainian studies on-line and so are not integrating and learning the Romanian language. “A church gathering,” says David, “needs to reflect their language and cultural needs to be relevant for them.”

From the Romanian Review – October 2026 newsletter.