OUR HISTORY

Camp Sputnik is located in eastern Ukraine in the Donetsk Region city of Svyatogorsk. In the past, the 13-acre wooded lot with several buildings was used by the former Soviet government to hold pioneer or “health” camps. In 1995, Camp Sputnik was temporarily leased to Ukrainian citizens whose desire was to hold a Christian summer camp for children from needy families and also for orphaned children in the region. Camp Sputnik is now the only Christian camp in this city of camps and resorts.

During the first summer, 325 children attended Camp Sputnik. Each child experienced opportunities to hear about Jesus. The following year, the Lord blessed the camp abundantly. Attendance more than doubled to 725 campers. The camp continued to attract more children, including those with special needs. Over the first eight years of Camp Sputnik’s operation, more than 6,000 Ukrainian children (including repeat campers) attended. Through 2012, the total has grown to almost 11,000. Praise God!

With strong exposure to the Gospel, many children received the Lord into their hearts while at Camp Sputnik. The Spirit led some campers from early years to take on leadership roles in later years as camp counselors and workers on staff, sharing the love of Christ with the next generation of children.

In 2002, the future of the camp became uncertain because of the loss of corporate sponsorship. The core organizers of the camp prayerfully decided to attempt to purchase the camp with their personal funds and donations. God’s provision enabled the camp to be purchased by the Agency of Christian Broadcasting.