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In January 2025, Bayar* went to OM’s winter camp for teenagers in the Caucasus. It was the first time he had joined any of the youth gatherings, and after only a couple minutes, he said that he wanted to go home. He seemed uncomfortable and uninterested in being with the group. Although he came from a Muslim community, he was familiar with Christianity as some of his relatives were Jesus followers, and his mother had recently come to faith.
His parents asked the leaders to please try to keep him at camp, but Bayar insisted on leaving. While waiting for his ride, Nergiz,* a ministry leader, sat and talked with him.
She started the conversation by asking if she could ask a question. He agreed, so she queried: “In your opinion, what could possibly be more valuable in this world than your own soul?”
After a few different responses, they eventually concluded that the most valuable thing is God.
Nergiz continued, “Whether we want to or not, one day, we will all physically leave this world. One day you, too, will stand before God in His heavenly Kingdom. Imagine if God were to say to you: You cannot enter unless you pay the price for your soul. Because while you lived in the world, you lived a sinful life, distancing yourself from Me and refusing to seek to know Me. Tell me, what could you possibly offer God in exchange for the value of your soul — to redeem it from death?”
Bayar paused and answered, “I wouldn’t be able to give Him anything.”
She smiled and said, “You gave the right answer. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to pay anything. Your soul is so precious that God has already paid the price. He gave His most valuable treasure — His Son, Jesus Christ — as a sacrifice for you, so that you could receive eternal life.”
As she shared this very good news with Bayar, it was as if a new world began to open up before his eyes. Unfortunately, his ride then arrived, and Bayar had to leave. Nergiz was saddened by the abrupt ending of their conversation, but before Bayar left, she told him that she and the rest of the group loved him and would like him to join future gatherings.
A few weeks later, Bayar sent a message to her through one of his relatives: If there’s another camp, please invite me again. This brought the team much joy!
Although Bayar lived far away from the rest of the group, whenever he visited their city, he began to join their gatherings and attend church. At the youth gatherings, they played games, spent time together and studied the Bible. He became good friends with the other teenagers in the group and continued to build friendships with them even during the weeks that he could not join in person. To help him and others living far away, the teenagers created an online group to stay connected every day. They studied the Word together and answered questions about faith.
Several months after camp, Bayar gave his heart to Jesus. When it was time for summer camp, he went and encouraged his relatives to go as well. Now he is eagerly looking forward to the teenager discipleship school that is planned for the summer of 2026.
Please pray that Bayar grows in his faith and becomes one of the Lord’s strong servants. Pray for his whole family to follow Jesus.
*name changed
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