You can help equip Latvian church workers and laity with guidance and tools for mercy ministry!

Background
Following the demise of the Soviet regime, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (ELCL) began reaching out with Christ's mercy to people with social, emotional, spiritual, medical, and economic needs. In 1994, the ELCL formed the Diakonia (Mercy) Center to develop human care programs. LCMS World Relief and Human Care provided more than $400,000 in development grants for these programs.

Equipping Church Workers and Laity
Church workers, and particularly women in the ELCL, already reach out to their neighbors in need. Women play an important role in this mercy ministry. Where they cannot serve the church as pastors, they certainly can show the compassion, mercy, and love of Christ to people who are hurting and suffering.

Upon the request of the ELCL, LCMS World Relief and Human Care has the opportunity to further develop its partner's capacity for human care outreach. WR-HC staff and other mercy ministry leaders are planning mercy ministry training events in three Latvian cities: Riga, Liepaja, and Daugavplis. Our goal is to provide 150 pastors, 100 evangelists, and lay ministers with the guidance and tools to:

• Reach out to the aging
• Provide pastoral care
• Domestic abuse counseling
• Substance abuse and alcohol counseling
• Identify new resources for human care ministry
• Inspire their congregations to actively pursue human care outreach

Watch this brief video featuring Rev. Matthew Harrison describing WR-HC support in Latvia.

Your Help is Needed
Without your financial support for this project, church workers in Latvia may not be able to attend these groundbreaking mercy events. Please make a donation – big or small – today to make this capacity-building opportunity possible for hundreds of church workers and lay members. Click the Give Now button or call 888-930-4438.