“The LORD will lead Lithuania and show them His righteousness!”
Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.(Micah 7:9,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Europe
Population | 2.68 million
Area | 65,300㎢, Located in the southernmost part of the three Baltic states, on the Baltic Sea coast in northeastern Europe.
Capital City | Vilnius (540,000 people)
People Groups | Total 20 Groups, Lithuanian 86.3%, Polish 6%, Russian 5.3%, Belarusian 1.1%, others 1.3%
Unreached People Groups | 6 (0.3% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Lithuanian
Total Languages | 19
Bible Translations | Completed 18, Partial 1
Religion | Christianity 84.6% (Protestant 0.9%, Catholic 74%), Non-religious 15.1%, Muslim 0.2%, Evangelical 1.4%(38,000 people)
》 About Lithuania
Lithuania once held the largest territory in Europe in the 14th century, controlling most of modern-day Belarus and Ukraine. It declined in the 18th century and came under the rule of Germanic, Polish, and Russian powers. Lithuania declared independence in 1918, which was recognized by the Soviet Union through the Treaty of Moscow in 1920. In 1940, it was annexed by the USSR after a pro-Soviet government was installed. In 1990, it became the first republic to break away from the Soviet Union. It joined NATO and the EU in 2004, adopted the euro in 2015, and became a member of the OECD in 2018. The country operates under a semi-presidential system. Gitanas Nausėda has been president since 2019 and was re-elected in 2024. Following the 2024 parliamentary elections, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė of the Social Democratic Party became the new Prime Minister.
Lithuania’s economy had a hard time after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Prices went up very fast (over 1,000%), and the government was spending more than it could afford. In 1994, with help from the IMF, Lithuania started a recovery plan. In the 2000s, the economy grew quickly with strong spending, investment, and exports. This earned Lithuania the nickname “Baltic economic tiger.” Today, Lithuania’s main industries include clothing, chemicals, wood, and furniture. It is also growing in new areas like lasers, financial technology, biotechnology, and IT.
In 2015, Lithuania opened a special gas terminal so it could buy natural gas from other countries—not just Russia. By 2022, it had fully stopped using Russian energy. But the country has some problems. Many young and educated people have moved abroad, and the population is getting older. This makes it harder to find skilled workers and puts pressure on government spending. These issues could slow down growth in the future. Lithuania’s GDP per capita is approximately $29,386.
》 Scripture Focus
| Micah 7:7–10, 18–20(NIV) 7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. 8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. 9 Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness. 10 Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame, she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will see her downfall; even now she will be trampled underfoot like mire in the streets. 18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. 19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. 20 You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago. |
》 Prayer Points
1. About 85% of Lithuanians identify as Christians, with Catholics making up the majority at 74%. While Catholicism is not the official religion, it strongly influences society—including religious education in schools and military chaplaincies, and non-Catholic marriages are often not recognized. However, only about one in six Catholics attend mass weekly. Protestants make up just 0.9% of the population, and evangelicals about 1.4%. Many Lithuanians view Protestants with suspicion and even consider them heretical, making it difficult for believers to openly share their faith. Protestant groups include Lutherans, Reformed churches, Baptists, and Pentecostals. New Pentecostal and charismatic churches have grown rapidly in recent years, but discipleship for new believers has been lacking. There is also no national evangelical alliance to support unity or cooperation among churches. Let us pray that God’s grace—who revealed His justice through the cross and opened the way to life for sinners—will be poured out over Lithuania. May the church be built on truth, grow in holiness and unity, and become a channel for the gospel.
2. Youth With A Mission (YWAM) teams are active in various regions, serving through family ministry, youth outreach, orphan care, summer camps, and humanitarian aid. Foreign professors and staff work at Lithuanian Christian universities, and dozens of long-term missionaries are also serving throughout the country. Although churches grew rapidly after independence in 1990, many leaders and pastors lacked training in Scripture and practical faith. Now, theological education and leadership training are being developed through a Lutheran seminary, Vilnius University (affiliated with Pentecostals), a Baptist-led training center, an interdenominational evangelical Bible institute, and LCC International University.
Let us pray that foreign missionaries and local leaders will trust in God’s faithfulness and obey His call. May the Lord guide the Lithuanian church and raise up missionaries filled with the gospel and prayer to be His witnesses throughout Europe and the nations.
3. About 25% of Lithuania’s population is under the age of 24. Let us pray that even those sitting in spiritual darkness will encounter the light of the gospel and be led to salvation. Organizations such as IFES (LKSB), CCCI, and Scripture Union (SU) are serving in 8 universities across 4 cities, strategically sharing the gospel and training young people through summer camps. Many people speak Russian and English, and churches and mission groups are reaching them through online ministries. TWR and other gospel broadcasters are airing Christian radio programs, while the Bible Society continues to produce and distribute Bibles and Christian literatures. Let us pray that God will show mercy to this nation, trample down their iniquities, and throw their sins into the depths of the sea. May even those who ask, “Where is your God?” come to believe in the gospel of the cross. May they meet the God who forgives, who is slow to anger, and who restores His people to live as victorious, redeemed children.
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