Bayar attended OM’s winter camp for teenagers in the Caucasus. At camp, he heard the gospel, and it touched his heart.
In January 2025, Bayar* went to OM’s winter camp for teenagers in the Caucasus. It was the first time he 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 himself was not a believer, 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 lives far away from the rest of the group, whenever he visits their city, he now joins their gatherings and attends church. At the youth gatherings, they play games, spend time together and study the Bible. He has become good friends with the other teenagers in the group and continues to build friendships with them even during the weeks that he cannot join in person. To help him and others who live far away, the teenagers created an online group to stay connected every day. They study the Word together and answer questions about faith.
Bayar is close to believing in Jesus Christ, but he has not yet made a profession of faith. Please pray that he opens his heart to Jesus and becomes one of the Lord’s strong servants.
*name changed