To follow God's call
Interview with BPI student Valters Mitāns (see his profile), 2008

Hi! How is Fall of 2007 special for Valters Mitāns?
Valters Mitāns has the first Fall in his life when he has taken on the role of a father. In fact I think next year will be as special when Baltic Pastoral Institute will open up, and it will take up a great part of my life. If I have to think about it, lots of special things have happened.

Why did you decide to study at BPI? Could not come up with something easier?
I have always gone the easier road. The problem is that it never gives satisfaction. I can compare it to bicycling that is so dear to me. You can choose the easiest route and look at everything from aside, but you will never get the same satisfaction as when you participate in the race, even if you come in last. There is disquiet before every race, but it disappears as soon as you begin the race. Then difficulties begin, and to overcome them is a challenge.

Please, tell me about people who have inspired you to follow Christ.
The first one would definitely be my first pastor, Pāvils Pallo.
I see him as a prototype of a pastor. I cannot remember precisely but when he still ministered at Mazsalaca church, he had given hints that I should think of connecting my life with pastoral ministry. I remember very precisely that in my teen years that idea did not seem even remotely interesting. About a year ago my wife and I visited Pāvils at his home. In conversation he told me what had worked and what had not worked in Soviet times, how they were driving around in an open truck and preaching the gospel, and how they managed to build a house in the midst of all that. And I thought to myself - will I have stories like that when I am retired? Probably not, but I would like to have.

What has been your ministry up till now?
I am a true child of Mazsalaca Baptist Church. I started going to Sunday school there and to sing in the choir. Then regional radio was launched in Mazsalaca where I was reading fairy tales to children in the evenings.
During Sunday school I accidentaly turned from student to teacher, but as a Sunday school teacher I am no good. Although in my mind it is the most important ministry of the church. Maybe I will return to that ministry once again, but I am self-critical. This year the church council elected me their chairman, and I see it as huge responsibility, and I am not quite used to that yet. Since our church has not had a pastor for a long time, occasionaly I have to speak in front of the church on Sundays.

What do you think are the most useful and useless qualities of a person in ministry?
The most useful are the ones I don't have, the most useless the ones I have to get rid of! But if seriously, a person who ministers has to be a servant. And that is the most useful quality. If while doing spiritual work a person forgets to serve, then he can be a superstar, but it will not lift others up. Often I think that if I don't have the right qualities, I cannot do this job. I would like to think that God can form these qualities in a person if they pray for them and work on their character.

It has been said that demand creates supply. Why does Latvia with all its spiritual needs lacks pastors?
I think here this saying is inappropriate because it can be applied to business environment. Pastors and churches are not selling anything. Although unfortunately I must say that the financial aspect keeps people away from this job. It is not good, churches are guilty, hoping that the pastor will be 100% in ministry of his church, and will feed his family with raw potatoes and spring water. Today in my church I talked about the mutual trust between God and people. Future pastors have to trust God, and then I believe everything will be fine. Church has to trust that as it takes care of its pastor God will take care of the rest and also everything will be fine.

What would you say to your peers who have felt a calling to be pastors, but for some reason do not respond to this calling?
I could say all sorts of things. First, I myself do not like the name pastor (the one who teaches) very much because in Latvian it sounds totally opposite the word servant. I prefer the word shepherd. My peers are definitely people who have already accomplished something in life, and have realized that there is not much in it and something more in life is needed. I have also gotten used to certain comfort in life, and there is a feeling that if I say no to my present life stability, I will have to loose something. Maybe it is worthwile to consider how stable and secure is the guarantee for our present stability, and what will happen if it falls apart ?

What do you expect of BPI?
With all my heart I wish that it is not another college education. My desire is to develop in this institute the qualities that you previously asked about.

What do you want to see in Mazsalaca church after 10 years?
I hope that the church will not be primarily concerned about sustaining itself, but about developing new churches in other places. Maybe we could be like a center for Baptist churches in the area. Maybe we could support a church in a different country. I would like that at least 5% of the town would call the church their own. Then everything else will be cool, too :).

What do you think should change in church today in order to reach society more effectively?
It is not enought that the church opens its doors to people. Church has to be able to leave their church buildings in order to reach those who would not even look in the direction of church. Church has to become a servant of our society. Ministering to people is the only way how we can show them Christ. With works, not words on Sundays from the pulpit. Today's society does not believe in words anymore.

How do you want people to characterize you looking back at your life?
As I said, I am thinking about the people who inspired me. I would like to live a life that would be inspiration to others. My family in the first place. I think parents have no greater joy if their kids are proud of them. I am not planning to write a book about my life, but if there would be other people who would want to write a book about me, it would make me happy.

How can we pray for you?
I want brothers and sisters in churches to pray for each future Baltic Pastoral Institute student. Everybody has their difficulties, and I might be in a better situation than some other guys. The only questions I still have are place to live in Riga while studying, you could pray for that.