Baltic Church Planting

Vitali and Natasha Andriets are ethnic Ukrainians who have lived nearly all their lives in Latvia. Both come from Christian families who persevered in faith during the Communist era, and who modeled godliness before them. They have both followed Christ throughout their adult lives.

They have two delightful sons, who are gifted musicians, and who show great respect and admiration for their parents. In 2003 they experienced a crisis, when their oldest son, Max, became seriously ill. His condition was misdiagnosed and mistreated, and he nearly died. God worked miraculously in the situation, and this crisis of faith was used of God to deepen Vitali and Natasha’s trust in God. From that time forward they committed themselves to Christ and His service in a greater degree.

The Andriets attend Bethany Church in Riga, where they have been actively involved for several years. Since 2004 they, along with Vitali and Anna Shelemba, have been the core couples involved in planting a new church out of the Bethany church, in the Vecmilgravis region of Riga. They currently meet in rented facilities, and have twenty to twenty-five people in attendance each week.

Vitali does not have any formal training, but exemplifies the character of a leader (I Timothy 3), as well as skills and a personality that appears well suited to his position as National Administrator of the CP-21 program. Vitali has a persevering spirit, and is a man of vision who can understand the big picture, and see the steps to accomplishing this vision. He has been in demand as a construction foreman because of these abilities.

Natasha is a woman filled with joy, who energizes those around her. She is gifted in administration, and holds administrative roles for both CP-21 and RIBI. She excels at hospitality, and frequently entertains overnight guests in her home, which serves not simply as a personal retreat, but as a ministry and hospitality center. She is a woman whose gifts and personality wonderfully complement the ministry to which her husband has been called.

When the CP-21 leadership visited Latvia in September, 2005, they already had Vitali in mind as the potential National Administrator of the program. But Vitali had taken a new construction job just six months before, and it was unclear whether he would have any interest in the position. God wove the details of this trip in such a way as to make it clear the new church planting strategy should be pursued, and that He was raising up Vitali as the National Administrator. It was an evening to be remembered when the CP-21 leadership visited his home and discussed the possibility with he and Natasha, and it was clear to all this was God’s desire. He accepted the position that night, and began serving as the National Administrator on October 1. Vitali took a 20% pay cut to leave his construction job and accept this call, but he is willing, even eager to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to do the work to which God has called him.

In this position Vitali serves two roles: he is the main link between the U.S. leadership and our current church planters, and is actively involved in their lives, offering encouragement and support as needed. He is also the promoter and administrator of the CP-21 church planting strategy, which began operation in four sites in the fall of 2006.