Autumn meetings are unique gatherings where camp leaders gather after the end of the camping season to share the blessings of ministry, talk honestly about challenges, and enjoy fellowship and encouragement. This fall, such meetings were held in Irkutsk (East Siberia), Yekaterinburg, Vyborg (North-West Russia), and Moscow. It was a privilege for me to walk alongside the key organizers in each region — to meet with them individually, pray together, and support those who needed help with planning their programs.
One of these organizers was Maria from Siberia. I introduced her in my last letter, when she was still praying and considering whether to host a meeting. This fall she took a step of faith — and was overwhelmed when 50 people signed up, which was their maximum capacity. After the event she wrote to me that the meeting had a warm, encouraging atmosphere. Worship and the instruction set a tone of unity, more than ten teams shared about their summer camps, and workshops for counselors and leaders gave them new tools for their ministry. Participants also got to know more about CCI/Russia and how being part of this movement can enrich their local camps. Informal fellowship over coffee and interactive activities helped strengthen connections, and the day ended with a prayer of gratitude to God for this inspiring time.
It’s a joy to see such developments in Siberia. For several years, leaders from this region have been traveling all the way to the Urals for spring seminars. This autumn meeting in Irkutsk was a test run and an important step toward Maria’s vision of holding a full regional staff training workshop for Siberian camps.
Another report came from the Urals: Olga even made a video on the evening of the seminar to share the atmosphere — you’re welcome to have a look:
https://youtu.be/VkkR5G209R8
Ekaterina from Vyborg shared this reflection:
“We spent a lot of time talking about what weighs on our hearts and the difficulties we face. Through these conversations, the Lord encouraged us not to lose heart, but to keep the fire of ministry burning. The best part was watching people’s faces change during the day. I think many left refreshed — I certainly did! Irina from St. Petersburg even prayed that there would be more small CCI gatherings like this.”
Together, these “small” meetings are helping to build something much bigger: a growing network of encouraged, better equipped camp leaders across Russia and neighboring regions.
