Project Inspiration

Extreme Youth Camps project has a direct connection to our children’s camp. It was born in the hearts of most committed volunteers as a necessary next step in the flow of our ministry in Moldova. Since the beginning of the successful ministry of children camps in 2002, many of the then-children, grew up to become teenagers and young adults. Seeds of God’s word planted in their hearts along with experiential knowledge of God’s love are destined to bring forth fruit in the kingdom of God. For many it happens sooner than later.

Known as the «XiT» camp, extreme youth camps serve as a very powerful and quick way to create a favorable environment for young people to seal their commitment to follow Jesus Christ. The whole program is geared towards creating a special atmosphere that encourages young adults to truly get to know themselves, examine their values, and to honestly answer questions relating to their wholehearted commitment to Jesus.

What makes this project unique is that they face these tough decisions surrounded by experienced Christian leaders who can testify to God’s faithfulness in trials, affirm His promises, and become inspirational examples as they chose Christ for life. The decisions made in this camp are informed decisions; these young people become keenly aware of the risks and consequences of their choice to serve Jesus Christ in the environment so hostile to genuine followers of Christ.

Project Objective

«XiT» camp was created in anticipation of God’s providential direction in the lives of those young people who are close to sealing their commitment to serve Jesus. Through this project we seek to create opportunities that help teenagers and young adults become self-conscious of their spiritual calling.

To achieve this, «XiT» camp takes them out of their familiar environment where they feel pleasant and comfortable, and exposes them (alongside professionally trained leaders) to conditions where they are forced to depend, trust, and rely on each other. Extreme conditions such as weather, terrain, tasks, and competitions help them to freshly reevaluate themselves and re-assess their needs and abilities. In extreme environment young people quickly develop real and trustworthy relationships between each other and their leaders. Coupled with ongoing spiritual teaching, these relationships become vital in communicating God’s character and love for them.

«XiT» camp also serves as the launch pad for the ministry of youth clubs, which exist to help retain close connections built in the extreme camps between all participants.

Specifics of the XiT camp

XiT camp is a project that is partly stationary and partly on the move. During the on-the-move phase it involves several days of hiking, caving, rock climbing, and water rafting. It usually ends with several days at the “base camp” where the leaders take time to help participants “digest” their experience, make parallels and applications to their spiritual life, and arrive to the decision-making point. Throughout the whole camp young people develop friendships, learn timeless biblical truths, and receive spiritual mentorship and prayer support from their devoted leaders. Upon culmination of the program, they are gently ushered into local youth clubs in their home area along with the leaders from that area respectively.

The Team

XiT Ministries has a special division, committed to developing and implementing this project. Because of the high level of responsibility and accountability largely due to the nature of the extreme camps, this project takes almost a yearly commitment to operate. Led by our volunteer coordinator in Moldova, a group of mostly local devoted missionaries makes up the «XiT» team. The team meets regularly to pray, envision, plan, coordinate, scrutinize, and carefully probe into all aspects of the extreme camp program before its implementation each summer.

Your Participation

We would like to ask you to prayerfully consider participating in this ministry financially and/or through prayer support.

There are many expenses related to conducting extreme camps, such as program supplies, fuel costs, communication, food, etc. We use all of the raised funds to cover the expenses of the outreach camps.

We believe God Himself directs His human and financial resources and have faith He will provide for this project as well. If you feel that God is leading you to support this project financially, your gift of any size would be highly valued.

Tax-deductible receipts may be provided upon request. Please see our “Donate” section for more information on how to make contributions.

May God bless you!

Project Inspiration

Jesus told His disciples: «Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.» (John 4:35) It is obvious that our daily cares and concerns require our immediate attention. Frequently these things demand most of our time as we try to closely follow current fashion trends, gain something significant in our eyes, or achieve an important status in the eyes of others. These things lock our focus in life. Perhaps for this very reason Jesus Christ tells His disciples to lift up their eyes and look! As if telling us to shift our focus from the earthly troubles, He invites us to look and see that the world is ready to hear the Word of God and answer the call of salvation!

It is precisely in response to this call to harvest labor that our ministry of Children Outreach Camps exits in Moldova.

“Permit the children to come to Me…”

These words belong to the Son of God, who rebuked His disciples when they restrained parents from bringing their children to him so that He would touch them. Today, while being able to give children an opportunity to come to Jesus, we may be guilty of the same indiscretion as the disciples who became a hindrance to children when parents brought them to Jesus. God’s compassionate touch brings healing and eternal life to the soul. Sadly, there are many children who do not have parents who could bring them to Jesus. Through sincere love and care of the missionaries these Christian Outreach Camps present this kind of an opportunity for Jesus to «touch» the unfortunate and underprivileged children of Moldova.

Project Objective

During summer time we conduct Outreach Camps for children from non-Christian and underprivileged families in the remote villages of Moldova. The children spend four to five days in an atmosphere of true Christian fellowship, getting to know Bible truths while experiencing sincere love and care from those who know the Lord. Obviously, the first and foremost goal of any contact with these kids is their eternal salvation.

The Team

Our team consists of young men and women from all over the United States of America joined in partnership with brothers and sisters in Christ who are indigenous to Moldova.  All of our participants are members of local Churches who are united by deep and sincere love for Christ and have strong missionary goals. Throughout the year, everyone in our group including our Moldovan partners is actively involved in their Church life activities such as Sunday school, Bible Studies, Worship Groups, etc. They are passionate about passing on vital Bible virtues to children and surrounding them with a healthy Christian atmosphere of love and understanding to promote their spiritual growth.

Specifics of the Camp Ministry

In reliable cooperation with the local Christian mission organization “Vestea Buna” (Good News) we prepare a campground near a remote village where the children live.  We set up tents, clear the area for games, prepare sports equipment, musical equipment, and arrange a stage and space for evening chapels and gatherings.  At a set time during the week, local children gather in our campground in the morning, usually by 9 o’clock. They spend the whole day in our camp where, apart from listening to the message of Christ at daily Bible lessons, they play various games, sing, and simply experience an atmosphere of Christian lifestyle. We also feed the children and provide basic medical care.  Around 9 o’clock in the evening, we take kids back to their village, where their parents, who will bring them back the next morning, meet them. After a short break, we then have campfire fellowship with young adults from the same village.

Since 2002, our team had the privilege to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the children from deprived families in many villages of the Republic of Moldova.  On average we conduct about four to five camps each summer. The number of villages, however, is higher due to strategic locations we chose in order to bless children from more than one village at a time. Although we strive for quality and not quantity, we had several summers in our history where the total number of children came close to 2000. Today, the average size of our camps is between 150 to 220 children.

We Need Your Participation

Every summer as our team embarks on a mission trip to Moldova we rest in God’s promise for provision through consistent prayers and generous gifts and donations of many committed Christians. We do encourage our team members to be responsible to cover their trip expenses apart from making a personal contribution towards the camp ministry.

Also we would like to ask you to prayerfully search your heart and see if God is leading you to participate in this ministry financially and/or through prayer support.

We use all of the raised funds to cover the expenses of the outreach camps. A gift of $25 will cover the expenses of one child’s stay in our camp between four to five days. This amount includes food, camp supplies, songbooks, craft material, gifts, and other items.

We believe God Himself directs His human and financial resources and have faith He will provide for every project. If you would like to help support this project financially, your gift of any size would be highly valued. Tax-deductible receipts may be provided upon request. Please see our “Donate” section for more information on how to make contributions.

May God bless you!

Project Inspiration

The traveling nature of our ministry brings us to various locations in rural Moldova. We conduct our camps in the areas where unending economic crisis struck many families with poverty of shocking proportions. Upon entering villages, signs of economic hardship are immediately evident through destroyed roads, abandoned homes with tumbling fences, neglected water wells, no street lighting, dysfunctional farming, etc. Most of the labor ready population deserted their homes in search of better paying jobs, mainly favoring illegal employment outside of Moldova in countries such as Italy, Spain, or Russia. While themselves in search of employment elsewhere, in an unsurprising move parents entrust their children to the care and responsibility of their aging and fragile grandparents. These children and teenagers, both local and visiting from other towns and villages make up the body of our camps. They are most vulnerable to the effects of economic hardships, frequently lacking healthy nutrition, basic medical care, clothing, and opportunities for education, not to mention spiritual instruction.

Project objective

Through meeting needs of the poverty stricken families we seek to bring Christ’s compassionate touch to the heart of families in rural areas of Moldova. Providing them with food supplies, basic medical care, and other items of daily use we hope to demonstrate that Jesus cares about all aspects of their lives.

Project specifics

As we carry out our daily program activities in each camp, our counselors, nurses, and other camp staff watch for the signs and clues to cases of extreme poverty, as well as neglect and abuse. Spending so much time in close proximity with kids and teens yields plenty occasions for learning about their family life, economic condition, urgent needs and troubles. By the end of each camp session, our staff is well informed about children from extremely impoverished families. Without making any announcements, we target these families for assistance. Our assistance is strictly need-based, but usually consists of extended food supply; medical care necessities, clothing, items of personal care, etc. On occasion, after careful consideration, a monetary gift maybe appropriate such as paying outstanding electricity or gas bill to avoid shutoff, purchasing a desperately needed household item, or investing into a farm animal, etc. Although such families are very open to these acts of charity and welcome any assistance, we ensure that we do not diminish their dignity by just showing up at the door with gifts. We take genuine concern in the wellbeing of each family, pray for them, and attempt to establish relationship with the parents prior to delivering our aid. These acts of compassion leave them very grateful to God and testify to His providential care for the poor.

We Need Your Participation

We believe that we don’t bring anything in this world and don’t take anything out. God gave us everything that we have in one way or another. The question is whether we are willing to share what was given to us with those who lack even basic necessities.

Through this project we ask the body of Christ to consider material needs of those less fortunate than us.

Please join us in our effort to make a difference in the lives of many poor families in rural Moldova by donating to this specific ministry.

Tax-deductible receipts may be provided upon request. Please see our “Donate” section for more information on how to make contributions.

May God bless you!

Project Inspiration

Christian outreach camps present an invaluable opportunity for our missionaries to express their genuine love and concern for those without hope in Christ. This is tried and true:  opening up our hearts and showing compassion produces a lasting impact on both children and youth. It leaves them longing for relationships that breathe the same Spirit of love and truth they experienced in our camps. Without an opportunity for ongoing fellowship with Christians, however, many of them will succumb to peer pressures in their towns and villages. Critical here is the need to provide them with a place of refuge from these pressures, and a safe “haven” for nurturing Christian relationships.  Absence of this follow up ministry would undermine the work done in outreach camps.

Project Objective

The Youth Club and Children Club ministry represents this follow up work to our current projects in Moldova. Further referred to as the “club ministry” it exists to provide children and young people with an opportunity for spiritual growth. It ultimately serves as a means for them to be absorbed into the body of Christ by gradually transitioning into a local church. Essentially, as a ministry, we exist to aid the Church in its growth through outreach projects. Club ministry is absolutely vital in the course of navigating children and young people into the fellowship of true believers.

Project Scope

Club ministry serves as an effective way to follow up with children and teenagers from our camps to ensure their spiritual growth. However, our goals extend further than maintaining a connection during the interlude between summer camps. We aim to bring each club to such maturity that it is able to function independently of XiT Ministries, drawing on the support from indigenous churches. By offering proportional to the need financial support, program supplies, training and inspiration we strive to ignite a movement to passionate evangelical outreach among local churches. Our goal is to see in local Christians a mature and lasting commitment to save young souls expressed through independently functioning children and youth clubs.

Practical Approach

Despite their direct connection to our summer camps, children and youth clubs are homegrown by nature. Prior to our corresponding commitment to support any club, we ensure that club leaders share a strong sense of ownership in this ministry, and have genuine compassion for their own people. We place such high value on the above-mentioned criteria, that it affects our choice of villages and towns in which we conduct our summer camps. This suggests that club ministry not only follows our summer camps, but in many cases will precede them as well. Faithful to our practical approach, we highly regard what God is already doing in any place. A sign of God’s moving Spirit that attracted us to partnership in launching a local club ministry has undeniably been presence of native Christian leaders with a passion to serve Jesus. Thus we seek opportunities to join Him in His work by matching our calling to the local spiritual needs.

Project Specifics

On weekly to monthly basis, children and young people from a local village or town get together on a weekend day. United by their common experience of summer camps, they are welcomed to a similar atmosphere of genuine love and appreciation sustained through camp-like activities, such as singing, playing games, studying the Bible, praying, doing arts and crafts, enjoying treats and simply having a good time. XiT Ministries supports each club proportionally to the need while working closely on helping the club to achieve a level of maturity that allows it to function independently. Volunteer Coordinators at XiT Ministries regularly visit club meetings, conduct seminars and training for the leaders, and organize special events during Christmas and Easter celebrations. Alternative to local entertainment tainted by alcohol, drugs, and violence these clubs become sanctuaries where children and young people cultivate a heart of obedience, learn to love the truth, and honor God.

[Insert Exit Chart somewhere here]

The Team

Always at the head of children and youth clubs are local Christian leaders and volunteers who have been marked with the sacrificial love for their countrymen. These leaders become our close partners during summer camps, growing in trust and respect with the kids and youth from their geographical areas. Towards the end of each camp session, kids and teens return home with a relationship developed with these leaders in the context of their memorable time spent in camps. These previously fused relationships help both leaders and children grow even closer. All leaders conduct their ministry on volunteer basis and work in close partnership with XiT Ministries volunteer & project coordinators.

We Need Your Participation

We would like to ask you to prayerfully consider participating in this ministry financially and/or through prayer support.

Though one of the most important projects, club ministry, unfortunately, tends to be financially least supported. Perhaps the reason is that it does not boast such thrill or excitement relative to the one produced in our summer projects. However, we achieve this colorfulness in our summer camps in order to draw attention from children and youth, not our sponsors primarily. Since follow up work by far is the largest expense in XiT Ministries, we ask you to consider joining in supporting this very essential project, however unnoticeable it may be throughout the year.

Expenses of this project largely include fuel and communication costs, program supplies, arts & crafts, food, etc. We use all of the raised funds to cover expenses of the designated projects.

We believe God Himself directs His human and financial resources and have faith He will provide for this project as well. If you feel that God is leading you to support this project financially, your gift of any size would be highly valued.

Tax-deductible receipts may be provided upon request. Please see our “Donate” section for more information on how to make contributions.

May God bless you!

Introduction

Welcome to the first of a series of updates on preparation to our summer projects in rural areas of the Republic of Moldova. This update is intended to provide information on the preparation process, as well as create a sense of teamwork among those of us interested in serving God in Moldova Camps. If this is the first time you are hearing about our projects and you are interested in learning more about them, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator or email to xit@post.com.

Information below is a brief compilation of facts and figures that most of us need to know to help with our decision making, financial planning, time management, personal and spiritual preparation for this summer. Although this is our main web page, at this time we will only use it as a communication board to all participants. As we pull our human resources, we will create a normal web page with information about us, our projects, photo galleries, etc.

Travel documents

You must have a valid passport to travel to Moldova. Holders of US and Canada passports are not required to obtain visas or any other travel documents to enter Moldova. Citizens of former USSR countries with a valid foreign passport are not required to obtain visas either. We strongly recommend checking with the Moldovan Embassy for any current restrictions on the duration of stay, registration with the Foreign Affairs Department, and other visitor policies. Non-US citizens must also have a valid travel document permitting their entry back into the United States, such as green card.

Please check out the official Moldovan Embassy website for more information on travel documents.

http://www.sua.mfa.md/visas-en/

Luggage

Please check with your airline on specific baggage restrictions; however, most airlines on flights from and to United States allow one piece of baggage 50 lbs each, one carry one item, and one small handbag, or laptop case. Only the first bag is free, each additional comes at a cost. IMPORTANT: each participant is to reserve one 50 lbs bag for camp program supplies, as this is our only way to get supplies over to Moldova.

Trip cost

Trip cost consists of three types of expenses:

• Roundtrip airfare. Expect to find roundtrip tickets to Moldova more expensive than other former USSR countries such as Ukraine or Russia. Please remember that the cost may vary up or down depending on the date and place of departure. Everyone is responsible for purchasing his or her own ticket. Please note, when obtaining a plane ticket, the spelling of the passenger’s name should match the spelling in the passport and not any other form of ID, unless it’s identical.

• $400 mandatory contribution. This donation is used to cover participant’s lodging expenses, meals, transportation, etc., while in Moldova. It also counts as participant’s personal contribution towards general camp’s ministry expenses. Those who have been on prior mission trips will notice that the contribution amount went up from last year’s $350. This is due to increase of the fuel cost, significant drop in the exchange rate of US dollar to Euro, and overall rise of the prices due to yet another year of drought in Moldova.

• Voluntary personal expenses while in Moldova. This category does not have a specific dollar amount, but usually amount of $300 is recommended if participants expect to take a vacation trip to the Black Sea, buy souvenirs, gifts, or other items of value otherwise unavailable in the US, or available in Moldova at a much lower cost.

IMPORTANT: Please choose your arrival and departure dates to coincide with the camp dates not to miss important events such as camp orientation and seminar.

US Team

At this stage the face of the team is usually “blurry” as people are still in the process of making their decisions in favor of either going to Moldova or staying, or going somewhere else.

If you are interested in becoming a part of the team, please notify us either via email or by contacting us through this website to get in the communication loop.

Moldova team

The team in Moldova is currently busy preparing the camp program for this summer. At this time they are finalizing Bible lessons, program content, and conducting training for the local volunteers.

Fundraising

We are seeking donations to cover the expenses of 2008 camp projects. As always we are doing it through soliciting personal donations, donations from various businesses, through church and youth club presentations, charity dinners, carwashes, etc. Once again please contact our volunteer coordinator for assistance with arranging fundraising events.

Team recruitment

We believe that God brings the right people at the right time to conduct His ministry in Moldova. Please spread the news about this possibility everywhere you can so that those people may hear about this opportunity to be used by God in His business of changing lives!

Prayer needs

Please continue to pray for this ministry, and especially:

• For God to prepare the hearts of children and young people in Moldova with whom our paths will cross this summer, so that the Word we will be spreading will bring forth fruit in the Kingdom of God
• For the teams both here in the US and in Moldova to be ready for use by God as He pleases this summer;
• For preparations, so that we can raise enough funds, recruit all of those who God wants to see in this ministry, and obtain all the needed supplies to conduct these projects.

Follow up

This is only the first and brief update on the projects for this summer. More information is to follow and a more organized website will be available to all participants and those interested in this ministry. For additional information contact our volunteer coordinator at xit@post.com .

God bless you!