Returning to Latvia to Teach at the Baltic Pastoral Institute

By Bill Zipp, CEO Leadership Link

    CORVALLIS, Oregon – As I walked from the airplane into Riga International Airport, I was amazed at the stark differences between my arrival 12 years ago and today. Twelve years ago we were shuttled into a small room with dim lighting and yellowed walls. Armed soldiers stood along our path as a grim official inspected our bags. Today tall ceilings and sparkling glass walls greeted me. Bright signs invited me to buy all kinds of goods and services and a friendly customs agent welcomed me to Latvia. 

    The differences would not stop at the airport. Twelve years ago Riga was emerging from decades of Soviet occupation, still sifting through the rubble that had become their country. Today it’s like a miracle. Buildings have been renovated, streets rebuilt, and the city shines like a jewel, even in the middle of winter! 

    Twelve years ago I represented my church in the first Sister Church Conference conducted by Bridge Builders International in Latvia. Since that conference, leaders from both our churches visited each other, but I never had a chance to return to Riga. Until today. My week here would be spent addressing the first class of students at the Baltic Pastoral Institute on the subject of leadership. 

    The economic transformation of Latvia is truly astounding, but spiritually many things remain the same. Less than 5% of the country’s population of 2.5 million people is evangelical, almost identical to 12 years ago. Of those who attend church, most are older and most are women. Young people, especially young men, are missing from the evangelical landscape. 

    Meeting these spiritual challenges head on is the vision of the Baltic Pastoral Institute. They are seeking to plant 100 new churches in the next 10 years by training young men for ministry. Thirteen young men applied to study here and I would have the privilege of working with them for a week. We would be looking at the Old Testament book of Nehemiah and the leadership principles contained within its pages. 

    First, however, I would return to the sister church I visited 12 years ago, Golgotha Baptist Church. Golgotha Church is in a poorer area of the city not as transformed by the renovations that mark the rest of Riga. But I was warmly welcomed with familiar faces and kind words. I spoke through an interpreter to their congregation and then to their youth group of a dozen or so students. No interpreter was needed because all of these young people proudly informed me that they spoke English. 

    Then Monday through Thursday I taught at the Baltic Pastoral Institute. Most of the BPI students know English, but some did not, so again I used an interpreter. We had three 90-minute classes a day together, and the time was rich and engaging. 

    On Tuesday evening I was able to bring greetings from the HOPE 107.9 FM, the local Christian radio station here in Oregon, to Talis Talbergs, the President and General Manager of Latvian Christian Radio. HOPE 107.9 FM generously set aside a portion of money from a recent fundraising campaign and I was able to give that money to Talis. Latvian Christian Radio has wanted to stream some of its programs through the Internet to reach the country more completely with the message of the Gospel. Through the generosity of the listeners of HOPE 107.9 FM, the streaming project would be funded in its entirely. Being able to help in this way was a real highlight of my trip! 

    Another highlight on Friday morning was addressing a group of Latvia’s evangelical leaders on the principles of effective coaching. Each of the Baltic Pastoral Institute students, upon having completed one year of studies, will be placed in ministry assignments and given a mentor to work with them one-on-one for two additional years. This is my vocational specialty and I was able to share with these leaders what it would take to make these relationships work. Again, we had another lively and engaging time. 

    I am grateful to Chuck and Nancy Kelley for their warm hospitality as I stayed with them during this full and busy week. I enjoyed the city, its cafés and restaurants, and its people immensely. I was thrilled to be able to contribute a little bit in raising up a new generation of young men for ministry and trust that the time between now and my return will be just 12 months (or less), not 12 years.

    About the author: International specialist, Bill Zipp, is President of Leadership Link, an executive development firm in Corvallis, OR that specializes in increasing the impact of busy business leaders. He is a former Chairman of the board of directors of Bridge Builders International.