The Word Does Not Return Void

It’s the classic underdog story. The David and Goliath. The kids who have every privilege versus the kids who have nothing but determination.

The two teams met over a Bible competition. The favored team, the church kids, had been going to church their whole lives. They’d been reading the Bible, studying it, hearing it for years. The underdogs were a ragtag collection of junior-highers from mixed backgrounds and ethnicities. Their parents—some believers, some not—let them roam free. These kids had zero knowledge of the Bible. That is, until Zhenya arrived.

Zhenya came to Central Asia from Ukraine to further develop a fledgling children’s ministry. The ministry had started in 2006 when a short-term team came to help the community refurbish their sad, gray playground. When the playground was finished, they held a Bible camp which led to a regular children’s Bible club.

When Zhenya arrived in 2008, she noticed that the Bible club was attracting a slightly older crowd. Several junior high students came, longing for the love and acceptance they found there. They needed more than the children’s program could offer so Zhenya started a ministry just for them. Her main focus with this eclectic group was to get them into the Word. She used crossword puzzles, games and challenges. And the students devoured it all.

The day of the competition arrived.  Zhenya had taken her crew to the local church.  The kids were out of their element and struggled to sit through the traditional service.  Afterward, they met the church youth and someone proposed a Bible quiz.  It was on.  And just like every good underdog story, these underdogs won.

But the story isn’t over. The ultimate goal isn’t winning a competition—it’s changed lives. Just as Isaiah 55:11 tells us, God’s Word is accomplishing its purpose. Several of the boys have become Christians. One of the girls, who had been raised in a Christian home and had rejected Christ, changed her mind and became a believer. Many of the students, even the unbelievers, are looking for ways to serve in the church.

In a place where it is so hard to grow strong, male leaders, these boys are developing the knowledge and the grit they need to lead the church someday. Pray that the Word would change these boys’ lives completely.

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