Some time after I came home from the armyI married the first and only girl I had been friends with for four years. We had been ministering, singing, skiing, and praying a lot together. Liga was an unusual girl. She was young, beautiful, vigorous, and modern but that was not enough for her. Always she was inviting to do something, to go somewhere. To pray, pray, and pray.

I had seen a lot of girls - musical, smart, and beautiful but Liga was special. The way she was seeking God fascinated me and made her shine. Something in her did not let me bypass her. And I did not bypass her but with all my boyish courage and heroism I chased away everyone who was putting an eye on her.

We got married. It was so natural that we both were in the church, both were ministering, both loved God. Later our first son was born and then our daughter and another son were born. My Liga was an exemplary mother and housekeeper. Our basement was always full of salads, jams, marinades, stewed fruit, and canned fruit. The children were well taken care of, well dressed, the house was neat, and the food was always prepared. We were poor. Liga used her grandmother's gown and some clothes sent as humanitarian aid and sewed such a dress that even now, 20 years later, when she puts it on she looks like the first lady. Of course, I did not realize at first that I had met the woman from Proverbs 31. She can do all things.

She started to design and publish magazines, write texts, and spend days and nights at the publishing house. She was directing festivals, leading and teaching people, writing books, even preaching in America. And all this was done by my lovely sweet wife! My Liga knew how to make a lunch out of one sausage so that everybody had had enough. I must add that later when we became pastors this knowledge really helped us.

She did not quit her ministry even when she was pregnant. Except for the short moment at the hospital she was again serving in different ways to the One who had called her.

My ministry at church began with the simplest things. I did anything that was necessary. I was carrying the offering plate, set up the equipment, repaired the roof and basement, witnessed, sang at the church choir, played drums and guitar, visited the elderly. Naturally came the time when I was asked to lead the youth work and prayer meetings, then I started leading praise and worship. Ministry was never easy for me but I enjoyed it.

Gradually my wife and I started conducting family events, youth fellowships, summer camps and training. I remember how we planned out everything, prepared, conducted the event, and then cleaned everything up. We were cleaning, washing, and feeling so tired! At such moments I thought if it was worth it. "Others just come, enjoy, eat, and go away. No, that's enough for me, I won't do it!" But then the next morning came and we were already planning the next events!

I think this experience was of great value to me later when as a young pastor I felt deeply sorry for my guys who for years carried around tons of equipment in VEF culture house that we were renting and for other so precious and faithful ministers. I knew they were serving and doing all this not for my sake but for Jesus.

Thus we were serving in Golgata Baptist church anywhere there was a need to support the church and the pastor. We could do and did all this because of love. And we are the same today! If at first we did it following our intuition then later as we got to know Christ more and more we purposefully strived to serve not some organization, institution, idea, or title but the only Person who has justified, chosen, and called us.

This understanding has protected us and helped to find the right way in all religious misunderstandings and crossroads of human opinions, interests, and philosophies. The understanding that the simple Gospel of Christ, His love, and the leading of the Holy Spirit is the best reference point of life that is available to everyone who wants to keep a sound mind, straight path, and clean motives. We have strived to do so from our childhood and it has helped us to go through all tough times when we experienced a lot of insults, rudeness, hate, and envy. Everybody knows that no hatred of unknown people brings as much pain as attitude of people who had seen us grow before their eyes as children, youth, and then as a new family.

Every time the Word of God and the love of Christ have brought us back from bitterness and lack of understanding to the road of love and forgiveness. Of course, deep in our hearts we ache and feel sad and pitiful for people who have left. Still we are very happy that God helped us avoid all compromises and obey Him more than all other advisers, scolders, deniers, intimidators, all pressure, suspicion, envy, and ridicule.

This "valley of the shadow of death" came over us as regular church members, too, when we were forced to leave our church. (See Church history 1st part). I think that the situation was really tough for our pastor Arnis Silis who heard it clear from God that he should ordain me as the next pastor of the newly founded church „Prieka Vests", and he obeyed. I knew it was God. I knew it was His decision.

This became the turning point in our lives and a completely new era began in our life that is still going on.

Be blessed, dear reader,

With love, Vilnis Gleske

 



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