I had the opportunity to spend some time with the pastors who came to the conference. We spent almost two hours talking about being a pastor. I enjoyed the convers-ation so much I could have talked all day. I love everything about being a pastor. When you love something ... it's easy to share it with others.
Being a pastor is not easy in Latvia. Being a Baptist Pastor is even more difficult. Unfortunately, Baptists have a bad reputation in Latvia (some thigns don't change across the cutlures). The more affluent and traditional churches (mostly Russian Orthodox and Lutheran) seem to propagate some ugly misunderstandings about Baptists. Such as calling Baptists a "cult," and telling people that Baptists sacrifice babies, and telling their members that if they join a Baptist church they will automatically go to hell (little things like that). Some will try anything to keep the sheep locked up in one particular pen. I suppose Baptists have been guilty of doing the same thing at one point or another in our checkered history.
Anyway ... it makes it difficult for the pastors. Pastor Olegs in Cesis is a young and energetic pastor who has a great vision for his church. Pastor Girts in Riga is a kind and thoughtful pastor who wants to see his city come to Christ. Pastor Yanis in Jekabpils is an experienced pastor who genuinely loves the people. All of these pastors effectively take a vow of poverty when they surrender to the call ... because they will never make enough money to support a family. Most of them are bi-vocational pastors and their wives have to work as well. They will devote 30-40 hours per week to their churches in addition to the 40 house per week in their paying jobs. Even then ... they barely "make ends meet," financially. I stand amazed at their sacrificial service.
There were several young student pastors at the conference. They study at the Baltic Pastoral Institute and are just getting started in ministry. It was fun to feel their excitement and experience their creative thinking. I know that they will make a great impact wherever God leads them. Martis, the young pastor speaking in the picture above was an architect. He gave it all up to enter the poverty-stricken world of pastoring in Latvia. He is starting a church in a small town closer to the Russian border. He is an amazing young man.
I talked to these pastors about the three circles of pastoring: Proclamation, Pastoral Care, and Leadership. They asked a lot of good questions. I hope my ignorance of their culture did not offend them. I pray that something I said may have helped in some small way. I pray that nothing I said was discouraging to them. It is hard to be a pastor in any culture ... but harder in some than in others.
I pastor one of the greatest church on the face of the earth. They love me and take good care of me and my family. That has been true in every church I have pastored. I am blessed. I don't know why ... but I am.
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