wfn.org | Latvian "Voice Of Hope" Radio Broadcasts

[APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com]

Recognised As "One Of The Best"

March 5, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Latvian "Voice Of Hope" Radio Broadcasts 
Recognised As "One Of The Best"

Riga, Latvia.       The "Voice of Hope" studio in 
Latvia's capital Riga will successfully complete 
a series of fifty radio programs broadcast in 
Latvian on March 4, 2000.  Adventist World Radio 
(AWR) and the Finland Union Conference of the 
Seventh-day Adventist Church provided financial 
assistance to cover the costs of translation, 
preparation and broadcasting.

Adventist church pastors, their wives and 
professional physicians were involved in 
programme preparation.  Each programme was 
divided into three parts: (a) devotional, (b) 
health and (c) family issues.

Broadcasting started on 14 April 1999 from 
Latvian Christian Radio, which covers about 73% 
of Latvia's population, approximately 1,500,000 
people.

"This is a very popular Christian radio station 
in Latvia.  Every month Latvian Christian Radio 
receives about 240 prayer requests on live 
broadcasts and about 7,500 prayer requests by 
mail," reports Guntis Bukalders, Communication 
director for the Adventist Church in the Baltic 
Union.  "Now after forty-nine broadcasts the 
'Voice of Hope' is recognised as one of the best 
among many other denominational programmes, 
thanks largely to the health section in each 
programme."

After the broadcasts several listeners have 
contacted programme speakers and Adventist 
pastors to receive some support or to find 
solutions to their family or life problems.  
These series of programmes have also helped to 
introduce the Latvian society with Adventists, 
their faith, beliefs and worldview. 

The Adventist work in Latvia began in the middle
1890s. In 1896 the first Adventist church in Riga 
was established. About 12 000 Christians, 
including 3 900 baptised adult members,
organised in 44 congregations, belong to this 
protestant denomination in Latvia today.