Because of grace
Interview with BPI student Māris Dembovskis (see his profile), 2008.

Hallo Māris! Please, briefly introduce yourself!
I am 24 years young. My life could be characterized by the beginning of Paul's First letter to Timothy, "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly."

What prompted you to enter Baltic Pastoral Institute?
Jesus. Society that displays its faults as something good and valuable. In fact this decision did not come suddenly. Praise God for the people who made the poster "We need men who dare to obey". This poster made me ask questions to myself and answer them. For example, is everything really ok in Latvia? Can we hear God's word enough in Latvia? Is it easy to maintain good relationship with God in Latvia? What am I ready to do about it? Because the Lord says - love and then go and tell others. How much am I doing it? Can I put my hand on my heart and say, "Lord, I did everything I could." Is the way I live my life the best way to live - working as an IT specialist, sitting at the computer all day? God revealed to me that it was not the best way. That in my situation I can do something more. I honestly told God - I know that you want me to be there, please, help me, reassure me. And He did it.

Can you evaluate first weeks at BPI?
It has been interesting because we are very different people with different points of view, different gifts, and we all study in one room. It is challenging because daily life reveals what people are really like. Without masks, without financial interest. And then you can wonder at yourself, laugh at yourself, ponder about yourself. How much do I have Christ in me? How much am I trying to live according to what He taught?
Everything is fast - there are things that have to be done, read, and learned. A time frame is given that we have to fit in.
It is difficult - sometimes I come to the lectures emotionally like a lemon that has had its juice squeezed out. It is necessary. What I like is that it requires so much strength from me. At least for now. A minor cause of stress is having to live on donations which in reality means - on grace.

Do you want to be a pastor?
If the Lord will want me to - yes.

How would you want to see your ministry in 10 years?
It is a church where God's word is presented unchanged, true. It is a place where people can come and let God touch their hearts. I would like that after 10 years there would be people who would say that as a pastor I helped them to get to know Christ, to fall in love with Christ, and that church helps them maintain good relationship with Lord Jesus, Father, Spirit. I would like to have a good team. It would be important that ministry would reach families, young people, older people, sick people, as well as those who consider themselves to be the smartest, the strongest, the best.

Why do you think churches fail to grow?
1. Pastor is busy doing things he should entrust to others. That applies both to leadership and maintenance responsibilities.
2. Pastor feels that his only responsibility is to lead the service once on a Sunday, and that is enough. Nothing better can be done.
3. To plough a field on your own is quite hard, a team is necessary. But very few people want to be on such team these days because very few people want to act; it is not modern to love, to forgive, to do what Christ tells you to do. Although what is modern in God's mind has not changed for centuries.

Why does Latvia lack pastors?
1. Christian values are not important today. The main thing is good car, the newest model phone. It is difficult to decide to become a pastor in modern reality.
2. Baptists have made first steps in attracting the potential pastors. If they had not done it, there would not be BPI with 13 students. So, we have to ask, think about how to speak to people to encourage them to do this work.
3. Financially it is a big burden if the church does not give 1/10 of its income to God's work. Then there is chain reaction - pastor does not have enough income for his basic needs, for family needs. With that I want to say that church members are responsible for the needs of their shepherd. And shepherd is responsible before God how he uses these finances.

What should be done?
Introductory courses should be organized where it would be talked about pastor's work; a possibility to do this work would be advertised. A year ago I said - no. There are very few people who can make a decision one day to become a shepherd of a church, and next already go to school. Ask yourself what does God want me to do? Honestly answer this question and act accordingly.

Do you think that not enough people are called or that this calling gets quenched?
I think the calling gets quenched, hidden - I could not possibly do it! It is not interesting enough! I am one of those who said - let others go and do it. I did not think that God wants to see me as a pastor because I don't know a whole lot, don't know how to do a whole lot. At the same time it is possible that God's thoughts are totally different. I will tell you something that I recently learned. God does not need my wisdom, God needs my heart, He rejoices over my heart the most. There are times when you have to follow the steps A, B, C. 11 p.m. comes around and you realize that inside there is deficit of God's presence. But instead of deficit I want abundance! And then instead of A, B, C, I will just do A and B.

How can we pray for you and your family ?
Pray that I myself and my family would do what Christ taught, and that through us Christ would receive honor, thanks and praise from many other families and people in Latvia, Baltics, Europe!