CEE Story From The Mission Field
Missions pastor Cliff Smith of FBC Daytona Beach, Fla. (middle), prayerfully listens to a salvation conversation between IMB missionary Milton Magalhaes and a Lithuanian girl. Cliff served alongside Milton during a vision trip as they discussed a partnership between Cliff's church and Milton's ministry to Lithuania.
Pray, encourage, volunteer in Lithuania
July 14, 2008
by Natalie Kaspar
As of 1990, IMB missionary Lara Magalhaes had never heard of Lithuania. Now having served in the country with her husband, Milton, and two children for 12 years, she desires to see others join them in pointing Lithuanians to Christ and helping them reach their goal of planting a dozen churches within the next 12 years.
“(We can use) anyone who is a believer and has a heart and passion to see the lost,” she said.
Cliff Smith, missions pastor at FBC Daytona Beach, Fla., is one such individual. He and his ministry have committed to long-term service with Lara and Milton because he said he sees how members of his church can make a difference in the country.
“(God’s) Word will prevail. We’re simply instruments,” Cliff said.
Camp Kirkland and Global Missions Project (GMP) are also joining in the task. GMP is planning to take several choirs and approximately six instrumental teams to Lithuania during the summer of 2009 to draw individuals to the Gospel message through music.
Lithuanian believers said they look forward to the help they can receive from their American brothers and sisters.
“It’s encouraging for us,” said Rimas Celiauskas, pastor of Silute Evangelical Baptist Church (SEBC) in Silute, Lithuania. “We don’t get a lot of encouragement; Lithuanians don’t know how to encourage each other.”
Gitanas Savanoris, a member of SEBC, agrees that the need is great for workers in his country.
“(Lithuanians) continue to lead the world in suicide and alcohol and in drunk driving. We still see abortion as an assurance of not having more children, not murder,” he said. “There is a lot of work to be done in Lithuania.”
Rimas and fellow pastor Emanuelis Kinas desire help with solid biblical teaching.
“We need good discipleship in Lithuania,” Emanuelis said. “Send leaders and teachers to teach (our) leaders theological food. (Then) our leaders must teach others.”
Rimas stressed the need for long-term workers to be examples of Christian lives and to disciple new believers. Yet above all, members of the body in Lithuania said they need American believers to pray.
“Praying is number one,” Emanuelis said. “Maybe the first thing (to pray for) would be that people would wake up in revival. (Pray) that God would continue to work to change the hearts of Lithuanians.”
Lara and Milton also know that prayer support is vital to any ministry in which they are involved.
“The day Southern Baptists stop praying for us, we can’t carry this load,” Milton said. “Their prayers are the most necessary for us to be here.”
Milton and Lara ask prayer specifically for a strong family unit, health, safety, and that Southern Baptists would continue to give to the Cooperative Program, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® and Lottie Moon Challenges, which support projects and ministries not funded by the Cooperative Program.
Volunteer opportunities in Lithuania can include working with Vacation Bible Schools, youth camps, choirs, crusades and evangelistic/theological training. Connect with Milton and Lara at milton@everyheart.net,+370-611-212-72 or on Skype (username “miltonandlara”) to explore how you can help them reach the goal of planting 12 churches within 12 years.
Contact GMP through globalmissionsproject.com and inquire about the trip to Lithuania in 2009 to discover how to help take the Gospel to Lithuania through music.