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Becoming a Relevant Church in Estonia

November 10, 2011 in Eastern Europe, Follow the GLS, International Leadership with 1 Comment


The church in Estonia is in a tough position as they seek to be relevant in a culture that has become spiritually cold and resistant toward Christianity. Old historical boundaries in traditional churches have a tendency to create barriers between the churched and non-churched people. In a place where Christianity and being a Christian is not all that popular, leaders have become discouraged.

There is a growing need to build into, encourage, and raise up leaders in Estonia to continue to reach out into their communities and win back their nation for Christ. Meelis, a Global Leadership Summit leader in Estonia, was once in a place where he was close to quitting ministry, but because of what he learned and experienced at the GLS he found encouragement to press on.

    “God has many, many times comforted me to continue in my ministry He has also helped to clarify my calling for his Kingdom. My challenge has been to create hunger for leadership issues among other leaders and explaining the importance of leadership skills in church management. I want my work to make a difference in the society and be useful for God’s Kingdom. In 2006 I was almost quitting this work, but thanks to GLS this year I got back my excitement.” – Meelis, GLS leader, Estonia

The GLS is uniting leaders from all over the country from all different denominations as they become more aware of how their leadership can make a difference in their communities. After experiencing the GLS, Meelis was inspired to lead his organization to become more focused on social issues within society. But it’s not just Meelis’ organization that’s making change, another church that attended the GLS began serving the homeless. During the GLS, a group of youth were moved to connect to make “A Day without Shoes” a reality in Estonia through social media to bring awareness to poverty issues around the world. There are countless other stories of how the GLS has impacted leaders to take a stand in their communities.

Please join Meelis and our team as we pray for the GLS in Estonia and the leaders who will attend this week:

    Pray that the GLS would encourage church leaders to take more action in serving the society

    Pray that the GLS would encourage people or churches to plant new relevant churches in Estonia

    That the GLS would create more passion among church leaders, especially among those who are fired up, but trapped in the culture

Clash of Old and New

September 16, 2010 in Eastern Europe, Follow the GLS, International Leadership, The Global Leadership Summit with 0 Comments

“God is at work in Kazakhstan. Be in prayer for the Christian leaders of this country as they have massive obstacles they are up against. Remnants of corrupt communist systems and governmental opposition are just a couple examples of all they have working against them. The GLS exists to build these leaders up so these dedicated men and women can have the leadership tools in their arsenal that they need to bring the Gospel to Kazakhstan.” – Yuri Shumayev

Yuri Shumayev is the leader of the organizing committee of the GLS in Kazakhstan. In its 4th GLS season, 300 people attended the GLS in Kazakhstan in 2009.

Kazakhstan is a country of 16.2 million people with a relatively stable political and economic structure, but strong authoritarian control. The population is 47 percent Muslim, 44 percent Russian Orthodox, and only two percent Protestant. As a result, the GLS stands in contrast not only to other religions, but also to more traditional denominations. Legally, Christians have freedom, but in some places churches are persecuted and it is very difficult for churches to register with the government. However, Protestant churches in the country are unified and meet together for fasting and praying and events like the GLS.

The GLS in Kazakhstan has not escaped governmental regulation unscathed. Recently, the governement in Kazakhstan tried to pass a law effectively prohibiting the presence of foreign missionaries in Kazakhstan, and it was under the threat of this law that the GLS in 2008 was very nearly shut down. After an official government inquiry, the GLS was allowed to continue. The leaders there were envisioned and inspired, and the law itself never officially passed.

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In the Shadows of Oppression

April 16, 2010 in Eastern Europe, Follow the GLS, International Leadership, The Global Leadership Summit, Video with 0 Comments

“Pray for the GLS in Romania. In 2010, there are a record seven projected sites in this country, which the leaders there are very excited for. Pray for the logistical challenges that the execution of seven events will bring. Pray for the stamina of the leaders of these sites. Pray that the Church of Romania will be lifted and envisioned by the leaders in attendance this year.” – Vasile Eugen Paul-Faina

Vasile leads the organizing committee of the GLS in Romania. 2008 was the first GLS in Romania. 1,064 people attended at five different sites in 2009.

Romania is a country of just over 22 million people, still struggling to fully emerge from four decades of communist rule and government oppression. The vestiges of the old regimes are still evident, with corruption and bureaucracy stifling its fledgling democratic society and economy. Despite European Union status, 25 percent of Romanians still live below the poverty line.

Faith during the communist era was also stifled by politically unjust systems. Despite the transition to democracy, the effects of communism are still present. The Church in Romania faces many leadership challenges, most of which are rooted in the remnants of communist oppression, including authoritarian leadership styles, fragmentation of the Romanian spirit during the years of religious and ethnic persecution, and the absence of models in servant leadership.

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Making History in Estonia

December 14, 2009 in Eastern Europe, Events, Follow the GLS, International Leadership, The Global Leadership Summit, Video with 0 Comments

“Pray for the GLS in Estonia. Despite working in a very difficult, secular environment, the GLS in Estonia has been consistently delivered with extreme excellence, and the delegates have been blessed by this immensely. We pray that the event in 2010 will be no exception and that church leaders there will be equipped and inspired.” - Meelis Kibuspuu

Meelis leads The Global Leadership Summit organizing committee in Estonia. 2008 was the first GLS in Estonia. In 2009, there were 500 attendees.

We have thousand reasons every day to worship God and one of those have been last days GLS in Estonia. It was one highlight or bright spot :-) of the year for more than 500 people. And we want to thank you personally and all Willow family for enabling us to use this powerful tool for our church leaders! We really believe that there will be changes in leaders lives and through them also churches and communities will change.

This year has been very meaningful in Christian landscape in Estonia. In May we had Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham in Tallinn. There were 30,000 people in three days gathering in the biggest sports arena of Estonia. More than 1,000 people gave their life to Jesus or renewed their relationship with Jesus. We that it was very important event for Christian family in Estonia. At the same time I hope churches have realized, that we can’t change our country with just one big event. The change starts among ourselves every day if we are opened to that. And that’s what GLS is up to. We must believe, that the church is the hope of the world every day and we must proclaim it to the society. So, I believe that GLS this year have given really hope and strength to the churches who have been also part of the Festival of Hope.

We are very glad, that there were lot of young people participating in GLS and I am sure that many of them will be our future leaders. Wouldn’t it be just great if GLS is the place where young people get their calling to be a leaders and who commit themselves to God’s kingdom! Estonian Christian ministry needs such young people so much. I am sure that GLS has made history in Estonia and not only made, but also changed history of Estonia :-) . We might not even be aware of the impact of GLS here.

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Experiencing a Taste of Heaven

August 14, 2009 in Changing Lives, Eastern Europe, Follow the GLS, International Leadership, Spiritual Transformation, The Global Leadership Summit with 0 Comments

Eastern Europe – Bulgaria

When Anton Radoslavov was asked to serve as the technical director for the first GLS in Bulgaria in 2007, he was a little surprised by the detailed instructions he received from the WCA. After all, he worked as a producer and technician for a national Christian TV and radio station. He knew what he was doing. But as he soon discovered, the level of excellence expected in his country, especially for Christian events, was nowhere near what it could be. Working together with WCA representatives Marty O’Connor and Ulf Osterlund, Anton and his team were inspired to offer up their best in service to God and the Church.

This has created a seismic shift in Anton’s approach to ministry. No longer does he view himself as just a technician, but rather an instrument used by God to help communicate the vision, inspiration, and skill development that so many pastors and leaders in Bulgaria desperately need. God can use him to help redeem and restore his country. Realizing this has changed everything for him.

Looking for additional opportunities to fuel his passion and serve the Kingdom, in May 2009, Anton volunteered on the technical team for WCA’s Student Ministries Conference in Nuremberg, Germany. Together, with more than 50 volunteers from around the world, Anton and this team served more than 4,000 student leaders looking to get better at reaching the next generation for Christ in Germany. According to Anton, “It was an awesome experience that gave me a taste of heaven, a place where you are serving exactly as you were created to be.” Returning to Bulgaria, he felt a very real, but quiet confirmation from the Holy Spirit that he was living life to its fullest.

Bulgaria Facts

Population: 7.2 million
Religious Breakdown: Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4%
Political: Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.

GLS Attendance

2007: 165
2008: 187
2009: Pending

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