Spotlight: Preaching, teaching in Lithuania’s language

Kaunas, Lithuania — Vladimir Rancev has taught Bible courses in locales from Odessa, Ukraine, to San Cristóbal, Mexico.

But now the minister and tour guide is focused on his home nation, Lithuania — specifically, the country’s second-largest city, Kaunas, a center of Lithuanian culture and education with a population of about 400,000.

In August 2014 Rancev began making regular visits to Kaunas — several times per month — “because I consider it my duty to preach the Gospel there,” he said. “I also believe that it is very important to preach and teach the Gospel in people’s own language.”

He has participated in mission trips to other nations — as far away as Mexico — and has visited and preached for the Enterprise Boulevard Church of Christ in Lake Charles, La., which sends members to Lithuania to assist in the work there. The church recently became Rancev’s supporting congregation as he seeks to move into full-time ministry, said church member Douglas Berry.

In addition to working with a small number of believers in Kaunas, Rancev plans to offer English lessons to those interested as a means of introducing them to the Gospel.

Website: www.blvdchurchofchrist.org