THANK YOU, GOD
- For a new Christian camp being built in western Ukraine, even during the war. With a capacity of 140 beds, Camp Ark will welcome its first campers this summer.
- For the CCI/Armenia National Conference, “It’s Time to Encounter the Lord.” A total of 110 camp leaders from 20 camps attended May 8–12.
- For the CCI/Georgia Staff Training Workshop team, who are working hard on the STW scheduled for June 4–8.
- For the Camp Agape team in Country X, which successfully ran four two-day Easter evangelistic day camps using The Greatest Journey program in rural areas, reaching a total of 300 children.
- That Camp LiftUp, Ukraine, runs a weekly follow-up club at the local church for 23 teenagers. The program includes worship, Bible study, sweet treats, and table games.
ACTIVITIES
- This week, CCI/Ukraine is registering camp leaders to attend the CampDays National Conference in Ukraine, which will be run as a camp for camp leaders from May 30 to June 1. We expect 175 people to fill every spot for in-person attendance, with an additional 150 people joining three of the five tracks online.
- CCI/Armenia is processing the past conference evaluation forms and reflecting on the conference outcomes and action plan for the remainder of the year.
- CCI/Country X is searching for a venue to host their Staff Training Workshop.
- Camp LiftUp has started registration for their seven-day residential summer camp session for teenagers, expecting 90 campers.
INTERCESSION
- Please pray for camper registrations in Ukraine as camps prepare to serve children and youth this summer. Pray also for God to supply the financial needs and staff, particularly male counselors.
- Please pray for every spot to be filled at the CCI/Georgia STW. Ask God to encourage more people to register for the event.
- Please pray for Camp LiftUp and their growing ministry, helping teenagers change their lives and spend their free time in a safe and meaningful way. Pray that they can rebuild their facilities to be safer and more durable.
- Thank God for protecting Oleg, Andriy, and Maxim—the husbands of our staff Oksana, Dasha, and Jenya—this past week as they serve near the war’s front line. Pray for their continued health and safety.
FROM THE MISSION FIELD
Meet the CCI/Ukraine Team
As it is graduation season, this week we introduce one of CCI/Ukraine’s team members who has advanced in formal training. This time, it’s Pavlo Bakum.
Pavlo is a person of deep faithfulness, thoughtfulness, and quiet strength. He began serving in Christian camps in 1999, starting as a camp counselor, then progressing to program leader, and eventually becoming a camp director. He joined CCI/Ukraine full-time in 2012.
At CCI/Ukraine, Pavlo serves as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing legal operations, liaising with government authorities, and contributing to the development of training programs for counselors, program leaders, and camp directors. He also plays a key role in organizing and running training events.
The war has revealed one of the most challenging realities: emotional exhaustion among ministry leaders. Many continue to serve under constant pressure — enduring air raid sirens, news of casualties, and ongoing fear for loved ones. This reality motivated Pavlo to pursue an M.A. in Psychology. As part of this program, he completed a thesis titled “Developing Resilience as a Factor in Christian Camp Counselors’ Mental Health.” His research identified key factors that help leaders maintain balance, strength, and clarity during crises.
Pavlo now has a deeper understanding of the emotional and mental needs of camp leaders. He uses this insight to shape programs that address the realities of wartime and support those who are serving others. His analytical thinking, sincerity, and subtle sense of humor make him not only a reliable colleague and friend but also a sought-after presenter in the camping community.
Pavlo is married to Victoria, and they have an adult son and twin daughters. They live in Kyiv, Ukraine, having relocated from their home city of Kharkiv due to the ongoing severe bombing there. As Pavlo often says with a smile, camp life and family life are deeply intertwined for him — and that’s exactly how he sees his mission: passing on hope to the next generation, not only through teaching but also by personal example.
