Camp Gideon Follow-up Report

The following report was written by my wife Kathryn on our recent trip to Christian Camp Gideon in Estonia.

If you would like to see and feel God at work in the lives of His people you need to come to Christian Camp Gideon in Estonia. From sunup to sundown children and youth are hearing about the joy and promise of the Christian faith and experiencing God’s grace, God’s love, and God’s power. The volunteers (who this year included six Americans) offer opportunities to learn the basics of Christianity, as well as how to live as a Christian disciple in today’s world.

The theme of the two weeks of camp was sports, and the campers were able to play soccer, volleyball, floorball, dodgeball, kickball and baseball. Mixed into their day of sports were sessions in identifying and using their gifts to the glory of God, Bible study, learning about the ministry of Jesus, our Savior, and evening praise and worship.

A couple from Iowa and Russ and I donated a total of $4,000 to Camp Gideon which was sent over prior to our arrival. It is being put toward a heating system which will make Camp Gideon usable year-round. An additional $5,000 was raised, of which you were a part. $4000 paid for a security fence which we saw built, and $1000 was given to the orphanage we support who were very thankful.

For the first time we visited a very moving memorial to the citizens – a total of 39,000 – who were murdered or died because of relocation efforts of Estonians to Siberia during Stalin’s reign of terror after he seized the Baltic states prior to World War II. 250,000 people were displaced during the crisis. Pastor Artur’s parents were a part of that relocation and survived. The memorial highlighted a very dark chapter in Estonian history.

Helping at camp were 40 Ukrainians who fled their country as a result of the war. Some have started a new life in Estonia, some hope to return to Ukraine when the war is over.

The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” One significant thing, among many others, that we do at Camp Gideon is plant seeds. They are seeds of faith. With every prayer uttered, every Bible verse read and discussed, every lesson about who God is, every skit created and performed, a seed is planted. That seed will be watered and fed by others who influence these children and teens in the Christian life along the way. Who knows what the result will be – we cannot be sure of anything, except the promise that God will claim them as His own and use them in bringing about His kingdom.

Thank you for believing in this ministry and for financially supporting it. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for not becoming weary in doing good.

Christian Camp Gideon

Christian Camp Gideon is located in Aa, Estonia. The village is in northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. The location is beautiful. The camp itself was built prior to World War II by the Soviet Union. At that time, it was a Pioneer Camp, where communism and atheism were taught to the young. The fall of communism in 1991 changed everything. In time, Estonia became an independent country and Camp Gideon found a new purpose.

During the summers of 1993 and 1994, Camp Gideon was used by the Estonian United Methodist Church. On March 15, 1995, Camp Gideon was purchased by the Asbury United Methodist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma and given to the United Methodist Churches of Estonia. On that day Artur Põld was named the Director of Camp Gideon. He still holds that position today.

From the very beginning, American friends have supported Camp Gideon – both spiritually and financially. Every summer, several groups of volunteers from the United States arrive at Camp Gideon to organize children’s programs and help repair the time-worn buildings. Over the years, Camp Gideon has become internationally known in Latvia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Belarus, Germany and beyond. Thanks to the ministries of Camp Gideon, hundreds of children hear about Jesus each camp season. Together with the guests of Camp Gideon, several mission events have been organized, including family camps, Walks to Emmaus, and the Summer Conference of the UMC in Estonia.

In 2019, my wife Kathryn and I visited Camp Gideon for the first time. We were moved by the work of these people. Since that visit she has been raising money to help with the reconstruction of the buildings. Currently there are fifteen buildings on the 75-acre camp. She is returning to Estonia between July 17 and August 5, and I am returning between July 24 and August 5. We will be helping with English Camp and are looking forward to seeing the progress that has been made at Camp Gideon. It is truly a resurrection story. A camp that once taught communism and atheism is now teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.

You can help Camp Gideon in two ways. First, pray for Camp Gideon and us. Your prayers are more valuable than you will ever know. Second, prayerfully consider making a financial contribution to Camp Gideon. No amount is too small. It is amazing what God can do with a single dollar. Please make your check out to: PROJECT ORPHAN OUTREACH and mail it to 275 Bradford Drive, Canfield, Ohio, 44406. Some who read my weekly blog have already contributed. You will receive a thank-you note for your contribution as well as a report on what was accomplished after we return.

In advance, I would like to thank you for your generosity.

Camp Gideon

Camp Gideon is in Aa, Estonia. The village is in northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. One cannot help but be moved by the natural beauty. The camp itself was built prior to World War II by the Soviet Union. At that time, it was a Pioneer Camp, where communism and atheism were taught to the young. The fall of communism in 1991 changed everything. In time, Estonia became an independent country and Camp Gideon found a new purpose.

In 2019, my wife Kathryn and I visited Camp Gideon for the first time. We were moved by the work of these people. Since that visit she has been raising money to help with the reconstruction of the buildings. Currently there are fifteen buildings on the 75-acre camp. Between July 24 and August 5, we are returning to Camp Gideon with a small Volunteer-in-Mission team. We will be helping with English Camp and are looking forward to traveling to Camp Gideon to see the progress that has been made. It is truly a resurrection story. A camp that once taught communism and atheism is now teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.

You can help Camp Gideon in two ways. First, pray for Camp Gideon and for our team while we are there. Our prayers are more valuable than we will ever know. Second, prayerfully consider making a financial contribution to Camp Gideon. No amount is too small. It is amazing what God can do with a single dollar. Please make your check out to PROJECT ORPHAN OUTREACH and mail it to: 275 Bradford Drive, Canfield, Ohio, 44406. You will receive a thank-you note for your contribution and will receive a report on what was accomplished after our return.

In advance, I would like to thank you for your generosity.