Meet our team

Oksana joined our mission in 1996. Currently she is our Director of Education and Project Manager at our ministry centre in Kyiv, Ukraine. She has a BA in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry, a Diploma in Psychology, and Certificates in Christian Counseling and Trauma Psychology. Oksana is responsible for all our training programs. She develops and teaches camp leadership courses. She appreciates the values and team atmosphere of our mission and is passionate about building networks of Christian camps wherever we serve. "I thank God for calling me into this ministry," states Oksana. She is married to Oleg and has two adult sons.

Pavlo joined our mission in 2007 and serves as Chief Operating Officer in Ukraine. He has an MA in Christian Education and is pursuing an MA in Psychology. His areas of responsibility include legal support for camps, financial management, operational activities, and he leads the events of the CCI/Ukraine Association. He develops programs and teaches courses on Camp Leadership. He says: "I enjoy developing professional Christian camp leaders". Pavlo is married to Victoria, has an adult son and twin daughters of primary school age.

Daria joined our mission in 2018. She claims she grew up in a Christian camp because her parents were camp directors. She has a BA in Biblical Theology and a university Diploma as a teacher of German and English Languages. She serves as CCI/Ukraine's Administrative Assistant and produces our weekly prayer letter which KVI publishes across Canada. She stays in touch with our camp leaders to listen to their stories, encourage them and passes their concerns on to our team. She is a gifted teacher and organizer. We have heard her say; "I love seeing campers fall in love with Jesus and collecting stories of God's awesome deeds for our prayer letter - THIS WEEK". Daria is married to Andriy and has a teenage son.

Tetiana joined our mission in 2008. She is our Training Events Coordinator and Camping Courses Developer. She has an MA in Philology and is currently pursuing an MA in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership from Wheaton College, USA. As part of our training events planning team, Tetiana writes curricula for camp counselors and program leaders, webinars, and instructor training programs. Tetiana is a sought-after instructor who develops and inspires leaders to write their own Bible curricula. She informs us: "I thoroughly enjoyed developing experienced camp leaders into effective instructors who can train others." Due to circumstances in Ukraine, Tetiana is in residence at Wheaton's Outdoor campus and teachers her courses online to our camp leaders in Europe. She will return to Ukraine after she completes her studies Spring 2025.

Astghik has served with our mission since 2003 and serves as Director of CCI/Armenia. She has a BA in Biblical and Theological Studies, and a Diploma in Chemical Engineering. She motivates churches to have their own camps, engages them in CCI activities, organizes the annual Staff Training Workshop, organizes prayer meetings and a variety of discipleship and leadership gatherings. CCI is the only organization in Armenia that fosters interchurch fellowship. Astghik says: " It is painful for me to see children and youth who do not know Jesus." Seeing new camps start at training their leaders, inspires her. Astghik's husband David, who is a pastor, is a great support in her ministry. They have three sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren.

Valeri began his ministry with CCI in 2000. He is a graduate of the Institute of Physical Education and Sports, and has a BA in Biblical and Theological Studies. He is the CCI/Republic of Georgia director and manager of a church-owned year-round campsite which many churches rent to run their camps. Together with the camp committee, he prepares and runs the annual Staff Training Workshop and organizes networking and prayer meetings among camp leaders. "Listening to testimonies and observing the lives of campers who choose Jesus gives me great joy," says Valeri. Valeri and his wife, Maiko have three adult sons: one married.

Mikhail joined our mission in 2006. He has a BA in Missiology and serves his church as youth pastor and camp director. He is the coordinator of Christian camps in Country X (name withheld). He maintains contact with church leaders, encourages them, and teaches courses that help them work with their children and youth more effectively. Together with a committee, he organizes camp leader training events and prayer meetings to encourage new camp starts. Mikhail is a servant leader, always learning something new and helping camp leaders to discover their spiritual strengths and lead accordingly. He tells us, "My driving purpose is to make disciples of children and youth in our country that persecutes Christians." Mikhail is married to Saida, and they have a young son and daughter.