Every summer in Hungary, laughter and songs echo through the fields just beyond the small towns of Petőfibánya and Selyp. Beneath pavilion tents, a team of Pioneers gather with children to sing about God’s love, act out Bible stories, and make memories that will last a lifetime. These five day Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) are a ministry pathway to engage children with Gospel love.
Since 2006, Pioneers Hungary has used summer camps as a way to reach children and families with the hope of Jesus. What began as one small camp of about 40 children has grown into two thriving camps, each hosting over 100 kids from Petőfibánya and nearby villages like Lőrinci and Zagyvaszántó. The camps are now fully led by volunteers from the local church plant—many of whom first came as campers themselves.
“Our summers are packed with opportunities,” says Allen, a Pioneer in Hungary. “VBS has become one of our most fruitful ministries. It gives children a chance to hear and understand the Gospel, often for the first time—and through them, their parents are hearing it too.”
Throughout the years, Pioneers in Hungary have engaged neighbors in various ministry pathways. VBS camps are a common experience to believers from the West. Though many activities of Western church culture are difficult to replicate across the world, VBS camps are simple. A group of believers combines their skills with time to serve children by providing Gospel-centered teaching and activities.
Each day at a VBS in Hungary begins with staff prayer at the community center before welcoming families. Together, they walk to the outdoor camp site, where bright tents await. The mornings kick off with high-energy worship songs—favorites filled with biblical truth that kids sing long after camp ends. From there, the children enjoy Bible teaching, creative dramas, and small group activities that make God’s Word come alive.
In small groups, leaders guide discussions and games that help children explore faith more deeply. Many ask honest questions about Jesus. Later, free time brings laughter and friendship through soccer, climbing, and crafts. The camp “mail system” encourages kids to write notes to one another. On the final day, parents join the fun with games, songs, and an evangelistic Bible stud—often their first introduction to the Gospel.
The vision for this ministry began almost by accident. When Allen and Sharon first moved to Petőfibánya, they hosted a coffee-house night for young adults, hoping to start faith conversations. Instead, the room filled up with children—curious and hungry for attention. “That night, God showed us the door was open to minister to kids,” Allen recalls. What began as a simple “Children’s Playhouse” afternoon soon grew into a full week-long VBS, developed with help from local Hungarian partners.
The impact of the camps continue to multiply. Other churches in Hungary now use materials developed by the Petőfibánya team to host their own. And for Allen and Sharon—who both came to faith through camp ministry themselves—it’s a full-circle testimony of God’s grace. “Camp changes lives,” Allen says simply. “It changed ours, and now we get to see it changing others.”
Could God be inviting you to take part in something like this? Across Europe and beyond, children’s hearts are open and ready to hear about Jesus—often in places where few other doors are open. Whether through serving at a local camp, helping develop materials, training leaders, or supporting missionaries who run them, VBS ministry can be a powerful pathway for the Gospel. Perhaps God is calling you to help create a space where children can encounter His love—and where entire families might be transformed, one summer at a time.
