ASBEST, RUSSIA (March 24, 2011) – Pilgrim Pines Camp Director David Cairns and Evangelical Covenant Church missionary Leonid Regheta left for Asbest this week to learn how to further support a Christian sports camp.

Funds raised during special offerings at Evangelical Covenant Church camps this summer will benefit the Russian camp, says Cairns. Love of Christ Church in Asbest operates the camp.

The camps hope to raise $53,000 this year, says Cairns. “This would mean over $1 million dollars raised for international camping projects in 19 years.”

The offerings will help provide scholarships for campers, purchase equipment, and train Russian staff. Recipients of the scholarships will include people who have received treatment at one of three rehabilitation centers Love of Christ operates, as well as children living on the street.

Regheta says training the next generation of leaders in Russia is considered one of the biggest needs by evangelical churches, most of which did not exist 15 years ago. The same is true for leaders of camping ministries.

Churches have increasingly used sports camps as a way to reach out to young people. The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, as well as the EuroCup soccer tournament have sparked interest in the camps, Regheta says.

Teenagers have been so excited about the Asbest camp that some have traveled for nine hours to attend, Cairns says.