Redberry Hosts 5th Annual Ukrainian Family Camp

For the past five years, Redberry Bible Camp has had the privilege of welcoming families from the new-to-Canada Ukrainian community for a family camp. What began in 2022 as a desire to help families find community, experience Canadian culture, and enjoy Saskatchewan’s outdoors has grown into a weekend we look forward to each year.

This summer, we welcomed 26 families—81 people in total—to Redberry. Many of these families, often single mothers, have been uprooted from their homes in Ukraine and are rebuilding their lives in Canada with limited financial resources. So Redberry invites families to contribute whatever they are able toward the weekend. The support of SKMB and others helps us welcome them without finances being a barrier.

Our relationship with the Ukrainian community has been fostered through Vitaliy Kushnir, lay pastor of a Ukrainian church that meets at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Saskatoon and speaker for the weekend. Over the past five years, we have had the joy of welcoming some of the same families back while meeting many new families along the way. The weekend is an opportunity to enjoy camp, deepen friendships, and grow in faith together.

This year, 27 of our summer staff returned as volunteers for the weekend, joined by two couples from Faith River Christian Fellowship in Saskatoon. Together they led activities, prepared meals, washed dishes, cleaned bathrooms, and served our guests. After a full summer of ministry, it was encouraging to see so many of our summer staff return for one more weekend.

One of the highlights this year was celebrating a baptism. One woman who has attended Ukrainian Family Camp for the past four years decided to publicly express her commitment to Christ and the church. It was a joy to see someone we have welcomed back year after year baptized in Redberry’s pool, surrounded by her church community!

Our relationship with this community continues to extend beyond Family Camp. This summer, Redberry also provided approximately $17,000 in camper sponsorships to more than 60 Ukrainian campers to participate in our regular summer programs.

What began as a desire to welcome families new to Canada has grown into a meaningful relationship with a community we are grateful to welcome back year after year.

Thank you to SKMB for helping make this weekend possible and for being part of that relationship.

To support Redberry and ministries like this, visit our website: redberrybiblecamp.com.

Dave Carey, Executive Director