Georgiy* is nine years old and lives in the war-torn country of Ukraine. Although his parents aren’t followers of Jesus, they are doing their best to raise him with respect for adults. “Our son seemed more interested in his friends and their opinions and desires,” Georgiy’s mother says. “Watching cartoons and playing computer games were more important to him than anything else.”
Conflict increased in their family home because of Georgiy’s rebelliousness. He began ignoring his parents and choosing to misbehave. “I knew what I was doing wasn’t right,” he says. “But I didn’t know how to change.”
When family friends invited Georgiy to a Christian camp organized by a local church, his mother gladly agreed. She had noticed that the children of her friends who attended that church always treated adults with respect. “I had almost lost hope that Georgiy would ever be our kind, obedient son again,” she says. “I thought he might learn some good behaviors at the camp.”
At camp, the children studied the Ten Commandments with their leaders. Georgiy eagerly read and completed all the activities. Each evening, he came home excited to share with his family what he was learning. His mother was so impressed with the lessons that she read the workbook herself and realized why the children of her friends showed such respect and obedience.
“I was especially touched to learn about God’s commandment for children to honor their parents,” she says. “As Georgiy learned more about God and how to honor God, his behavior began to change.”
Georgiy’s parents saw many changes in his behavior. He stopped lying, stealing and using bad language. He began obeying his parents. As he lived more and more by the truth of God’s Word, he even noticed the changes. “I felt happy,” Georgiy says. “My parents and I stopped arguing, and they didn’t have to punish me so much. I’m making new friends, and I like school so much more.”
When the camp hosted a special event for parents, Georgiy’s mother attended with joy. The children received Bibles and small gifts. Parents received food parcels — a great blessing for many families, especially those displaced or living in hardship.
Today, Georgiy and his mother are beginning their walk with Jesus. They are worshipping, praying and studying God’s Word with believers in their village. The seeds of God’s Word planted in this family are beginning to grow.
“Jesus called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 18:2−4).
*The name in this testimony has been changed due to privacy concerns.
