God's Love Heals Lives in the Baltics

Stuart Shields (New Life Church, Tunbridge Wells) tells the story of his involvement in Latvia and the Baltic Nations, and shares details of an exciting forthcoming conference.

‘In 1993 I went with a group of predominantly students to the small town of Smiltene in Latvia. Latvia had just emerged from Communism and there had been a mini-awakening in the town with a significant number of people turning to Christ. It was a scenario mirrored in many places across Latvia and the other Baltic nations of Estonia and Lithuania. As atheistic communism retreated, people had a new interest in spiritual things. Churches grew but problems came as a result of inexperienced leadership and the arrival of cults and other religions.

During that visit I shared a room with a man named David Jones. Later he married a Latvian and returned to live in Smiltene. Now he and his wife Ilze lead a small but growing church in the same town. Called ‘Father’s House’ the church has had a significant impact on the town through ministering the healing love and presence of God into many broken lives.

Much has changed in the Baltic States since 1993 but their people are still scarred by the effects of hundreds of years of oppression by larger nations. Deep divisions in society still exist between the ethnic Baltic peoples and large Russian-speaking minorities sent in under Soviet rule.

Over time a number of individuals within Newfrontiers have made friends in the Baltic countries and this has led to a small but growing relationship network of Latvian and Estonian leaders with similar values. The Baltic Nations Conference from 13-15 June 2008 provides an opportunity for these leaders to meet with those from abroad who share a heart for people in the Baltic nations. There will be apostolic teaching from Mike Betts (Lowestoft Community Church) and Maurice Nightingale (Aylesham Community Church) and we look for God to speak and impart fresh faith and vision. Our desire is for God to strengthen existing churches and fashion willing hearts into new church plants that will carry forward the gospel that heals wounded hearts and breaks down ethnic barriers.

If you have a heart for the Baltic Nations and their people you can download a flyer for the conference here.

Until recently most people in the UK had little connection with the Baltic States. EU enlargement however, has brought many thousands of their people into our towns and cities in search of work. A number of our churches are already reaching out through friendship, teaching English and meeting other practical needs. If you would like to be put in contact with others trying to reach Baltic and other Eastern Europeans in the UK please contact me at stuart.shields@newlifechurchtw.org.uk.’