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ne might expect a Latvian prayer retreat for pastors and ministry leaders to be a multi-ethnic glimpse of heaven, involving Latvians, Russians and visiting Americans. But those who gathered for the 6th Annual Prayer Days on March 15-17 represented an even broader spectrum of the international Body of Christ.
Pastors and ministry leaders and their wives from Latvia worshipped alongside church planters from Estonia, missionaries from the Ukraine and two young men from the Philippines and India who now pastor congregations in Jurmala, Latvia. Ethnic and denominational lines dissolved as all sang, prayed, listened, visited with one another and - for many - enjoyed the sauna, all within the walls of a renovated castle in the Latvian countryside. (What might seem like an extravagant venue is actually a reasonable "retreat center" option in Europe!)
Outside the castle walls, nature also sang with snow covered terraces and picturesque walkways leading down to a frozen lake. In this beautiful place, God brought refreshment and encouragement to many who struggle with the unique pressures of Christian ministry in the Baltics.
Guest speaker Tom White (Frontline Ministries, Corvallis, OR) brought teaching on the subject of Prayer - personal, city-wide and as it relates to spiritual warfare. He had the opportunity to interact with the newly formed Prayer Mobilization Working Group of the Latvian Evangelical Alliance and to offer encouragement and suggestions regarding nationwide prayer movements based on his years of experience with pastors and prayer leaders, especially in the U.S., Australia, Israel and India. Tom's wife, Terri, shared with the women during an afternoon session. Both Tom and Terri were very well received.
One highlight was the showing of a portion of the "Passion of the Christ" movie which will be released in the public cinema in Latvia on Good Friday. This was a moving experience, which became even more meaningful as it was followed by a communion service. This was the first time that Prayer Days included the Lord's Table. It was a historic step of unity among Christian leaders in Latvia.
The unity could also be seen through good-natured joking about ethnic differences. For example, one Russian brother stated, with a twinkle in his eye, that the Russian translation of the Bible is, of course, the closest to the original language.
During the closing session of Prayer Days 2004, many participants shared what they gained by attending. It was like a closing chorus of praise to God. Here are some of their comments:
Sergio: I made a decision in me to be more disciplined; to have more time alone with the Lord and to take more time to study.
Vadims (visiting Latvia from Salem, OR): I had a reason in coming to Latvia, and now I believe it was for me to come to Prayer Days.
Edgars: From all previous Prayer Days, this was the most intimate time with God for me. Thank you, Tom, for your teaching. It was quite heavy food. It was not milk.
Michael: I realized that if we are first close to God, then we can be close to each other. If we are all close to the center then we are close to one another.
Kristaps: At first I didn't know why I was here. I'm not a pastor and I'm not married.
I then understood that it is cleaning time. The Spring has come and to me these days have been a real cleaning time…There is a passage about purifying ourselves. If you talk to a guy who purifies silver, he keeps the silver in the heat and looks at it all the time because at that time when he sees his reflection in the silver, then he knows it is purified.
These three days have been a hot place for me.
Igors: The highlight was the communion time, but not because of the Mel Gibson movie. Of course, the movie made it more vivid, but the greatest encouragement was what happened after. We were at one table - not one table Baptists, one table Lutherans, etc.
Prayer Days started with a decision that we would be united in prayer. I think a second step happened here.
Ronalds: I was absent from Prayer Days for two years. Something has changed, not only between me and the group, but within the group. Like with a copier, when a line is not very dark and you make more and more copies and the line eventually disappears.
I think we had this barrier. I especially felt it between Baptists and Lutherans. And today I don't find it.
Viktor: Each of us from different denominations need to find a platform to tell about what unites us. Otherwise, people won't understand the message of the Gospel. It's not just that we speak different languages. This is the heart of God - the united Gospel proclaimed in our cities.
I am thankful that God keeps on changing me as a Russian in Latvia and bringing me closer to the Latvians. There are a lot of roots and if we will not get rid of them, then nothing will happen.
Dimitri: I was getting ready to come and told my wife maybe I shouldn't go, because sometimes I feel uncomfortable when I can't speak the other languages. But in this day, I remembered reading about a Russian who went to meet believers in America. To go to the meeting, he needed to sell a cow, which was his only source of income for his family. Finally, he decided to sell the cow and take a boat ride. In the boat he wondered if he had made the right decision. When he got to America and saw thousands of Christians together, he knew he had made the right decision.
In that moment, I decided it was worth it to sell the cow.
Bridge Builders wishes to thank all who helped to make Prayer Days 2004 possible.
Enough money was given to cover all expenses!
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