Latvian churches to be equipped to help people with hurts, habits and hangups

By Katie Roth, BBI Missionary to Latvia

    LONDON, England – In the very centre of Riga stands the Freedom Monument - hands raised high - representing the hard won independence and freedom from oppression of the nation of Latvia.

    I have enjoyed several conversations over the past fifteen years or so as to the nature of true freedom.  Recently I discussed this topic with a Latvian young man who comes from a family rife with alcoholism, crime, sickness, divorce and violent or untimely death.  There are a few laws of the land that he really does not like! 

For example, having to pass a driving test before you can drive on public roads!  He considers this law to limit his freedom to do whatever he likes but had never considered before how his ‘freedom’ in this area might affect the ‘freedom’ of another road user who was (wrongly) expecting him to drive in accordance with the law! 

    I invited him to ponder his ‘freedom’ to drink or not drink, to smoke or not to smoke.  Immediately it became obvious that his ability to exercise freedom in this area is directly affected by the ‘freedom’ enjoyed by his family members and friends.  In a dark, smoke filled room full of people drinking and urging him to join them, mocking him if he refuses, it becomes much harder to say no.  Add to this pressure the emotional insecurity acquired during childhood, growing up in an unpredictable family situation, craving attention and acceptance, and we find that practically speaking,

his freedom to refuse to join this lifestyle is greatly diminished.

    This situation is repeated many times over across Latvia. Having worked for the past eleven years in Latvian public schools, I can count on one hand the number of students I’ve taught who were not affected in some way by the hurts, habits and hangups of their family members. The cycle then repeats itself in the next generation.  For so many years the church has seemed powerless in its ability to bring the freedom Christ won for all of us on the cross to people enslaved by alcoholism and all of its related hurts, hangups and habits - physical abuse, codependency, rage and anger, eating disorders, sexual promiscuity . . . the list goes on and on.

   

As a missionary working in fairly ‘non-traditional’ Latvian Baptist churches, I have felt much frustration over our inability to reach out effectively with the hope of true freedom.  The desire is there, the belief in Christ’s saving power is there, the need is everywhere, but we have experienced so much failure!  For many years I felt utterly impotent in this area.  Then there are other, more traditional, churches which honestly believe that they don’t have a problem!  “We don’t have any of ‘those sort’ of people in our church!”  People have to get their act cleaned up before they join the church or else claim instantaneous deliverance upon receiving Christ. 

    I have witnessed miraculous change as people repent and receive healing, but for them to last the distance, ongoing help and support is needed.  Until now we have largely been lacking the knowledge and structure that would enable us to provide that help.  Yet other churches have simply conformed to the prevailing culture and actually encourage the cycle of despair and destruction to continue. 

I heard from one man how he had decided to quit drinking but, whilst doing some yard work for the local church, was offered a drink by the pastor!

    But that is all about to change!  This fall ‘True Freedom’ is coming to Latvia!  ‘True Freedom’ is the Latvian name for the Celebrate Recovery program that started at Saddleback Church in California nineteen years ago.  At the recent Celebrate Recovery International Summit we heard how Christ is bringing freedom all over the world to people struggling with all kinds of hurts, habits and hangups.  There were CR leaders there from Haiti, Taiwan, Australia, Russia, England, Norway, African countries and every state of America.

    The Latvian Christian publishing house, ‘Atradums’, under the direction of missionaries Bill and Donna Mauldin, has translated the materials and made agreements with the leaders of the main

denominations in Latvia to record videos of the teaching sessions.  Thanks to a generous corporate and individual donations from the USA and UK, the finances have been raised to publish the workbooks, leaders’ manual and teaching DVDs that are needed for new groups to get started.

    In November, shortly after Latvian Independence Day, ‘True Freedom’ will be launched, with a full week of training run by guest teachers from the UK and USA for pastors and church members who want to see freedom come across Latvia for those held in slavery  for so long.  Leaders from the trial groups started in the town of Ergli last year will share their experience so far and their plans to start new groups in Madona in the near future.  Potential new leaders will have the chance to experience a ‘real’ CR meeting, with the opportunity to share their own hurts, habits and hangups, many of which may have been hidden and unacknowledged for years.

    Please pray with us:

1. •For the vision of True Freedom to be caught by churches all over Latvia;
   

2. 

   •For church leaders across all denominations to understand that this is not just something for ‘those people’, but that everyone has pain and sinful habits that Jesus can set us free from;
   

3. •For the publishing process to be completed on time;
   

4. •For the video recordings of the teaching sessions to be made in a way that is well adapted to Latvian culture;
   

5. •For renewed hope amongst Christians that they can reach out to their family members, neighbours and friends with the gospel of freedom in Jesus.
   

    I am looking forward to the day when many Latvians will stand, like the man in the CR logo, with their hands raised high to the God who they know as their Saviour, Deliverer and Healer.

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