 
want to create a team of leaders that will be very effective in making big youth events. I want to see these events happen not only in Latvia but also in the other Baltic nations. I don't believe that these large conferences can only happen in Germany. But I believe they could happen HERE too. We always look to the other places like Germany, England and other western nations... but we need to look here. I want to see these large conferences happen here in Latvia."
Kristaps Talbergs, the new director of the Latvian Youth Network in Riga grew up in a Christian family. His father, Talis Talbergs is the director of the Latvian Christian Radio. Kristaps is very grateful to his family for raising him with Christian values. He was baptized in 1998. "This is when I was trying to live two lives. I wasn't doing much wrong, but not doing much right, either."
Kristaps did reach a point of stagnancy in his Christian walk during his teenage years. Then Peter Sprogis came to be pastor at Matthew's Church. "We started planning summer camps for the church. Here I learned that I was not fully burning for HIM. It was there that I learned that I wanted to make my relationship with God right. I had to be honest. This was a tough moment for me. I was acting it, not living it. After that summer camp, autumn came?. and a seminar came for those that wanted to be baptized?. It was there that I had a new birthday."
Because of his life's experiences Kristaps Talbergs is taking his new job at the Partners Office very seriously. He has big ideas and a high level of motivation for the Protein Youth Network in Latvia. He wants all of the Christian youth in Latvia to have a contagious aura around them.
"Christian young people in Latvia are often confused and very shy about their beliefs. If the youth leader is a good leader and not ashamed of Christ, then the followers should be the same. I want to raise up the Christians, encourage them to go out and invite their friends and share the Gospel. This is why I need these youth leaders here in Latvia. I need to have a deeper relationship with the leaders so that they will know and uphold the vision. We all need to have drive for the whole year 'round?. Not burn out quickly."
BBI President, Chuck Kelley says "I thank God for Kristaps. He is one of the finest, young leaders I have ever met. He's talented, intellectual, active and not afraid to take initiative to begin new things. It is our privilege to work with him as he tries to impact the next generation in Latvia."
The Latvian Youth Network consists of youth leaders from all over Latvia that gather several times a year for the Protein Conferences designed to equip the leaders with new youth ministry skills. Kristaps' desire is to see this network gain a greater level of identity and begin to plan larger events for Latvia and beyond.
Kristaps' main job while, working out of the Partners office in downtown Riga, will be to plan, facilitate and run the youth network in Latvia. He is already meeting once a week with a different youth group leader from different churches around Latvia. In that same day Kristaps is leading worship and giving a Bible lesson at that church's youth service. Kristaps says that he wants to know each of the youth network members on a more personal level so that he will know what their needs are not only in their youth ministry but their personal needs. Kristaps knows that what he pours into the youth leaders of Latvia will translate into a larger contingent of Latvian youth on fire for the Kingdom and out seeking to share the Word of God with people.
Jeremy Andresen is the Ministry Intern at Bridge Builders International. His church has had a sister church partnership in Latvia since 1998. He has been to Latvia on two separate mission trips.
December 2003
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