www.bmg.lv

Foreword by Luis Palau

Imagine reaching a nation with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ!

When Chuck Kelley came to me in 1998 with the idea for a nationwide evangelistic effort in Latvia, I heartily agreed with his plans. Hope ‘99 came at a time when Latvia greatly needed the gospel and a message of hope. And in September of 1999, I joined with several evangelists and dozens of churches and ministries from fourteen nations to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the country of Latvia.

Not only did many Latvians and Russians commit their lives to Jesus, but churches of differing backgrounds, cultures, and languages committed to working together. Hope ‘99 united the nation’s diverse denominations and ethnic Christians; for the first time in many years, the Russian Christians and Latvian Christians were a team. A strong testimony of the Lord’s work was seen in these men and women who laid aside their personal comfort and familiar boundaries to further God’s Kingdom.

Chuck and his ministry, Bridge Builders International, have worked in Latvia for years. While a handful of evangelists and I had the incredible opportunity to present the gospel at Hope ‘99 and see several thousand make commitments to Christ, Chuck has had a continuous, lasting impact on this country that so desperately needs the Lord. As one woman with the evangelistic team said, “How amazing that a country under Soviet oppression less than a decade ago was more open to the gospel than any public school in the United States.”

Latvia needed hope for the future, and Chuck helped to open the doors for Hope ‘99. As you enjoy the stories of the history of Bridge Builders International’s ministry in Latvia over the years, I trust that you will catch a sense of Chuck’s love for the good news of Jesus Christ. Chuck’s wholehearted commitment to bringing the gospel to Latvians has made a difference for all of eternity.

Luis Palau
Evangelist, Broadcaster, and Author

Foreword by Thomas Kinkade

As an artist, I have a connection with those who painted before me. Their ways of interpreting the world on their canvases lead me to my own expression of light, mood, and color. The stories in this book, and my own experiences with Chuck Kelley and Bridge Builders International, are also about connections—how God uses relationship bridges to bring individuals and groups together to do his work in the Baltic nation of Latvia and beyond.

My own surprising connection to BBI began because of my church’s relationship with a church in Riga, Latvia. This deeply enriching relationship of over seven years is a result of Chuck’s vision to pair U.S. churches with churches in Latvia. These partnerships are helping to rebuild Latvian congregations after fifty years of Soviet occupation and persecution of believers.

Even before I joined the church, I was aware of the work of Bridge Builders International. The former president of Latvia, Guntis Ulmanis, toured my company during his BBI-arranged U.S tour in 2000, and we’d presented him with a canvas of Sunrise. However, it was a Sunday school class presentation that built the bridge for my personal ministry in Latvia.

As Chuck told stories of how God remarkably used the unique talents of hundreds of people to serve him in Latvia, I thought of my own long-held desire to find a way to merge my passion for art with international ministry. And in less than nine months, I stepped off a plane at the Riga, Latvia, airport. . . .

My art was my bridge to talk about my faith to the children at the art camp where I taught; to the national leaders who attended the unveiling of my Latvia paintings; and to fellow artists who shared the love of painting even when we did not share the same language. Having the experience of building these connections has inspired me to expand my vision of merging art and ministry, to build further bridges for Christ as an “Artist Ambassador” to other nations.

I am grateful to Chuck Kelley and BBI for my experience in Latvia, and am pleased that Sunset Over Riga, Latvia graces the cover of this book.

Like Chuck, I have been surprised over the years to see how God can weave seemingly unrelated elements of a life into a marvelous master plan of blessing. This book chronicles God’s hand of guidance in the life and ministry of Chuck Kelley; but in a larger sense, these stories will be an inspiring challenge for each of us to consider how we might be a part of the Father’s surprising plan. I highly recommend this book.