 | FROM HOPE 21 TO BALTIC HOPE
BBI Initiates a 5th Saturation
Evangelism Campaign
By Chuck Kelley
The Latvian presence at the April 2002 Hope 21 leadership congress made a very big impression. People from all over Europe are so surprised as to what is happening in Latvia. They commended us for our unity and corporate vision.
On the last morning of Hope 21, the delegates from all three Baltic nations met together. There were two from Estonia, four from Lithuania, and about 20 from Latvia. It was a remarkable meeting. Someone called it a "kairos moment" for it had the gracious fingerprints of God all over it.
We went around the room, introduced ourselves,and shared a bit of what we do and are interested in. There was a sense of enthusiasm and a strong desire among virtually all that we MUST begin working together.
And then I was asked to explain Baltic HOPE...
BACKGROUND
Since 1991, we have worked with key Latvian leaders to saturate Latvia with the Gospel. Major HOPE projects took place in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999 and included evangelists Luis Palau, Bob Cryder, Steve Russo, Dan Owens, Mike Silva, Mike Parker, and myself. God has used these HOPE events to solidify the unity of Christian leaders in Latvia.
THE VISION OF BALTIC HOPE
Baltic HOPE will be a major saturation evangelistic endeavor targeted at the Baltic nations, beginning in Latvia. It is initiated by Bridge Builders International and its Latvia branch office, Partners, and anchored by the newly formed Latvian Evangelical Alliance which includes all the major evangelical denominations, as well as national and international parachurch ministries in Latvia. The international missionary community will work closely with the LEA in the development of the Baltic HOPE vision, strategy, and implementation.
Baltic HOPE will be a series of evangelistic projects focused on key spheres of society-students, government leaders, business professionals, educators, artists, athletes, etc.-as well as society as a whole. Undergirding the evangelism efforts will be renewal events, training events, and prayer strategies. Enhancing each initiative will be the strategic use of the media-publishing, radio, television, and the internet. Baltic HOPE will be the most comprehensive and fruitful renewal and evangelistic effort in the history of the Baltic nations.
The renewal, training, and harvest of Baltic HOPE will take place over a 15-month period, beginning the late spring of 2005 and concluding in the summer of 2006.
Several informal meetings focusing on Baltic HOPE took place during the conference. The initial vision and plan for this comprehensive transBaltic renewal, training, harvest, and preservation strategy was shared with leaders from Greater Europe Mission, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, Proclaim!, YWAM, the Estonian Evangelical Alliance, and Life Quality International.
TO GOD'S GLORY
The reaching of a nation, or a region of nations, requires creative thinking, strong servant-leadership, advance planning, joint commitment to fund development, multiple partnerships, spiritual readiness, powerful prayer support, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
When it's all said and done, there must be only ONE who receives the glory.
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