David Smethurst continues his story: We then had short devotional time on the Christian Radio Station in Riga. Through this interview we were able to advertise some 'Victorious Living Seminars' conducted by Dave & Caroline Rowlands on our team. These inspiring sessions met were greatly blessed as well as generating a lot of interest for the men's rally a week later.
The Victorious Living Seminar was well attended by people from across the country, some coming from Bauska on the Lithuanian border. These people were seeking a lifestyle that would please God and be blessed by Him.
At the same time I was addressing 200 teenagers at a Big Sports Outreach where young people come together for a sports tournament. The results were amazing. The Church services at which we ministered were greatly blessed in Riga at the Word of Truth Church where the team shared testimonies and blessed the people, as well as at the Good News Church.
Dave & Caroline Rowlands and Ian and Julia Goddard of our team, ministered at country churches in Salaspils, Gardena, Jurmala and Broceni (towns spread across the country) with great blessing and encouragement for these needy congregations.
It was my joy to minister to a few hundred young people in two large youth camps, one in Dobelnieki (near Riga) and the others near Daugavpils 230 kms away. These teenagers opened their hearts to the Lord so willingly and wanted to learn how to share their new faith in Jesus with others.
The young girls at a teenage prison listened intently as they received the good news that God still had a beautiful plan in Christ for their lives. Caroline shared the encouraging word and Julia Goddard got them on side with love and compassion by fixing their hair in a very stylish way – "all means to win some". Julia was able to share very convincingly with these troubled young ladies, that the giftings God had given them were theirs for life to be used to benefit and beautify their lives, relationships and careers for the future.
The ministry in the men's and women's prisons was very well received with as God poured a wonderful spirit of compassion and love on the chapel services (especially at the Jelgava Men's Prison). Many came to the Lord and those who had received Christ earlier and had been baptised in the prison came to receive their own Bibles.
The comment afterwards from my team was that the prisoners who knew the Lord were freer that most people living in the outside world. The prisoners had learnt and embraced the fact the real freedom came from accepting Christ's forgiveness and being free from sin. Many came to the Lord and those who had received Christ earlier and had been baptised in the prison came to receive their own Bibles.
I loved the challenge to conduct seminars in three military bases - in Jekabpils, Daugavpils & Rezekne, requiring 600 kms of travel in one day, but the results were phenomenal. Many soldiers yielded their lives to Jesus. In late October I plan to be back to minister to the next intake of troops, commandos and navy seals to be deployed in Afghanistan. After this there is the possibility of going to Afghanistan to minister to other nation's troops at their bases.
The team and I visited a number of orphanages we support to minister to them with our local teams, and assess the children's needs after the long cold winter. The sick children are recovering from the winter illnesses and attending the summer camps we sponsor. They are growing well in their faith as a result of these camps.
The children of the Likumi Orphanage near the eastern border with Russia, were entertained in a unique way by the ladies of our team and their local helpers.
Another orphanage which benefitted by the team's ministry were the Spriditis Orphanage in Kemeri near the north coast (the very first orphanage we ever supported in Latvia 18 years ago). The children and the staff loved the team's ministry to them.
On the final Saturday Dave Rowlands and I shared at a very well attended Men's Rally aided by Sasha, our very competent interpreter and manager who set up this magnificent schedule for us. The men came from many parts of the country as well as the military, and were very encouraged and instructed by Dave Rowlands who incorporated his Victorious Godly Living principles in his sessions. This was very enthusiastically received.
I would appreciate your prayers as we seek to meet some big needs that the orphans have here, as well as the personal and medical needs of our local team. Thank you for the prayers of our support network enabling us to accomplish this vital work.