A Revival of Hope in Latvia

Bishop Peteris Sprogis, the executive chair of the Ceribas Festivals with Franklin Graham, recently talked to Decision Magazine about the past and present challenges of the church in Latvia, and why he believes that God is doing great things in this Baltic nation of some 2.2 million people.
Learn more about the Festival that will be held Nov. 5-7 at Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia.

Q: Could you briefly explain the recent history of the church in Latvia and the obstacles it has overcome?


A: It’s a complicated history. The hardship of 50 years of Soviet occupation protected churches in Eastern Europe from the humanism and secularism that affected the West. However, the church in Latvia became ingrown because it had no dialogue with the outside world. It was unable to reach out because it was focused on protecting itself. So the castle has now become a prison, and the door is locked from the inside.


But the church is not called to operate in a perfect world. We are called to bring the Kingdom of God to a hurting world. Today, we have new challenges and opportunities. We are facing the same problems that weakened the Western church—post-modernism and materialism.


But I am optimistic because this creates a kind of desperation to look for genuine Christianity. The world is looking for a church that has answers.

Read more at the BGEA web site