Latvia
Summary
Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 – an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 26% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. A dual citizenship law was adopted in 2013, easing naturalization for non-citizen children. [1]
📷: Wikipedia
Statistics
From the The Joshua Project [2]
In the News
📷: Wikipedia
Prayer Guide
Ministry to young people is strategic – this includes campus, youth and children’s ministries as well as summer camps. IFES and Agape (CCCI) are having an impact on Latvian and, increasingly, international students. CEF is reaching up to 40,000 primary students every week through religious instruction in school. SU, YWAM, Latvian Christian Mission and others hold summer camps/events and minister to youth from Latvia and indeed all Eastern Europe. Pray for more workers with the vision to reach young people. Pray that this generation might be reached before they lapse into the irreligion or atheism of their forebears.
Christian media.
a) Scripture. A new NT in Latvian was released in 2007 and work on the OT continues. Pray for widespread distribution of Scripture in Latvia. The Bible Society uses its ecumenical platform to cooperate with many denominations.
b) Radio ministry is very well resourced and still growing. Examples are:
i Lutheran Hour and other Christian programmes, broadcasting on national and local radio as well as live broadcasts of services on TV. Lutheran Hour also broadcasts discipleship programmes and has a Bible Correspondence Course.
ii Russian Christian radio (FEBC and World Harvest Radio) runs 24/7.
iii Latvian Christian Radio has had broadcasts 24/7 in Latvian since 1993.
c) TV. The Lutheran Church broadcasts a series of services, Christian films and talk shows. Pray for more Latvian Christian television programmes that will profoundly communicate Jesus.
d) Internet evangelism is proving a very cost-effective and creative medium for sharing the good news. Pray for the websites and forums in Latvian to have a great impact.
i The Latvian Bible is available in its entirety online.
ii Internet radio (QBS) is focused on reaching an unchurched generation.
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