Hearts Renewed
This year’s High School camp at YFC Lebanon vividly showcased Christ’s transformative power, as many young hearts encountered Jesus in deeply personal and life-changing ways. We are thrilled to share some of the powerful moments and experiences that unfolded. We hope that, as you read these stories, you too will be encouraged by the incredible work God is doing in the lives of young people in Lebanon.
Fahed accepts Christ at camp.
On the first day of camp, the teens arrived, unpacked, and joined in icebreaker games. After lunch, we gathered for our first talk about the story of Moses and the incredible shift God brought into his life. During the discussion groups that followed, Maher, our YFC Lebanon National Director, shared how he found purpose in Christ as a teenager.
His story struck a chord with Fahed, a Muslim teen. Fahed approached Maher, confessing that he was feeling adrift. Though he wasn’t yet sure about all the teachings of Christianity, he was convinced that Jesus could give him purpose. Despite his conservative Muslim upbringing, Fahed tearfully prayed, asking to follow Jesus. While he can’t keep a Bible at home, Fahed has been supported by Joseph, a youth worker at Manara Youth Center (MYC), for the past two years, helping him navigate his path toward faith.
Muslim Teens Are Thirsty for Christ.
That same day, we saw a deep yearning for Christ in several Muslim teens. Bashar, for instance, shared his fear of losing his family if he chose to follow Jesus. As he spoke, others opened up about the same fear. The youth workers reassured them that the decision to follow Christ was deeply personal and that they didn’t have to share it right away if it might put them in danger. One of the teens, unable to contain his excitement, exclaimed, “I don’t think I would be able to keep it to myself!”
Eman is a powerful example of a Muslim teen who couldn’t keep her faith to herself. She has been attending MYC for a few years, but it was during last year’s camp, during MyStory time, that she seriously considered following Christ after hearing the testimony of a fellow Muslim-background believer. Despite facing severe opposition at home, her faith remains strong.
We praise God for the work of MYC and VTP (Vocational Training Program) in reaching out to Muslim teens in Burj Hammoud, offering them support and guidance in their journey towards Christ.
School Ministry Teens Are Thirsty for Christ.
During a MyStory evening, 16-year-old Nick shared his testimony, opening up about his struggle with anxiety. He said, “After I shared my story, so many teens reached out to me afterward. They asked me questions about mental health and faith. They saw that I was a teenager just like them.” That night, more than 25 teens prayed with youth leaders after hearing Nick speak.
Elie, a youth worker, reflected on the evening: “The teens have really been asking questions this camp. Some of the youth are very passionate and are trying to understand God on a deeper level. I had dense theological conversations with youth who initially didn’t seem interested.”
One such teen was Philip, who had been part of a School Ministry discipleship group that Dany and Elie lead on Thursdays. During the MyStory evening, Philip waited until everyone else was done and then came to Elie asking for prayer. He had been holding onto a lot and was finally able to vent and release his burdens.
AXIS Teens Are Thirsty for Christ.
Anthony, a youth worker at AXIS Youth Center, shared several inspiring stories about the AXIS teens who came to this year’s High School camp. One story stood out about a girl who had shared her testimony at this year’s AXIS Easter event. During the pandemic lockdown, she nearly lost her faith as her entire family fell seriously ill with COVID. In a moment of desperation, she prayed fervently for God to reveal Himself. That night, she had a dream where she felt a profound peace, a peace that only Christ can give.
“She’s so into Jesus, and I’m jealous of her faith,” Anthony shared. “She has been telling her friends about Jesus and even brought several of them to camp. Her friends are now starting to share about Jesus because of her!”
Have You Heard Jesus’s Voice This Camp?
On the third day of camp, Dany Shraiha, the key speaker, shared about Nicodemus’s journey. He then opened up about his own quest for truth, which led him from Islam to Satanism to atheism, and finally to Christ. It was at a camp that he found Jesus: first through a speaker and then by a bonfire. “I heard Jesus that day. Have you heard His voice at this camp?” he asked.
Indeed, many did. We cannot recount all the stories in full, but we leave you with the powerful words of Manal, a 17-year-old camper:
“One time, the speaker explained how we can look, lean, and listen in prayer. I had never listened to God in prayer before. So, I went to my room and spent an hour crying before Him. I’ve never felt so close to Him! It was as though the shackles that kept me from Him fell, and I was free to tell Him everything. I used to think there was a chasm between me and God. But when the speaker invited us into a relationship with Him and spoke of how Rahab risked it all, I thought: Why not take that risk, too?”
Pray with us that the transformative power of Christ continues to ignite a deep and enduring faith in the hearts of all who experienced His presence at camp.