This year’s program was held in the bustling, attractive port city of Klaipeda, the third largest city in Lithuania. It was chosen as the site for this program because it had been only lightly worked by colporteurs in the past, and many homes were as yet unreached. Returning this summer as leaders were Joshua Miller, Jeremy Calkins, and Jonathan Peoples. Several of the group were veterans of the previous summer’s program, but the majority were new to colporteur work. The uniting factor at work was that they were all young Christians, excited to share what God had done for them! All had the attitude, “If God is with us, who can stand against us?” This frame of mind was tested many times, yet strengthened through numerous experiences. Here are just a few.
Renata’s Story
“Hi, my name’s Renata. I’m one of the new students this summer. At first I was a little afraid to colporteur and ask people to open their doors to me, but God has taken that fear away. One of my best experiences this summer was with a priest. That’s right—a priest!
“My day was going normally, and I had sold several books, but nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Finally, I met a handsome young man who was quite interested in our books on health. He seemed to me to be a little different, because he was so very nice. He was very subdued and humble, unlike many of the men here in Lithuania. He invited me into his home for some tea and cookies. While we drank our tea, I continued to talk about our books and showed him all that I had.
“At first he was very suspicious of our books on religion. He said he was a strong Catholic, but I kept talking and praying, and he kept listening and looking at the books. Finally, he decided to buy Great Bible Prophecies by Mark Finley, The Desire of Ages, and our book on health.
“As I rose to leave, the young man told me who he was. I learned that he was a priest in training with one more year at the seminary before his ordination. He told me he was thankful for these books, because he was sure they would help him in his studies. I was shocked to learn of his profession, but assured him that these books would help him in his ministry.
“After I left, I could hardly speak or think. I was amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit! I prayed then and there that God would guide this young man as he reads, so that he will see the truth and will not discard it because it contradicts tradition or the teachings of his church. I ask you, also, to please remember this young man in your prayers, that the Holy Spirit will speak to his heart as he reads these books. The devil wants him in his kingdom, but God wants him even more.”
Donata’s Experience
As the winds of change blow across Eastern Europe, they do not always blow in the direction of freedom. The following experience illustrates the shortness of time.
“Hi, my name is Donata. I am a returning student from last year. I am thankful that I was able to come back this summer to learn more. The following experience was not pleasant, but it was interesting. I hope it makes you think.
“My day had gone quite well, and God had blessed with many book sales, but this door was different. I knew there was something strange going on when I saw the lady’s smile change to a look of hatred when she noticed the religious books I carried.
“But instead of slamming the door in my face, the woman opened wider and began a verbal attack. She said, ‘I am pagan. I have no need for any of your books! Don’t you feel shame, being a native Lithuanian and spreading trash from new and foreign religions? Don’t you know that the only traditional religions in Lithuania are Catholicism and paganism? Don’t you realize that in a few years there will be no other churches in Lithuania except Catholic ones? You are a fool to think our government will allow the country to be taken over by foreign religions! Just yesterday I heard of a law being proposed that would prohibit all public evangelism by nontraditional religions. You are young and smart—don’t let yourself be fooled by these new religions! Think for the future, because in the not too distant future there will be only one church!’
“And with that, the woman slammed the door shut. I was shaken, but knew I had just seen a small piece of the ‘Great Controversy’ in action.”
Money Out of the Devil’s Hands
Fortunately, not all the colporteurs experienced situations as harsh as the previous one.
“Hello, my name is Irma. I participated in last summer’s program, and am very thankful for the opportunity to return for this summer’s colporteur program. It is so good to get together with other Christian youth from across Lithuania!
“One fascinating experience I had this summer was with a drunk person. Answering my knock, a woman opened the door, but quickly said she was not interested. Just as she was saying this and was about to close the door, another lady pushed her way out of the house. She was clearly intoxicated, but claimed to be interested in our books. She grabbed one of the books on health and said she wanted to buy it. But when she looked in her wallet, she had only three litas, which did not cover the price. When we told her this, she just threw the money at us and turned to go back into the house.
“I was kind of shocked and didn’t really know what to do. Finally, I got my brain in gear and quickly gave her a small book on prophecy. She took the book and stumbled back into the house. This experience showed me that God can take anyone, in any state, and can make them receptive. He can even make a drunken person spend their last three litas to buy a book!
“I can just imagine this woman waking up from her stupor and finding herself with no money, but with a book on prophecy instead. God took that money right out of the devil’s hands!”
A Word From Jeremy
Even though being a leader isn’t always fun, Josh, Jon, and I felt privileged to have been able to work with these youth. I, too, had an interesting and memorable experience I would like to share.
It was the first day of the program. I had not colporteured for several months, so I was trying to polish the rust off of my presentation. My partner, Irma, and I prayed especially for the Holy Spirit to quicken our minds to remember what to say and to give us the right words to speak. Since we were so out of practice, we especially felt our need of help.
We had worked several houses without much success. Finally, we sold several children’s books and a book on health, but no one seemed to show much interest in our more spiritual books. We decided to pray again that God would lead us to His people who were ready to learn. At the next door we met a middle-aged woman who was very interested in our cookbook.
She invited us in so that we could show her all of our books. As we showed her what we had, she quickly lost interest in the cookbook and became very interested in the spiritual books. She finally decided that she was the most interested in Great Bible Prophecies and The Desire of Ages.
As we talked, she asked Irma what church we were from, and Irma told her that we are Seventh-day Adventists. From that point she began asking many questions about the church and what we believed. Although Irma was only recently baptized, she did a wonderful job of explaining our beliefs. However, some questions she was having a hard time answering, such as, “What is the difference between the Mormon and the Adventist churches?” And, “Do you believe the same as the Jehovah’s Witnesses on life after death?”
I had remained silent most of the time because my Lithuanian was very rusty. However, as the questions probed deeper and became more complex, I felt I needed to say something. I asked her if she understood English. She informed me that she had studied it in high school, but had used it very little since then. But she told me to speak and she would try to understand.
I tried to answer some of her questions, and then asked if she had understood. She said that she had, so I kept answering questions and attempted to make things clear for her. We talked for a long time about our beliefs as a church, and she asked if we could send someone back who could answer even more of her questions about the Bible. We promised to send someone to speak with her, and before we left we were able to pray with her and her small son.
As we turned to go she said, “I just don’t know how this could be, but I could understand your English perfectly.” We left praising the Lord for sending His Spirit to be with us, and be our Interpreter.
This experience reminded me of a quote I once read: “As they plead with the Lord to help them, He will guide them to those who are seeking light. Christ will be close beside them, teaching them what to say and do.” Colporteur Ministry, p. 22.
These were just a few of the experiences God blessed us with this summer. I wish there were time and space for more! I praise God that He has allowed me to be part of this program once again. I know Josh, Jon, and I feel privileged to have seen these Christian young people grow in faith and knowledge. We thank you so much for your prayers and support!
Editor’s Note: We thought it might be interesting for you to know how much literature has been published in Lithuania since the project’s beginning.
Books by Ellen G. White:
Steps to Christ: 25,000
From Heaven With Love (The Desire of Ages): 5,000
Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing: 5,000
True Happiness (chapters from The Desire of Ages): 5,000
Sufferings of Christ: 5,000
End Time Events (last 10 chapters of The Great Controversy): 8,000
Evil Spirits (chapter from The Great Controversy): 5,000
Origin of Evil (chapter from The Great Controversy): 8,000
Other witnessing books:
About Heaven, Hell, and the Resurrection, by Sigfried Tobler: 15,000
The New World Order, by Sigfried Tobler: 5,000
Bible Promises: 2,000
They Are Waiting for a Complete Change, by George Vandeman: 15,000
Great Bible Prophecies, by Mark Finley: 1,500
Who Is God?: 5,000
God’s Word: 1,500
God’s Law: 1,000
Who Changed Sabbath to Sunday?: 2,000
The Potato Man (the story of a priest who became an Adventist): 1,500
The Games of the Black Powers: 3,000
The Gospel According to a Dandelion: 5,000
The Quest of a Jew: 2,000
Newstart (on good health): 8,500
Vegetarian Cookbook: 5,000
My Little Days (a book for children): 2,000
Dreamland (Coloring book for children): 4,000
Children’s Color Book #1: 2,000
Children’s Color Book #2: 2,000
Also, many Bible Study Guides and Sabbath School Quarterlies.
Laymen Ministries began the Lithuania project in 1993, and since that time 127,000 books have been printed (some a second time) and many have been sold or distributed by Bible workers and colportuers. Considering that Lithuania is about the size of West Virgina, this is quite a contribution to the work! Praise God!
