Hunter Lambeth, a Blacknall ministry partner who supports Young Life ministries in the Middle East and North Africa, recently shared an update on the ministry’s summer camp season, which has already hosted almost 2,000 young people at 22 camps in Morocco, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, and Tunisia. Each camp offers children and teens the chance to hear the Gospel in their native languages from local leaders.
So far, nearly 300 campers have committed to following Jesus. “Hundreds of faithful volunteers, alongside our courageous national staff, are walking in relationship with these young people as they process all they heard and experienced at camp,” Hunter wrote.
Below is a story from a camp in Jordan, where a teen encountered Christ for the first time.
“Naya’s” name has been changed in this story for her safety.
Naya is a Jordanian teenager who comes from a Muslim family but has never known her parents. Abandoned as a child, she spent most of her life living in government housing. This year, for the first time, she connected with Young Life in Jordan and participated in a summer camp for youth with special needs. Although most of the campers came from Muslim backgrounds, the camp was held at a Catholic church with accommodations for overnight events.
On the first day of camp, Naya was exploring the property when she spotted the church in the center of the grounds.
“What is that?” she asked Ranim, a Young Life staff member overseeing the camp.
“That’s a church,” Ranim said.
“What is a church?” came Naya’s response.
It may seem surprising, but in that part of the world, many people have never seen a church, much less been inside one.
“A church is where Christians gather and pray,” Ranim answered.
Naya’s response was immediate.
“Oh, I hate Christians,” she announced. “I only care for Muslims.”
Then she ran off to play with her friends.
Sadly, this reaction is not uncommon in many Muslim-majority communities. It is often fueled by unfamiliarity — many people have never met a Christian — or by negative associations formed through media portrayals that connect Christians with war, bombs, and conflict. Most likely, Naya did not even realize that Ranim herself was a Christian.
Naya had a powerful experience at camp. She heard about the love of Jesus. She heard the truths of the Gospel in her native Arabic. Most importantly, she experienced the love and care of Ranim and the other volunteer leaders. Actions are often more powerful than words, regardless of geography or religion.
Then, on the last day of camp, something completely unexpected happened: No one could find Naya. She wasn’t playing with the other kids, she wasn’t with her leader, and she wasn’t in her dorm room. She was in the church.
When one of the camp leaders found her, she was standing inside the Sanctuary. She had entered on her own and was staring at the ornate walls, gazing up at the stained-glass windows, and taking in the depictions of Jesus and the disciples.
“Come, Naya,” said the leader. “Let’s go out and join the other kids.”
“No!” Naya responded. “I want to stay here because He…” — she pointed at a picture of Jesus on a church wall — “…He is the only one who can calm me. Jesus is the only one who can make me comfortable."
Naya’s leader began to cry. He realized that through the camp messages, the love of her leaders, and the fellowship she was experiencing, Naya was encountering the living Christ and that her heart was being drawn toward the Savior. So much so that what she wanted most in that moment was to remain in a place where she felt the presence of Jesus.
Naya’s experience, while unique to her, is being repeated throughout our Middle East–North Africa region this summer. For the first time, many young people are experiencing the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding and feeling comfortable in His presence.
Safe, noticed, and known.