International Theological Education Ministries, Inc.

Dr. R. David Ludwick, ITEM President

In December of 2007 the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania invited ITEM President, Dr. R. David Ludwick to attend the special anniversary events of the celebration of the Synodical meeting, which took place in Vilnius, Lithuania.

450 years ago on December 14th, 1557, the first senate took place… but the Synodical gathering of 2007 was different. For the first time in its history, the Synodical meeting took place in the Constitution Hall of the Lithuanian Parliament. This meeting was followed by an anniversary worship service taking place at the Vilnius Evangelical Reformed Church. That time was followed by a social hour where theologians, politicians and bureaucrats (in the best sense of the word) mixed and mingled. This occasion also celebrated the commencement of the Masters Degree Program (education in Reformed Theology). This fall five classes will be offered toward the commencement of this degree, which will be housed at Vilnius Pedagogical University. The first student has successfully begun studies toward this degree program, another first by ITEM!

 

Thomas K. Johnson, Professor of Ethics and Religion Philosophy, Martin Bucer Seminary, Berlin, Fellow, International Institute for Christian Studies

I want to thank all who prayed for my recent trip to Lithuania. I felt carried along by your prayers. I attended the 450th anniversary celebration of the Unitas Lithuaniae, the Evangelical and Reformed Church of Lithuania. The conference was held by the church in the very hall where the Parliament meets, many of its members were in attendance as well as government ministers, diplomats, and even one representative from the Vatican. Historically the church has been a State church. Much of its history includes a distinct societal role, including owning old cathedrals together with the traditional right to establish educational programs in universities and schools. There are beginnings of a biblical renewal going on within this church, which is prompting the church to exercise its traditional rights to establish educational programs, while there is also a theologically liberal group which has split off from the synod of the church and has started a legal/political attack to try to get control of church properties. My job was to try to lay the theological background that will help in the coming legal battles, lay out some of the key ideas this church will need for its new educational programs, and also preach the gospel effectively to the many people at the conference who may not otherwise hear the gospel. It was also my privilege to bring greetings to the Lithuanian Church from the World Reformed Fellowship.

My assignment for the conference was to give one lecture and preach two sermons. My conference lecture was on "Triple Knowledge and the Reformation Faith." This was a commentary on question two from the Heidelberg Catechism. I chose this because the Heidelberg has been historically used in the Lithuanian church and also played a key role in the formation of my faith; this starting point also gives a very effective framework to show how the classical Reformation faith is decisively different from both theological liberalism and all types of fundamentalism, while clearly explaining the gospel, and also outlining a Reformation approach to learning, politics, and culture. In this cultural context it is equally important to articulate how a classical Protestant approach to theology and church life is substantially different from theological liberalism and from religious fundamentalism, since some have been saying a Reformation church cannot be different from liberalism, while others have been saying that anyone with clear religious beliefs is no different from a dangerous fundamentalist. (In Europe, in a very unfair manner, all types of fundamentalism, whether Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, are sometimes seen as almost the same by the media.)

On Friday evening I preached on "Great Truths of the Reformation that We Need to Recover Today." On Sunday I preached on "Complexity and Balance in Christian Proclamation."

During my time in Vilnius I had an opportunity to participate in several important discussions. I had time to talk with Algimantas, moderator of the Lithuanian Church. I got acquainted with Dr. David Ludwick, who heads ITEM, which has played a very large role in developing theological education in the entire Baltic region. I had a good time consulting with the student who has started our new Master of Education in Evangelical Theology program, which is through the Vilnius Pedagogical University with Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary.

I spent a few moments in fascinating conversation with the papal nuncio (the representative from the Vatican). He was very glad to hear a Protestant quote Augustine, saying that Sola Scriptura does not mean the rejection of reason and/or tradition, and say that the priesthood of all believers does not mean a rejection of an organized church with trained leaders. I also had an important meeting with the university rector; I think there may be a very significant open door for a range of important university educational programs, but I am concerned about the need for a larger and particularly skilled staff. Both an administrative team and a teaching team (of professors) would be needed.

 

John Lewis, Esq., ITEM Professor and elder of Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” So says Solomon in the first chapter of Proverbs.

The three million Lithuanians who were freed from Soviet domination in the early 1990‘s are now part of the European Union. The population in major cities such as Vilnius is young, for the most part, and eager to work and earn money for their future. Twenty-first century style materialism has replaced Communism as the overarching framework for the country, and young people are buying attractive clothes, cell phones, televisions and modest homes and new condos. Their lives are filled with activities primarily related to their work and, as a result, there are many dysfunctional families. Satisfying one‘s immediate personal needs, whether in glittering possessions, or increased power and success, is a strong motivating force for them today, as it was for King Solomon.

Solomon‘s conclusion from his denying himself nothing his eyes desired was that such materialism was meaningless. [Eccl. 2:10-11].

Who will open the eyes of the Lithuanians and others formerly living under Soviet domination to the truth that to fear God is to gain knowledge and that meaninglessness is the ultimate end of pursuing materialism?

The Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania was a vibrant church of some 15,000 souls worshipping in fourteen churches across Lithuania in the late 1930‘s. The German invasion, the fighting of World War II, the subsequent occupation of the Soviets and associated dedication to destroy Christianity wherever it could be found, has since scattered the church. Church buildings were torn down, altars and organs destroyed and cemeteries bulldozed with fragments of grave markers used to pave streets.

Pastor Algimantas Kvedaravičius, a brilliant electronics engineer and physicist, who formerly worked on the Soviet space program, faithfully proclaims the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ at the main congregation of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Vilnius. He has rejected a very promising secular career as a leading scientist in order to proclaim God’s Word.

In addition to his role as pastor, he has been serving as the General Superintendent of the denomination since June of 2004, and holds many, many responsibilities. He is dedicated to reaching and nurturing the 6,000 or so Lithuanians who have survived the ravages of war and the Soviet occupation and who are still bold enough to say they are believers in the Reformed faith. Most are beyond middle-age and some are elderly, and have modest to few possessions. They have endured much hardship, loneliness and despair. These people are scattered across Lithuania, sheep in desperate need of a shepherd, of instruction in God‘s word, of pastoral counseling, personal encouragement and prayer.

There are currently seventeen church properties once owned by the Evangelical Reformed Church in the major cities and villages throughout Lithuania. Some are empty lots because the church buildings have been destroyed and most of the other buildings were badly damaged and are only partially usable. Groups of Reformed believers yearn to worship together, but there are only two pastors to serve these groups of believers in these cities. Due to great demands for travel and attention to other church matters, some congregations have formal worship services only once or twice a month.

The Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few [Luke 10:2].

Praise God with me for Dr. David Ludwick and ITEM who have become actively involved in training lay leaders, equipping the saints here in Lithuania to renew and re-invigorate the Reformed faith in God‘s kingdom. Plans are actively in progress to refurbish a large, well constructed building next door to the major church of the denomination in Vilnius. The building has full potential to support formation of a Bible college and seminary. Numerous spacious rooms offer housing for students, faculty and staff offices, classrooms, a library and food preparation areas. Substantial amounts of prayer and financial support are needed to make this a reality. Lithuanians, and the Evangelical Reformed Church, desperately need this teaching. Young pastors, eager to serve the Lord in the fourteen vacant pulpits, and to proclaim the gospel in new churches needed in new areas, must be trained and taught in sound Christian doctrine.

While here for a few short weeks during late July, it was my personal privilege to worship with faithful believers in Kaunas, the former capital of Lithuania, some 60 miles west of Vilnius. The Word of God was preached by Dr. David Ludwick on Peter‘s encounter with Jesus following his resurrection. After the services, leaders of the church, Dr. Ludwick and I [as an elder of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Missouri] had the privilege to serve on a commission to examine a young 24 year old man named Jonas Ziauka. He has been trained in biology and awarded a Masters degree, but he has experienced God‘s having touched his life. ITEM will undertake to train him in the Reformed doctrine, perhaps leading one day to his being a full-time pastor in one of the Reformed churches in Lithuania.

My teaching the book of James and leading a class on Ethics here the past week has been an enormous blessing to me. The students, church leaders and pastors who participated in the classes were eager to study God‘s word, to grow in their knowledge of Scripture and to fellowship together. We were all challenged to gain wisdom in applying the truths of Scripture to our daily lives. I praise God for the opportunity to serve Him and to help ITEM in this way.

While here during the past week or so, we learned that a very small but powerful group of individuals living in the northern area of Lithuania recently obtained approval from the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice to operate as the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania–Synod, the almost exact same name as the true church which was first established in Lithuania in 1544. We understand these individuals were formerly in high positions of the Lithuanian government during the Soviet occupation and have strong financial backing. They seek to gain legal title to church properties not yet vested in the true church. Because all church properties all across Lithuania were seized and held by the Soviets during their occupation, the formal return of these properties to their rightful owner is still uncertain. A number of the church buildings were destroyed and have become public parks. Some were converted into museums or cinemas, and their return to the true Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania is problematic. Bribery of politicians, government administrators, and judges in the Lithuanian court system is a common problem.

Pray for a mighty outpouring of God‘s spirit to call young men to the pastorate in Lithuania! Pray for strength and for a vibrant pastor‘s heart in the two men who faithfully serve under great stress and time demands! Pray for strength and vision for Dr. Ludwick and for resources for ITEM as they build the Bible College and seminary from the ground up!

Above all, pray that Lithuanians will come to understand the fear of the Lord and the meaninglessness of materialism!

 

Rev. Chris Polski, Pastor of Golden Isles Church

During the teaching trip it was observed that the people of the Lithuanian Reformed Church have been experiencing difficulties and the frustration regarding the return of properties confiscated during the Soviet times and subsequently sold to non-Reformed liberal denominations, which are substantially backed by a number of Western religious groups.

The Reformed church there consists of 15 congregations, 13 of which have been without pastors for more than 10 years. It was my mandate to try to determine what had been done so that the appropriate course of action could be undertaken - the return of the churches and their properties to the rightful owner, the Lithuanian Reformed Church. At some point litigation ensued and it seems to be the best course of action if the congregations join together to off-set the costs of this expensive undertaking. It was discovered that rival Reformed groups have been planted and cultivated in the same name as larger established churches and all without authorization. In addition, other groups, like Opus Dei, are working to undermine the evangelical church in this country. Legal action to extricate them would cost thousands of dollars; on the other hand, the church has an intensive push for righteousness.

Right now, Rev. Dr. Algimantas is primarily concerned with stopping liberalism, training apologists, teaching lay people the Bible, finding a way to purchase their property, or regain it through legal means, ordaining trained pastors to take on the empty pulpits, and finishing his studies so that he may have an accredited theological degree. In all honesty, he rightly asserts that the work seems overwhelming. There is little or no money and few candidates for the ministry. He states that if they are to succeed without restraint they will need a lot of help from the outside. At the same time, he is very optimistic about the situation in Latvia today.

The seminary there, at considerable expense, has gotten accreditation. It is well established. Both Latvian and Lithuanian Reformed groups are aspiring to work to their mutual advantage by removing the restrictions of the past and opening the doors of opportunity for accredited growth through local universities, and on into the EU and thereafter to the rest of the world.

The first reformed church in Vilnius can be traced back to the 1560’s, about the time that John Calvin died. But within a couple of generations the movement was squelched by the counter reformation of the Catholic Church. Some reformed believers, however, survived. The movement picked up steam again in the 19th century but the combination of German liberalism and communism again diminished the believing church. The years under Soviet rule were terrible for everyone, but especially the evangelical church. Their properties were taken from them, their people were oppressed and theological education was outlawed in an effort to cut off a new generation of preachers before they could be taught. Finally, when the Soviets pulled out in 1991 the church was permitted to meet openly but without educated ministers and buildings, it has been a very slow process forward. And not only this, but there is virtually no theological literature translated into the language of Lithuania. So not only must potential pastors get a theological education, they must also learn English or another more common European language in order to access the best materials available. These people are in need of translators to get some of the best theological texts into their own language. Algimantas remains optimistic about the future of the church here in Lithuania, but as he has said many times, “We need workers!”

The needs are few but great: strong biblical teaching, necessary fiscal foundations, and trained leadership committed to the cause and to the proclamation to the Word of God accurately and to the four corners of the earth. So we say to you, “Come and see for yourself. Be touched by the circumstances… touched to the point of taking the next step rather than sit comfortably and watch.”