What is your ministry?
I am a leader of a youth ministry in Vilnius Evangelical Church. I am responsible for organising Sunday meetings for teenagers, small groups for all our youth of about 100 people (we have 8 youth groups in our church), preparing materials, and organising and finding volunteers and the summer youth camps. Our primary youth mission is to "make disciples who make disciples." We are in close contact with Josiah Venture. They are helping us with all the programs. I am also responsible for material translation and printing.
When did you trust Christ?
I firmly decided to follow Jesus at 17 during a summer conference in Vilnius in 1994. I listened to the preacher's message about the second coming of the Lord, and after three years of doubts and my mother's prayers, I finally surrendered to the Lord.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
After my conversion, I was baptised in water. The second defining moment of my walk with the Lord was when I studied at Bible school. Learning to teach the Bible deepened my faith and helped me understand how to walk with God. I also learned a lot after the births of my two kids. This is one of the greatest lessons - you can serve God by serving and caring for your children.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
The Forum gave me a clear vision of what it should look like and shaped the steps towards that goal. I am very thankful for that. In 5 years, our youth ministry grew from 30 to 120 people. We have a strong youth leaders core. Also, thanks to connections made at ELF, we translated several books from Josiah Venture. We have also developed a close partnership with Terry English. He is helping us with the vision and expansion strategy. Not only has our ministry been changed, but it has changed our church also. We started applying the same principles not only in youth ministry but also in the whole church. We have also invited Stefan Gustafsson to speak in our country this year.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I volunteered in my church by taking care of youth ministry in the past. My wife and I were youth leaders. I also was involved in ministry to teenagers. These two ministries are separate in our church, and I was involved in them. I also took part in organising summer youth camps. I was also hired as assistant director of a counseling department and worked there during the Hope Festival in Lithuania. I was responsible for preparing counselors and doing all the work in my department (preparation of counseling and teaching materials, editing books and leaflets, and administration work with volunteers). I was also the leader of a youth cell group for four years.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
I firmly believe that God will use me through youth ministry, and the lives of young people will be changed. I think I have a gift from God to speak to and encourage youth to follow Christ.
