In recent years, one of the most meaningful opportunities for me has been taking part in the Global Leadership Program, an international leadership development program created by CCI Worldwide together with Wheaton College Graduate School. It brings leaders from different countries together to learn, reflect, and grow in areas such as self-leadership, team life, healthy ministry, and the theology of Christian camping.
For me, this experience has been a real gift. When we had just moved to Norway, during a challenging season, this experience helped me find solid ground again, it helped me to renew my walk with God, and to see more clearly the strengths He has given me and how they can be used in ministry. In many ways, it became an important part of my own journey and one of the ways God led me into serving with CCI/Russia. That is also why it means so much to me that we can now begin offering this kind of opportunity to leaders in our own context.
It was especially meaningful that we were able to go through this journey together as the CCI/Russia leadership team. We were not only learning as individuals, but also growing together and discovering practical tools that continue to strengthen our ministry. Now we are stepping into a new stage as we prepare the program for the Russian-speaking audience and work toward the planned launch in September.
What makes this program especially valuable is that it creates space for shared learning, both in person and online, and for leaders to grow together, not only individually. We were also encouraged to present the program at the conference and to see the interest it sparked among our leaders.
As part of this preparation, we continue learning through regular training sessions with Wheaton professors Rob Ribbe and Muhia Karianjahi. We are also going through training on online adult education and IPSAT coaching. This is a rich process that requires time, thought, and careful preparation, and it is already helping us grow and serve our people better.
I am grateful both for this opportunity and for the people who are investing in us along the way. This is a part of the broader global effort to develop, equip, and coach leaders so that Christian camping can continue to grow and thrive around the world. It is a joy for us to take part in this work.
