11th Retreat Camp for People with Special Needs

From September 24 to 27, 2026, Bryte Church of West Sacramento held its 11th retreat camp for people with special needs.

The camp took place in a picturesque setting called Paradise. Surrounded by tall evergreen trees and far from the bustle of city life, participants were able to set aside their everyday concerns for a few days and enjoy an atmosphere of fellowship, joy, creativity, and God’s love.

The camp participants were children with special needs and their parents. They were supported by organizers, ministers, volunteers, and musicians; everyone poured a piece of their heart into the event, dedicating their time and energy to making these days a true celebration for the children.

Participants experienced their own little version of “university life.” They explored engaging educational activities as students in various departments: architecture, music, scientific research, art, Olympic sports, and gymnastics.

Each day brought new discoveries. Campers enjoyed chemistry and physics experiments, picture puzzles and musical riddles, architectural projects, and artistic activities. The program also included exercise, sports competitions, contests, mosaic projects, drawing, and arts and crafts.

Mission-focused and educational lessons led by pastors held a special place in the program. These sessions helped participants learn new things and discover truths from God’s Word.

The kitchen team provided delicious, nourishing meals. Breakfast gave everyone energy for an active start to the day, while lunch and dinner offered opportunities to recharge and enjoy fellowship around the table.

Parents also had opportunities to rest and refresh through massages, manicures, pedicures, haircuts, and hairstyling. They could enjoy conversation over a cup of tea beneath the spreading evergreen branches or relax in the sauna. In the evenings, the entire camp gathered around the campfire to enjoy instrumental music and favorite Christian hymns performed live by the group “Praise the Lord.”

The spectacular evening programs filled the campers with wonder: snow on a warm autumn evening, lighting effects, rainbow-colored soap bubbles, theatrical fog, and a lively puppet show. Favorite songs accompanied by motions helped participants better understand and remember the meaning of the words.

These were days filled with joy, friendship, learning, creativity, and love.

We wholeheartedly thank Bryte Slavic Baptist Church and everyone who helped make this camp possible: organizers, ministry workers, volunteers, musicians, and all who devoted their efforts to serving for God’s glory.

Thank you for your compassion toward people with special needs, for your patience, care, attention, and love. Year after year, you give our campers unforgettable days when they feel valued, talented, capable, and loved. They remember these gatherings and pray throughout the year for the next camp.

We would like to share the words of Jesus Himself:

“And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, will not lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).

May the Lord reward everyone who lovingly served people with special needs. May every effort, every smile, every kind and patient word, and every “cup of cold water” be received by God as precious service to Him. Even the smallest act of kindness done in Christ’s name does not go without God’s reward.

And may this reminder of His fatherly care remain in our hearts:

“Know in your heart that the Lord your God disciplines you as a man disciplines his son” (Deuteronomy 8:5).

Lidia Vashchilina