Baltic Church Planting

The trip to the conference in St. Petersburg was a huge blessing for me. The purpose of these conferences is to prepare the people who are going to work in Christian summer camps to be able to carry out the programs for children, teenagers and youth, and to prepare the leaders to work in groups and to prepare the lessons for the Bible studies that are going to be carried out at camps. And all the above mentioned things are not all things that I was able to hear and see. There were more than 300 people present at the conference form different regions of Russia and other countries. All the participants have brought their experience that they shared with us at the conference. We were able to share not only the experience that we have but also the materials that we had gathered during the time of our ministry. I can certainly say that these kinds of conferences are very useful and needed as it is a big opportunity for all of us to refresh our vision, to be encouraged in the ministry that we have. I am very grateful to the Lord for the opportunity that I had to take part in this conference.

During the days of the conference I was the leader of one Bible lesson group. Every morning we came together to read the Bible, to spend time in prayer and meditation. At the very beginning we got acquainted with each other, and later we had chance to read the Bible, and to discuss things and to pray. Later, at the lasts days of our meetings we did not manage to do all the things that we were able to do at the beginning of our lessons, as we wanted to discuss more things and to spend more time together, we did not want to leave the group meetings, and even gathered earlier.

We (people from my church and three people from the youth of the church "Voice of Gospel") had an opportunity not only to take part in the conference but also to visit on of the rehabilitation centers in Petersburg, which is for drug users. I knew about this center already before, but once reading a book about drugs I found out their address. And that is why I couldn't miss the chance to meet the staff and to get to know more things about the center. The things that we saw really shocked us. First of all, the problem itself - drugs - is quite big. The problem exists everywhere but not all people want to fight against it. The problem exists in Russia as well as in Latvia. There was a huge number of people who are addicted. The statistics is not really giving the real number of those addicted. The real number is bigger. We met people who had been using drugs for 6-18 years. They were showing us around, and showing the fields where those people work after undergoing the course of rehabilitation, and were also telling us their life stories. The center offers Jesus as the answer to the problems of the addicted ones. They offer them the truth. First of all, they offer them spiritual rehabilitation, which is salvation, and faith, and the relations with Christ. Second, they offer job during the whole course of treatment. The patients do not pay anything for undergoing the course of treatment, but have to provide themselves with all the necessary things during the time of treatment. We saw the faces of many people who are now free, and we saw the light and joy in their eyes while they were working in farms, and doing other kind of jobs. We saw that they have changed; they are not any longer useless and not needed to anyone. Now, they live and rejoice because they are free of sin, get satisfaction and pleasure of the work they do, and just of the fact that they are needed to someone.

There are many thoughts and feelings in my life after visiting of the center, but I cannot tell all those, I tried to be short in the previous paragraph. While being in Petersburg I visited the Christian University of St. Petersburg. I wanted to enter it a few years ago. I was able to meet the headmaster of the university and to talk with him. I was introduced to one program that I really liked. The program allows the student to study the program independently at home, and then to go to ST. Petersburg to two days long session periods twice a year and pass all the necessary exams and handle the documentations.

We discussed the issue with my wife and now we are praying for the answer from the Lord. Money is needed for the visa, for accommodation, materials, etc. We do not have necessary funds right now, and that is why we really trust upon the Lord.

I plan to lead a camp for children and teenagers. We want to carry out the children's camp in our church on our own, but the teenagers' camp is going to be carried out in cooperation with the youth from "Voice of Gospel". And that is why we went to St. Petersburg together, and have already started planning the program for summer camps. We plan not only to carry out the camps, but also to keep working with the teenagers after the camps, that will allow us to be more effective in the ministry we have.

I have talked to the leader of the youth group meeting of the church "Voice of Gospel" about the opportunities to come together with their youth and pray together and to plan the program. I also have a plan to carry out seminars for the leaders of the groups who are going to be the mentors of the groups at camp and after the camp, so that we can have contact with the teenagers during the whole year.

Tamara - the wife of Igor keeps learning to play the key board. We have started rehearsing together. I am always ready to help her even during the service if she mixes up anything, so I have to concentrate more all the time. I feel a professional in this sphere (My pride just comes out of the whole my nature). Here I try to joke.

Plans for March: Preparation for summer camps (children and teenagers camp), development of the worship service, keeping working with the children of Sunday school (seminars with the leaders of the groups of the Sunday school).

Please pray for the health of my wife. She often has pain in her back. There are times when she cannot walk. And also pray for the opportunity for us to purchase the church building.