All-Latvia Prayer Night, 23-24.06

"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do..." /1 Pet. 1:15/

The interdenominational project Prayer Night, together with other worship and prayer events in Latvia, invites Christians of all denominations not to remain indifferent on this night, but to organize a Prayer Night in their churches: "This Night the Heavens Are Open." This year at Jāņi, from June 23 at 22:00 until the morning of June 24 at 6:00. If it is not possible to remain in prayer and worship all night, we invite you to plan the event so that we are united for at least one hour.

Dear brothers and sisters, the light and salt of this land!

Jāņi night has come again, when in Latvia all works of darkness surge up in a single night. Many regard it as a national holiday and celebrate it with great enthusiasm. It is good that a nation has common holidays, days of unity and moments of remembering national self-awareness and identity. All of this is very necessary. The misfortune is that these celebrations have pagan roots and aims, honoring the deities and traditions of that time. Alcohol, promiscuity, feasting and revelry. Everything that happens at Jāņi even today does not bring blessing to people, still less to the nation, and certainly does not honor our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ here in our land, Latvia.

How could it be otherwise if, in one night, a whole nation sinks into alcohol, joins those who sing songs to deities and admires sexual permissiveness. People drive under the influence, accidents happen, and other works of darkness take place. God created and loves the Latvian people as they are, with all their faults and peculiarities. Therefore He sent His Son Jesus to die for all people living in Latvia, calling them to let Christ into their lives, repent of sin and turn away from all evil. But you who have become a child of God and have let Him into your life are called to a holy life, following God as the Bible teaches, separating yourself from what is darkness, and becoming a watchman and a light in this land. In our God there is so much love, light, joy, laughter and happiness. Let us think about Him! Your personal relationship, your love for Jesus and your ability to separate yourself from the things of darkness are tested especially clearly at this time. What should be done? Answer for yourself. Would Jesus be together with the revellers? Does the Holy Spirit who is in you lead you to places where people feast and drink alcohol? Our conviction is no, but judge for yourself. Then what should be done? It would be wrong to hide away and pretend that nothing is happening.

Invitation

The Prayer Night project calls us not to grieve the Holy One or dishonor Him by participating in this tradition, but on the contrary, to stand united against darkness and join together this night in prayer and worship. We will also be together through the live Christian radio program. Let us pray for close relationships with Jesus Christ, for holiness in our lives, for spiritual awakening and for the work of the Holy Spirit in Latvia. For governments, authorities, families and the souls whose lives will hang by a thread that night. Let us pray that in Latvia these holidays become celebrations of praise and worship dedicated to the only God, our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. A celebration of thanksgiving for Latvia and for what God is doing. This can also be a good beginning in your denomination, your church and your family.
Lord, what do You want me to do? Do not remain on the sidelines!

The purpose of the prayers is united, simultaneous prayer among churches and individual Christians throughout the land of Latvia. We pray: "God bless Latvia!"

We invite Latvian churches to take part in Prayer Night with the following activities:

• Organize a Prayer Night in your own churches.


• If necessary, organize a joint church event in cities or populated places.


• Invite your church members and the residents of your city to prayer in your city and district, trying to reach as many people as possible by placing information on websites and in other media.


• Please send information to the website forum at www.lugsanunakts.lv about venues and pastors who will serve, so that through radio people can be helped to find prayer locations throughout Latvia; or register by calling 20013491.


• Inform friends and acquaintances in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as beyond the Baltic borders, asking them to support the event.

After the prayer night, please send comments, experiences, reflections, feedback and photos to lugsanunakts@inbox.lv, and they will be posted on the website www.lugsanunakts.lv as a testimony to God's work that night and to changes in Latvia.

• 22:00 - 23:00 praise and worship.  


• 23.00 - 23.30 God's Word about personal and deep relationships with God.


• 23.30 - 1.00 joint and individual prayers for God's nearness and holiness in one's life.


• 1.00 - 1.30 break.


• 1.30 - 2.30 praise and worship.


• 2.30 - 3.00 God's Word about spiritual awakening.


• 3.00 - 4.30 joint and individual prayer for change in Latvia.


• 4.30 - 5.00 break.


• 5.00 - 6.00 God's Word and prayers for churches, church needs and people taking part in the night prayers.

The prayer nights planned for this year are September 16 and December 2.
Organizers: Riga Evangelical Pentecostal Church Cerība, pastor Jānis Sadovskis; Latvian Christian Radio president T. Tālbergs; association Tautas Lūgšana. Please send information about church participation in Prayer Night to lugsanunakts@inbox.lv
or call 20013491

Contact information:

Jānis Sadovskis
mobile: 29296541
janissadovskis@inbox.lv
www.lugsanunakts.lv