Imagine travelling for hours across a vast, dusty wilderness — then suddenly, a lake appears on the horizon. For young people making this journey into the heart of Central Asia each summer, the sight of water isn’t just relief. It’s the beginning of something they’ll never forget.

Camp at the Lake isn’t your typical summer camp. Since 2017, a young couple and a team of local Central Asian leaders have been running a week that’s equal parts fun, friendship — and genuine encounters with Jesus. In 2025, 140 young people showed up. Around half of them had never heard the gospel. Most came from Muslim backgrounds.

That’s not an accident. Local Christian young people are actively encouraged to invite their non-Christian mates. As one leader says, “The Christians are meant to invite non-Christian friends. It is their ticket to the camp.” So friendships become the bridge. Trust gets built around campfires and shared meals. And by midweek, young people who walked out of Bible talks on day one are staying, leaning in, and asking real questions about faith.

One of them was Alma. She arrived knowing almost nothing about Christianity. But after hearing stories of changed lives and spending time with believers her own age, she left full of questions — and hungry to find the answers.

She wasn’t alone. Last year, 70 young people made a decision to follow Jesus. In a region where leaving Islam can cost you your family — or worse — that kind of faith takes serious courage.

This camp is one of the most fruitful open doors for the gospel in Central Asia right now. But a major donor has pulled out this year, leaving a real funding gap. It costs just £100 to send one young person to camp — one week that could change everything.

Could you help send someone? Give here.