Prayer focus

THANK YOU, GOD

• For church camps where Ukrainian camp leaders serve, which have reached out to CCI/Ukraine from Canada and the USA requesting training materials and recordings from the June 27 online conference for Ukrainian camp leaders living in different countries.
• For the four-day camp for children with disabilities and their mothers, with 30 participants in Georgia. The families were delighted to spend time in the camp, and we pray that these connections will grow into lasting spiritual relationships.
• For the prayer meeting on June 28, where CCI/Armenia team gathered to seek God's guidance, pray together, and plan visits to ten summer camps across the country.
• For the Baptist church team, who led a fruitful day camp for 32 children in Country X. We thank God that the camp is already bearing fruit: seven new families have begun coming to church.

ACTIVITIES

• Camps are in full swing in Ukraine. CCI/Ukraine provides safety and compliance consulting to camps and is happy to report how well our online camping community platform is helping camps exchange information, submit requests, recruit volunteers, advertise available camp dates, and find venues for camps.
• CCI/Armenia is preparing a one-day prayer retreat for 20 young people, creating an opportunity for spiritual encouragement, fellowship, and discipleship.
• CCI/Georgia is engaged in preparations for Camp Grape Vine, which will host 60 campers and begins this week.
• CCI/Country X is preparing the program for a seven-day residential camp for 25 children.
• Camp Living Water, Ukraine is running its five-day day camp session “Explorers” this week at their local church for 86 campers, helping campers explore the Bible in a fun and engaging way alongside both old and new friends. 

INTERCESSION

• Pray for the protection of camps from missile and drone attacks in Ukraine. Some days these attacks are quite massive. Ask God to keep all camps safe.
• Please pray for the upcoming camps in Georgia and Armenia and across Transcaucasia, for God’s protection, and for programs that will clearly share the Gospel and bring glory to God.
• Please pray that God would inspire pastors, leaders, and volunteers to step out in faith and embrace the opportunities to expand Christian camp ministry throughout Country X.
• Please intercede for Camp Living Water, that God would work through the team and touch the hearts of this young generation. Pray also for safety and protection from any air attacks, as the church is located about 150 km from the front line.
• Thank God for protecting Oleg, Andriy, and Maxim—the husbands of our CCI/Ukraine staff Oksana, Dasha, and Jenya—this past week as they serve near the war’s front line. Pray for their continued health and safety. Pray for Andriy’s recovery and for the full restoration of his leg’s function after he was wounded at the front line in January.
• With the sharp increase in Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and many homes destroyed, please pray, as God reminds you, for God’s protection over our Kyiv staff Oksana and Pavlo, their families and homes, and the CCI/Ukraine office located in a residential area.

FROM THE MISSION FIELD

Counselor Story, Day Camp Impulse, Ukraine: Camper Olena K., 14

At the beginning of the war, Olena's family evacuated from Orikhiv to Zaporizhzhia, a much safer location. Although her family occasionally talked about God, she was never encouraged to read the Bible or learn more about faith, and none of her friends were Christians. Leaving her home behind was painful, and during her first months in Zaporizhzhia, she missed her friends and struggled with loneliness.

Everything began to change when she accepted an invitation to a church Christian camp. She liked it so much that, on the second day, she even brought her younger sister along. Olena quickly made new friends, enjoyed the sports activities, and said she felt comfortable with the other teenagers because they shared many of the same interests. At the camp, she held a Bible in her hands for the first time and began reading it for herself. The experience inspired her to become involved in the church's youth ministry and to learn more about Jesus.

Today, Olena remains active in the youth group and continues growing in her faith through Bible studies and Christian fellowship. When some of her old friends also moved to Zaporizhzhia, she invited them to join the youth club. Olena continues to invest in her relationship with Christ and in the friendships, she has found within the Christian community.