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Aleksandrs Ignatovs
I have
learned from everything that has happened to me
BPI 1st year student Aleksandrs Ignatovs (see profile) is a father of two beautiful
adult daughters, Riga Mission Church member since 2000 as well as lieutenant
colonel. Aleksandrs has worked in militia and after that in police force since
1979. Several years he led Organized Crime department of Interior Ministry of
Latvia Republic.
In the beginning many were surprised that the
former head of Organized Crime department had decided to study at BPI. How did
you make this decision?
Since I
preached in my church, led Bible studies, our pastor Peteris Samolic suggested
to me and Jevgenij Ivanov to go and study at BPI. I had heard about BPI from
the Bishop in the previous Congress of Latvia Baptist Churches, I read about it
in the Baptist magazine, but did not apply it to myself. I thought that studies
at BPI are only for Latvians. I replied to my pastor that as far as I was
concerned, I had enough education, I had already retired, I worked, had several
ministries in the church. Thank God for all of this! What else could I want?
But pastor insisted. Then I found out what I could about BPI, Jevgenij and I
met with pastor Sprogis, and this is how I got here. And I do not regret my
decision at all.
What is it like – studying at BPI?
My wife
teases me that I am a student forever. When I was professor at Police Academy,
I was always having to learn something new because it is difficult to talk
about things you are not sure about yourself.
Studies at
BPI are very interesting, it is not too difficult for me, I have a deeper
understanding about many questions. I am inspired by the vision of the
institute – to get outside the church walls, to preach the Gospel, to make
disciples. It is not just a mandate of BPI but a mandate of every Christian,
their calling. Even though I have to say that often church people don’t have
this vision; their Christianity is going to church on Sundays. Before my
studies at BPI my thinking was very similar. Now I have understood that it is
not enough just to listen to sermons on Sundays, and just do the ministry
inside the church. It was big challenge for to go somewhere and to proclaim the
gospel.
Have you started doing something like that?
My church
and I are praying for that. We are praying about starting a new church in
Vecmilgravis. There are many Russian speakers, and no Russian church. We want
to understand that area, get to know the people, find the Christians who live
there so that we can involve them as well. We think about how to approach
people – there are very active JWs, and maybe people will not react positively
if somebody will approach them on the street. Everything is happening slowly.
We pray that God would confirm when is the right moment to start a new church
in Vecmilgravis. Others have tried to do it before, a building was built that
either burned or was burned down.
I am not
hundred percent convinced yet that this is my thing. I am ready to go where God
will send me to minister. I would like God to clearly tell me if I should be
there.
How does God usually speak with you?
I do not see visions. God
speaks to me through Word, through people. If something is repeated to me
several times, I have a sense it is from God. And if I don’t have arguments why
not to do something, I agree to do it. Usually the one who does something gains
the most. Usually I am the one who needs the understanding that I have gained
by preparing a sermon or Bible study.
Tell me about your background!
I was born and grew up in the
country – 5 km from Viesite. My parents worked at the collective farm. We had
our own cattle, a lot of work all year round. I walked 4 km to school every
day. I was a good student, tried to behave well, to be active. I had lots of
responsibilities, was young pioneer leader.
During the high school I lived
in a boarding school, and we had a very good boarding school director who actively
worked with us. I learned discipline there although living in the country I did
not have much free time for mischief – we had to gather hay, weed the garden,
cut fire wood. While I was waiting to be drafted in army, I did not start
studies right after high school but started working for the collective farm. I
served in the army three years and seven months in Sevastopol. I was trained as
a radio operator, after that I served on a submarine in Liepaja.
What were those three years in army like?
This time
taught me scrupulosity and strict discipline. I was not afraid of work but 70%
of the time was spent cleaning something, scrubbing pots that were so huge I
had to get into them to clean them. I kept having this thought that I am here
to serve, to participate in learning, to scout. Evaluating this time now I see
that disciplined me, taught me lots – to sew, iron, cook. I learned humility,
obedience because in the army I could not talk back. It helped later when I
worked for the police force.
After army I
returned to my parents who lived in a country home 2 km from Viesite, and
worked as a driver for a while. A friend encouraged me to go and work for the
militia. I liked the work there, because it was disciplined work but not as
hard as when I was a marine. I started doing sports seriously to attract girls
otherwise they would not pay attention to such chubby guy. After three years in
the militia still being very fit I entered Riga militia professional school.
After that for five years I studied part time at the Higher Militia school
where I got higher education as a lawer. During my placement at the
professional school I met my future wife – I liked the way she looked, liked
that she could keep home well.
Since I
married a Riga girl, I did not go back to Viesite. Worked in the Center
district – at the Criminal investigation department. We lived in a single room
of a communal flat together with happy neighbours who loved alcohol. I went to
work as a district inspector because there was more hope to get your own flat.
After that I worked as a chief district inspector but after a year I was called
to the main headquarters and they wanted me to choose –to either enter
Communist party or to no longer be a chief. My dad had left the party, I also
had inner resistance to enter the party.
I was tired
of the endless fights in the neighbours’ flat, was tired of having endless
conversations with them, I was tired of not being able to prove anything, I
could not do anything lawfully so I accepted the offer to be an investigator.
When everything changed in the country, I moved on to Organized crime
department; I was the main inspector in the department that was investigating
bombing. Bombing in 1990 happened often in Latvia. It was a very hard and
dangerous job because if you stuck your nose too far, you could be followed. I
was once followed by criminals. When I noticed that I was being followed, I got
away, using the operative methods. But usually there was an unwritten law in
investigation – thief steals, policeman catches him. Everybody was doing their
job.
Then I was
made assistant chief in the investigation department, then the chief of the
bureau. I retired in 2009 as lieutenant colonel.
After that I
worked as a security guard. After everybody left, I could prepare for sermons,
for Bible studies. I served in my church as well as Christian radio. Sometimes
it seems that I am doing too much in ministry. Some time ago I thought that I
need to serve, to do lots of good works to be pleasing to Christ. Now I
understand that it is all by grace.
How did you come back to God?
My wife’s
parents were orthodox, and my wife wanted to baptise our children. In 1990
Christianity was fashionable, I was also interested in it and I agreed. I was
baptised together with my daughter. After that in the Congress hall I heard a
preacher. His words spoke to me very seriously, he explained everything very
logicaly – point by point just like in my work. I forgot all of it and put the
materials from this service on my shelf till 2000.
In 2000 I
had a problem. I had borrowed some money that I could not repay in time. It ate
me from the inside, I accused myself. I started praying, fasting, and
understood that I had to change. I asked God what to do, listen to the
Christian radio. Since I knew baptists in Viesite, I was looking for Baptist
church. At the Christian book store I was encouraged to go to Salvation Temple
church where there is a very passionate pastor by the name of Janis Smits.
Seemed that everything that happened at that church – talking, singing, seemed
that it was meant for me. I understood that I am a sinner and went forward. I
stayed in this church and still serve there.
What changed in your life then?
My collegues
were shocked how I suddenly changed. Some thought that I had lost my mind. Now
my friends are used to it. When I was a chief, I forbid use of alcohol at work
because we could not do it by law. I started witnessing to everybody about
Christ but not everybody liked it. Some listened, others asked me not to talk
to them about the baptists because they are from different denomination. I
witnessed to my bosses as well.
The greatest
influence I left on my mom – she came to Christ, became a passionate Christian,
went to her church, preached to her neighbours. For several years I brought
recordings of songs to my parents. It seemed that nothing was changing. But
after my father’s death my mom blossomed, she got baptised. My father while lying
on his death bed admitted that everything is in God’s hands.
How can we pray for you?
Pray that
God would reveal His will to me. That God would use me where He wants to use
me. That there is a unity in Christ in our family, that my wife does not see me
as a pastor but that we could calmly talk about God, Christ. Everything else
will be added.
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