Launch of G. Kalme’s book “Footprints”

On Tuesday, November 13, at 17:00, the launch celebration for Pastor Guntis Kalme's book “Footprints. A Pastor's Reflections on the History of His People” will take place at the War Museum. This book continues the theme of G. Kalme's previous book “Doors to Home. A Pastor's Reflections on the History of His People” - the identity of our people in the turns of 20th-century history.

In Pastor Guntis Kalme's new book “Footprints. A Pastor's Reflections on the History of His People”, special attention is given to Latvia in the conditions of today's globalized world. The history of the Latvian people is often spoken of as a history of hardship, suffering and oppression. This book is mainly about Latvian endurance, the power of resistance and spirit, and their sources in God.

“Guntis Kalme has written an original and discussion-provoking book. It attracts attention with the significance of the problems and insights raised for Latvia and the Latvian people. The author has a very clear
vision of what must be done in today's situation so that we can protect our core values - the national state, Latvian identity and our understanding of history,” says Inesis Feldmanis, Dr. habil. hist., professor at the University of Latvia and full member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, about the new book.

Roberts Kolbs, pastor, Dr. hist., director of the Mission Institute at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, USA, in turn, appreciates Pastor G. Kalme's call to care also for his people:
“In the history of the Latvian people, pastors have played an important role in preserving and developing language, culture and self-awareness. Guntis Kalme has a pastor's calling, with the Word of God, to care not only for his congregation and denomination, but also for his people and their identity, as is clearly shown in this book.”

“Theologian and thinker G. Kalme reminds us that our core values are the Latvian language and the safeguarding of the statehood of the Republic of Latvia. In today's globalized world, the Latvian language, culture, historical memory and national identity are ignored or even suggested to be abandoned. For Latvia to continue to exist in the future as a national state, we Latvians must be a people with high self-awareness - this insight of G. Kalme reminds us that even in the darkest and most difficult times, self-respect, defiance and courage have burned in Latvians. This insight also reminds us that a Latvian has always fought for his
people and his land whenever even the slightest opportunity opened. On November 18, 1918, by founding the Republic of Latvia, strong, wise and ardent Latvians had won their own state,” says Ritvars Jansons, Dr. hist., curator of the exhibition of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, in appreciation of the historical significance of G. Kalme's new book as a reminder of the state's core values.

Ilmars Knagis, politically repressed in 1941 and 1949 and recipient of the Order of the Three Stars, is grateful for Guntis Kalme's work: “So that the history, experiences and suffering of our people
do not disappear into nothingness, records of events are important, every word for remembering and reflecting on what the people have experienced. Therefore it is difficult to overestimate this work by Pastor Guntis Kalme. May there be more books like this!”