“He has chosen Latvia to inherit the kingdom he promised!”
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?(James 2:5,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Europe
Population | 1.84 million
Area | 64,589㎢, Located in the middle of the three Baltic states on the Baltic Sea coast of northeastern Europe.
Capital City | Riga (620,000 people)
People Groups | Total 21, Latvians 62.7%, Russians 24.5%, Belarusians 3.1%, Ukrainians 2.2%, others 1.8%
Unreached People Groups | 4 (0.5% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Latvian
Total Languages | 18
Bible Translations | Completed 16, New Testament 1, Partial 1
Religion | Christianity 60.1% (Protestant 17%, Orthodox 22%), Non-religious 37.7%, Muslim 1.2% Evangelicals 7.4%(136,000 people)
》 About Latvia
Latvia was ruled by Germanic powers after the Vikings around the 10th century. In 1561, German rule ended, and the territory was split between Sweden and Poland. For centuries, Latvia was caught between the ambitions of Sweden, Poland, and Russia, until it was eventually absorbed by the Russian Empire. In 1918, it was handed to Germany under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, but gained independence after Germany’s defeat in World War I. However, in 1940, Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union through the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Starting in 1986, Latvians began pushing for independence. The Popular Front formed in 1988 gave momentum to the movement, and Latvia regained full independence in 1991. The last Russian troops withdrew in 1994. Latvia joined NATO and the EU in 2004, adopted the euro in 2014, and became an OECD member in 2016. It is a parliamentary republic, with Evica Siliņa as Prime Minister and Edgars Rinkēvičs as President since July 2023.
Latvia has a small, export-driven economy. Thanks to its location, it has strong industries in timber processing, agriculture and food, machinery and electronics, manufacturing, and transit services. However, corruption continues to hinder foreign investment. Low birth rates and population decline are long-term challenges. During the 2008–09 global financial crisis, Latvia received aid from the IMF and EU. Despite painful austerity measures, the recovery program was successfully completed in 2011. Latvia’s GDP per capita is approximately $23,367.
》 Scripture Focus
| James 2:5, 8-9, 21-26(NIV) 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. |
》 Prayer Points
1. About 60% of Latvians identify as Christians: 22% Orthodox, 17% Protestant, and 17% Catholic. Historically, Catholicism dominated under German rule, Lutheranism grew after the Reformation, and Orthodoxy increased during Russian occupation. After decades of Soviet communism, the non-religious population has risen sharply to about 38%. In this social climate, addiction, prostitution, abortion, and suicide rates are high. Many Christians are only nominal believers, and there are about 140,000 evangelicals. Outside of major cities, rural churches often lack pastors and are unable to pay them. Just as a body without a soul is dead, a church without faith in the gospel has no life. Let us pray that the Latvian church will have a living faith, like Abraham’s, that is shown through action. May the Holy Spirit bring renewal so that believers turn from the love of the world, love God wholeheartedly, and become saints who inherit and enjoy His promised kingdom.
2. Overseas missionaries are working with Latvian churches to build seminaries, train pastors and leaders, and share the gospel. Let us give thanks that churches are receiving a vision for missions and obeying that calling. Pray that organizations like Bridge Builders International and the Latvian Evangelical Alliance will grow in obedient faith and become even more effective in spreading the gospel. YWAM is evangelizing in rural areas, and major denominations are also planting churches in the countryside. CEF, SU, and the Latvian Christian Mission are holding camps to reach children, youth, and university students. IFES and Agape Mission (CCCI) are also sharing the gospel with students from Eastern Europe. Let us pray that God would make the poor of this world rich in faith and that He would allow the Latvian church, who loves Him, to inherit the kingdom He has promised.
3. Around 25% of Latvia’s population is Russian, most of whom are either non-religious or Orthodox Christians. Due to historical and social tensions between Latvians and Russians, it is often difficult to reach them with the gospel. There are also about 7,100 Jews in Latvia, many of whom strongly resist the gospel. We give thanks that the full Bible, including the Old Testament, has been translated and is distributed through the Bible Society. Lutheran Hour offers discipleship and Bible correspondence courses via television. FEBC, World Harvest Radio, and Latvian Christian Radio broadcast biblical teaching and training 24/7 in both Latvian and Russian. Latvia also has a well-developed internet infrastructure, making digital evangelism increasingly effective. Let us pray that the Latvian church, having received the love of Christ who gave Himself, will reach out with that same love to the lost and live as faithful witnesses of the gospel.
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