THE WORLD IN GOD’S HANDS
CCI/Ukraine 15th Anniversary and Missions Conference
October 14–16, 2011, Kiev, Ukraine

CCI/Ukraine (Christian Camping International) celebrated its 15th Anniversary of camping ministry in Ukraine. The celebration took place in the International Exhibition Center in Kiev, October 14-16. 1079 camp and church leaders from fourteen countries representing over 200 camps celebrated God’s Awesome Deeds in Christian youth camps in the former Soviet Union.

Friday focused on the history of the development of Christian youth camps in Ukraine. 64 camp leaders were awarded medals for their role in shaping CCI/Ukraine and the camping ministry. The Missions Conference on Saturday and Sunday focused on the Great Commission. “The World in God’s Hands” conference theme was based on keynote speaker Dr. Johannes Reimer’s recent book bearing the same title. Dr. Reimer, Bergneustadt, Germany, is a co-founder of the Christian youth camp movement in the former Soviet Union countries. His book was translated into Russian and published for the occasion.

Additional keynote speakers, Alexander Shevchenko, pastor of House of Bread Church, Sacramento, California, and Dr. Don Posterski of Toronto, Canada, joined Dr. Reimer in challenging the audience how to live according to God’s plan for our lives by fulfilling His Great Commission in our rapidly changing world. Posterski’s new book “Elastic Morality” was translated into Russian and sold at the conference. Posterski urged the church to leave its judgmental approach and to practice acceptance without approval as many youth of our generation are doing.

Thirty Master Classes were offered at the Missions Conference by prominent leaders and camping specialists. Besides Reimer, Shevchenko and Posterski, the list included Dave Loewen, Tim & Ellen Duffield and Ed Seel from Canada; Doug Landro, Vitaly Voznyuk, Oleg Vasilevskiy from Ukraine; Viktor Artemov, Rudi Dueck, Johann Hildebrandt from Germany; Garrett Gilliland, Cheri Strahm from USA; Alexander Kharitonov from Russia; Vladimir Ubeyvolk from Moldova and Alexander Patlis from Belarus.

The evening sessions were marked by live performances of well-known singers and music groups in Ukraine such as Alexander Patlis, Oksamita, and Sounds of Heaven Bell Choir. The conference ended with a one-hour outstanding performance of the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Dr. Wes Janzen, Abbotsford, Canada. The audience stood in awe as the KSOC performed the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.

Dr. Reimer’s concluding message “Without Work, No Fruit – Mission Needs Passion” moved many to come forward, kneel and commit themselves to passionate discipleship as Dave Loewen prayed commissioning the leaders to reach this generation of youth by operating Christian camps with excellence.

CCI-Ukraine staff and board are thankful to all those who prayed for this conference and helped make it happen. God heard your prayers.

Christian Camping International (CCI) Ukraine is an interdenominational association of 169 camps, conference centers and camping organizations focused on building the church by training camp leaders and equipping them with program and leadership resources to operate quality camps for their churches.

CCI Ukraine Press Office