Presidential Letter
Livija Godina
Love one another!
Jesus said: Love one another. ‘You must love one another, just as I have loved you. If you love one another, everyone will know you are my disciples’ John 13:34-35.
Love -fruit of the Spirit is this year's Day of Prayer (DOP) theme. We are close to Easter, where we remember the sacrifice of Christ, which showed the greatest love -the love of God to the lost, sinful world. Let this special time fill us with gratitude and love for Jesus’ sacrifice and let us give this love on to others! At present on our side of the globe the winter is struggling with the spring – the sun is bright, but still minus 10 or minus 20 degrees, such contrasts are so rare in March, but we know that God has promised, as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease, (Gen.8) thus we believe that the spring will soon come to our land and the seeding will start again. But above all there is the hand of God.
The time has passed away hurriedly, and a five-year phase of the European Baptist women's lives (EBWU) is about to end. Particularly I have experienced it as a president carrying the importance of the responsibility in front of God and men. Over the past five years as the president I have visited more than 30 countries in Europe and a few more outside. Each place has been special with its unique culture, living conditions and needs. And in fact, the European Baptist Women's Union is each of you in your own countries, cities, villages and churches. As one body of Christ, each of us are members which create a body. This puts on us a great responsibility, because to some extent from each of us depends the well-being or functioning of the body.
With great joy I saw many of you giving faithful service to God and I highly appreciate it. Christian women with great dedication serve in different areas of life where there is a need, teachers in schools, as well as teachers in kindergartens and orphanages, wherever there is pain and help needed, sisters respond. Sometimes in daily life and in a hurry, we forget to lift up our eyes to see the stars, to see other people near and far away, who also struggle and are in need of help. When we leave our ego, where we need everything only for ourselves, the love of Christ begins to flow through us to others, because only by giving to others we receive ourselves.
World Baptist Women’s Day of Prayer is a special time that expands our sights and makes us look at other places. It's a wonderful feeling when in other parts of the world the day begins with a prayer and continues throughout the day, when in different countries the day starts at a different time.
This year marks 65 years since in Europe from a few women began this Day of Prayer, which has now turned into a movement. In the preparation of this year’s Day of Prayer program participated the European Committee and a few other sisters. I invite you to read these materials, Bible studies and to use them now throughout the year in your meetings. www.bwawd.org
BWA Women's Department Leadership Conference Hawaii, July 24-27, 2010
I thank each and every person for donations with which we have been able to support a variety of projects in both Europe and the world, half of the Day of Prayer donations we give to BWA Women's Department, which seeks to meet other continents’ needs as well. This has changed many lives of women and children, providing assistance in the most complex situations.
This year marks the 65 years since the European Baptist Women Union (EBWU) was founded. Interestingly, at that first meeting, the women started praying and then there was established the organization. In many countries in Europe first was celebrated the Day of Prayer and then later formed the women's union. For example, in Moldova the Day of Prayer was celebrated many years before organizing women’s ministry. Also in Latvia in congregations women’s work began with a prayer and then were organized other things and works. Dear sisters, let us remember also today that all starts with a prayer. If we are looking for new ways and places of ministry, first let’s ask for God to open the right door! We are grateful to those who started the work.
The first president was from Denmark -Marie Norgaard, secretary from Italy and vice-president from Germany, Auguste Meister. The first Committee was for two years and it attempted to be formed from different language groups.
I thank you all for the support, hospitality and prayer, that I have received over the past few years, meeting with you in different places. The greatest pleasure that I have seen is that there is a reconciliation, forgiveness, then love can freely start working to fulfill the command that Jesus gave us:
‘You must love one another, just as I have loved you. If you love one another, everyone will know you are my disciples’ John 13:34-35.
Riga Conference, Latvia - January 2013
I recently read a story. The author of the story is Ulrich Zwingli, who was a leader of the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland in the beginning of 16th century. He and Martin Luther, the Reformation pioneer, had a serious argument and Zwingli was desperate, trying to find a way to resolve this conflict. He found a solution one morning, looking at the mountain slope. He saw two goats coming towards each other in the narrow mountain trails -one went up and the other down. Noticing the approaching danger, they stopped and bowed their heads. It seemed that they were ready to gore. But instead the goat, who climbed up the hill lay down. Consequently, the goat, who climbed down the hill, could step over the back of the other goat, and the two were able to continue their way unharmed. If they had gored each other, one would have been able to win. However, the outcome could have been sad for both of them. Therefore, one bent down in front of the other, as though lowering itself, but as a result it climbed up.
How often in our lives, we can see people who are focused on their goals, their own self-interest, determined not to let anything stand in their way? When they encounter resistance, they choose to gore, leading to a bitter, sometimes acrimonious outcome. One of the goats for a moment yielded to the other, and this led to a "win-win" situation for both. Would it not be useful to act this way in order to prevent conflict? Sometimes we sort of stand for our truth. But God is the truth, our view and mind is limited. Let's be gentle with each other.
God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble. James 4
As the world changes, so change conditions in Europe, so it is particularly important for you to continue the ministry that God has put in your hearts, to support and pray specifically for those, who are not allowed to do it loudly because of a variety of restrictions.
Let God's blessing and wisdom be for each of us, and especially for EBWU new committee that will start their five-year service this summer!
Livija Godina