When the war started in Ukraine, Danilo and his family were living in Mariupol, a city whose desolation was destined to become iconic. After a rocket hit their apartment building, the family was forced to flee for safety. The evacuation train brought them to a small village in western Ukraine where a local church was providing food and shelter for refugees.

In frontline cities like Mariupol, relentless air raid alerts have forced children to spend between 3,000 and 5,000 hours sheltering in basements and underground metro stations. The violence, displacement, and disruption of normal life have shattered the childhoods and mental health of countless refugee kids like Danilo. The love and acceptance they found at the church was exactly what this hurting family needed. Soon, Danilo and his siblings were attending a special club for kids – a Tomorrow Club – where they made new friends and learned about God’s plan for their lives.

Danilo was reading his Bible but still struggling to find healing from the trauma of the war. The turning point came when he attended a Tomorrow Clubs summer camp. One evening, as the leaders were talking about finding peace with God, Danilo was overcome by the realization that God had carried him through his entire journey, protecting him each step of the way. He gave his life to Christ and felt his hurts melt away as they turned to joy.

The past two years have been particularly horrific for Ukraine’s next generation. That’s why, despite the ongoing war, our teams are preparing to host summer camps that will bring the hope of the Gospel and healing from the wounds of war to more than 10,000 hurting kids in Ukraine. Bible camps like these have had a profound impact on the lives of children and teens in the communities we serve.