What is your ministry?
I am serving in our local church as a pastor. I preach and teach the Word of God. I write articles for websites and the newspaper. I counsel people. I lead a home group for leaders. I preach in different churches in my country. I go on short-term mission trips to the Philippines with the charity organization Hope Centres, during which we work with street children and their parents.
When did you trust Christ?
I was 13 years old when I first heard the Gospel. I was at a movie theater and watched the “Jesus” movie. I was deeply touched. But it was not until three years after that that I met some evangelicals who invited me to follow Jesus. I did so on June 18, 1994.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
First was my decision to become a Christian in 1994. After that, I attended a Bible School from 1997-1998. In 1999 I married my wife, Vilma. She is my supporter and helper in daily life and ministry. In the spring of 2000 I became the leader of the youth group in my church. I became a pastor in 2004. After two years I began studying theology at Evangelical Bible Institute, which was very helpful for my ministry. In 2015, I was in the United States at Dallas Theological Seminary for three weeks for an intensive pastoral training. There, I was renewed and encouraged, and God opened up to me a bigger view of my mission and calling.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I need to learn more and need to be connected, updated and inspired in the ministry. I think that the Forum is the best place for that. I would like to invite more pastors, elders and leaders from our fellowship of churches to participate in the Forum because we need to be renewed.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I have ministered in these roles: leader of a youth group, pastor of a local church, and as a youth pastor.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
Evangelicals in my country are a small minority. We don’t have a lot of opportunities to learn theology, to receive training, or to connect with other leaders of evangelical movements and churches in Europe. I think that I need to update my biblical knowledge, to hear about the experiences of others, and to become connected to other leaders here in Europe.
