Katie Roth, BBI Missionary to Latvia wrote:
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.
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 hang-ups. There were CR leaders there from Haiti, Taiwan, Australia, Russia, England, Norway, African countries and every state of America.
3 comments:
Launch is happening next week! Please pray for us, that hearts will be open, both to what God wants to do in people personally and to His call to this ministry all over Latvia. So excited . . . and nervous at the same time!
I am writing from the back of the conference room at the Baptist Union House in Riga, Latvia. 90 minutes ago, a three day intensive CR training course, began. Key presenters are Katie Roth, BBI missionary to Latvia, Joe Walters, one of the CR leaders in CR UK, and Bill Specht, drug and alcohol counselor and CR leader in Oregon. The room is filled to capacity (about 65) of pastors, social workers, pastoral students and congregational leaders. Prayers appreciated.
Chuck Kelley, missionary to Latvia with Bridge Builders International
It was an honour to be a part of the launch of Celebrate Recovery in Latvia. It was so different from the way we have seen CR launched in other countries, it will be fascinating to see how it grows.
God assembled an international team of players and called them in different ways. Chuck Kelley from Oregon, USA was the key figure who knew nothing about CR until a personal family situation sent him searching for a recovery ministry. He found Bill Specht, also from Oregon and a passionate advocate for Celebrate Recovery. Meanwhile, stage left, God spoke to an english missionary serving in Latvia through a dream and told her clearly that Celebrate Recovery was to be a large part of her future ministry. Katie serves with her husband Dan through the Missionary organisation headed by Chuck but they did not know how God was speaking to the other.
Meanwhile, stage right, a Celebrate Recovery group in Derby, England, were praying about outreach into Europe and the Lord gave them a word about Latvia.
One thing led to another and the result was the launch event held in Riga a week ago.
He who began the work is more than able to complete it so this is going to be fun to watch. Come on God!
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