— Updates —

november 2024

• Pray for provision so that they can continue to meet the ongoing needs of the ministry. Their greatest need is financial. When an organization is 30 years old, such as BBI, some of the faithful friends and supporters are passing onto glory, and it becomes harder to replace that support.

• Please pray for ongoing health and safety as they travel and health for Natalie. She had a significant health scare earlier this year when she was traveling home from a ministry trip to Poland. She has recovered well and completely.

• Please pray for safety as they go into these territories where there is a lot of evil and danger lurking. Please pray for Natalie as she will be traveling to Latvia and Ukraine in January.

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May 2024

BBI has had quite the busy first half of 2024! We began in January with a heart-wrenching (and frigid) trip to Ukraine to deliver food, beds, mattresses, and medical aid to churches, chaplains, and several displaced families. In March, we planted BBI’s first church in Riga, Latvia for refugee families. In April, we held our annual Prayer Days retreat for ministry leaders across the Baltics. And today, I am joined by our Latvian and American staff in Wisla, Poland, where we are joyfully leading the Christian Artists Network for the European Leadership Forum.

• PRAYER REQUESTS 
  Please pray for the Ukrainian refugee families (largely women and children) attending BBI’s new church in Riga, most of whom are unbelievers.

• Please pray for our upcoming Imaginations art ministry camp in July. We will focus on the theme “The Still, Small Voice of God” and reflect on how we are called to use our creativity to further the Kingdom.

• Please pray for the young campers who will soon be filling the cabins at Eagle’s Wings Camp, most of whom will come from unchurched families.

• Please pray for financial provision for BBI- that new friends and supporters would be called to join us in this work through regular commitments.

• Please pray for wisdom and discernment for me (Natalie) as I lead, speak, and encourage the Latvian leaders we strive to resource and equip.

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DECEMBER 2023

Note from Chuck and Nancy Kelley: 

2023 brought a big change (on June 1) when Chuck stepped down from the presidency of Bridge Builders International and passed the torch of leadership to Natalie Meeks. Our “Passing the Torch” Banquet was in Corvallis, OR on September 15 at First Baptist Church where BBI began almost 30 years ago (see picture below). Ron and Fran Hubeek attended the banquet from Lake Tapps.

Chuck is now serving half time with BBI as President Emeritus. He travels to Latvia less often, but he continues to have speaking engagements and meetings with churches and individuals in the US and abroad.  

We whole-heartedly support Natalie Meeks in her new role as BBI President Joshua Masters as BBI Executive Director. They are gifted, skilled leaders who love the Lord, love people, and love Latvia. They will lead BBI from its new office in their home state of South Carolina. (It’s amazing how distance doesn’t matter anymore when it comes to working together.)  

We are grateful for all who will continue in prayer and support in this new chapter of the ministry that God planted in Chuck’s heart 30 years ago.  

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LTCC will be hearing from Natalie Meeks for our Missionary Spotlight going forward. Here is the update from her: 

Christmas has come and gone, with all of its preparations, traditions, and celebrations. What a gift it is to celebrate the birth of our King! But we are also reminded that Christmas and the New Year can be a difficult time for many. That’s particularly true for those who’ve been devastated and displaced by the war in Ukraine. For the tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees who’ve fled to Latvia, they’re not only separated from loved ones but living in uncertainty daily. 

That’s why we’ve prepared a special Christmas outreach to these refugees. Beginning December 23rd and continuing through January 6, our Director of Ukrainian Ministry is leading the distribution of over 250 family care packages to 10 different refugee communities throughout Latvia. We will also bring Ukrainian carolers and share the gospel during these visits. Will you join us in praying for this Christmas Outreach project? 

In mid-January, BBI’s executive director, Joshua Masters, and I will travel to both Latvia and Ukraine. During this two-week trip, we will:

·  Bring emergency medical supplies and beds for refugees to our church partners in western Ukraine, ensuring that the help gets to where it needs to go.

·  While in Latvia, we will present a live Celebrate Recovery training workshop at the Latvian Bible Center, training pastors and local ministry leaders in how to minister hope to those struggling in Latvian communities.

·  Additionally, we will lead devotions for students at the Baltic Pastoral Institute in Riga, Latvia.

·  Finally, we will work with our team to host another gathering of Christian artists and musicians at our quarterly Hamlets Club event. 

Would you please be praying for the work of the Spirit in each of these endeavors, as well as endurance for those of us “on the field?”

We are so grateful that God allows us to be part of what he’s doing in Latvia, and thankful for the support of LTCC that makes this all possible!

With gratitude and hope,

Natalie

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AUGUST 2023

Greetings from Latvia. Today is the final day of my summer ministry trip.  Our main ministry emphasis this summer has been to artists and musicians. We just finished imagiNATIONS, our annual international camp for creatives. We held it at a lovely camp very near the Baltic Sea and about 80 artists from 8 nations participated, Christian and nonChristians alike. The theme of the camp was FOCUS taken from Proverbs 4 – "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Several lessons on the importance of clear focus in our lives, work, art, music and faith were driven home by BBI’s new President, Natalie Meeks and Executive Director, Josh Masters. We have been bringing artists together for special events and retreats since 2012 and they keep coming back…with friends. The goal is five fold:

To grow closer to God together; to grow closer to one another; to learn together; to create together; and to discuss future collaborations together. 

BBI has been ministering to Ukrainian war victims and refugees since the first week of the Russo-Ukrainian War in February of last year. During this trip we also made a trip to a small coastal city where some 20 refugees are living.  We have been helping this group since last summer.  We spent time with them, mostly listening to individuals share to stories (tragedies really) and thoughts about the war, the future, their families and their sorrows.  Beautiful people with heart breaking stories.  We prayed with them, hugged them, gave them care packages and hugged them.  We will be back in a few months to this group. Meanwhile there are many such refugee pockets all around Latvia as some 30,000 refugees live in Latvia. 

One more thing. Perhaps some at Lake Tapps would like to come to Corvallis Sept 15 for our Passing of the Torch Banquet. After almost 30 years of leading BBI, I have transitioned to President Emeritus. I am still working 75% for BBI and will continue to as long as I am able. But Natalie Meeks is our new President.  It is incredibly important for BBI to communicate that with bright new leaders we have a bright future ahead.  I want people and churches to get to know Natalie and continue to embrace BBI in their prayers, involvement, partnerships and support.   

I want to thank Lake Tapps for its faithful involvement in Latvia and for including us in its wonderful family of missionaries.  What a blessing you have been and are!

Building Bridges for the King,

Chuck

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MAY 2023

Please Pray for Chuck and Nancy Kelley

A little history…Bridge Builders International ministers in the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. It has developed strategic partnerships with multiple camps, schools, organizations, and ministry networks. After serving in pastoral ministries for 21 years, Chuck established BBI in 1994. He stepped out in faith never dreaming that Lord would call him to give much of his life serving God through the building of countless bridges between the West and the East.

God has richly blessed BBI and now after serving as President and Executive Director for 28 years Chuck’s health needs require him to step down and seek the Lord’s wisdom for a successor.  God has led the way to name Natalie Meeks as new President. Natalie has worked with BBI in various capacities fence 2016. The BBI Board is enthusiastic about Natalie and the future of BBI under her leadership.

Chuck is not entering full retirement.  As President Emeritus he will help Natalie in numerous areas both in the US and Europe.  He will still travel, speak, and represent BBI as opportunities arise. As the torch of leadership is passed in June 2023 pray for a smooth transition. Pray for Chuck and Nancy as they adjust to the changes that will come as a result of Chuck’s new role.

Warmly,

Chuck

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OCTOBER 2022

Please enjoy Chuck Kelley’s update and prayer requests given in person during both services, via livestream, or via recorded sermons on October 9th.

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AUGUST 2022

I want to thank Lake Tapps for its faithful and generous support for our ministry and the Lord’s work in Latvia.  And thank you for your willingness to pray for us.  

Our work on behalf of Ukrainian refugees continues and we are so grateful for LTCC’s generous support of it. 

- Pastor Slavic, the Ukrainian pastor who now works full time for BBI on behalf of Ukraine and refugees, is currently at Eagle’s Wings Camp ministering at the special camp for Ukrainian refugee young people. They will experience laughter, joy, love from the staff and the Gospel.  

- 3 days ago, Slavic returned from his 7th trip to the Ukrainian/Polish border.  He delivered much needed humanitarian aid to the border where it was transferred to vehicles going to his own home town to be distributed by his home church near Kiev.  On the return trip to Latvia he carried refugees who are fleeing from the war torn zones of southern Ukraine. 

- 2 weeks ago, our entire BBI team provided a feast for some 40 refugees who are staying at a small hotel near the sea.  We have also helped fund their room and board for two months.  The proprietor of the hotel is my former student at Baltic Pastoral Institute and he has planted a church at the hotel and a good number of refugees are now attending. 

We’ve met a couple from Mariupol which has been decimated by the Russians. He told me how his home was bombed, but they survived, but his neighbor’s home was obliterated killed all 8 people, children to seniors.  For two months the corpses buried under the rubble and the smell was horrible.  So he and a neighbor spent several days digging away the rubble and then buried the people in a grave in the front yard. He and she cried and so did I.  They will not go back to Mariupol because there is nothing to return to. 

Please pray that God will surprise these refugees with his plan and pray for wisdom for those who are working with them.

Blessings to all,

With love,

Chuck

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march 2022

More than 10,000 Ukranian refugees have flooded to Latvia. 500 new refugees arrive in Riga every day.

Bridge Builders International is helping and enabling Latvian individuals, churches, and ministries to serve these refugees:

• A Ukrainian pastor and his family currently live in the BBI office in Riga until more permanent housing is made available.

• BBI team members help refugees start all the document procedures – waiting in line with them and keeping them company.

• Busloads of refugees are being hosted at Eagle’s Wing Camp.

• A van has been purchased to deliver humanitarian aid to the border and bring refugees to Latvia.

• The BBI team worked with the Riga City Council to set up a Prayer Chapel for refugees. Several pastors and counselors now serve there on a schedule.

Latvians want to help. They are helping. And we can help them!

Pray for our Latvian brothers and sisters that they would have the wisdom, the resources, and the strength to reach out to meet the needs – both physical and spiritual – of the displaced within their borders.

Visit bridgebuildersint.com to donate to the Ukrainian Assistance Fund

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November, 2021

This month, Chuck has sent us a video update for our missionary spotlight.

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May, 2021

Praise the Lord that Chuck has fully recovered from a bout with cancer last year. The cancer was surgically removed, and Chuck didn’t need to have radiation or chemotherapy.

This week the European Union (EU), opened travel to vaccinated US citizens, without the need to quarantine upon arrival. This has opened up a number of ministry opportunities that were uncertain until now.

Please pray for Chuck as he is planning an extensive summer of speaking at various conferences in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland and Hungary.

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January, 2021

I (Chuck) was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, very rare for men, and underwent surgical treatment. It was difficult at first to make peace with, but thank God recovery has gone very well and now 10 weeks later there is no evidence that cancer remains. So, I don't need radiation or chemo therapy, just endocrine medication.  I am now active and hope to resume my international travel after I get the Covid vaccination.

Like all other ministries we have had to pivot in our ministry approach. This has meant greater use of Zoom for meetings, webinars and conferences. Our art ministry, because of the Zoom strategy, has actually grown in depth and width and we now are touching artists and ministries leaders in a dozen countries every month.

We are working with leaders of ministries of mercy in all three Baltic nations, including Teen Challenge, the Salvation Army, prison ministries, orphan outreaches, street ministries, rehab centers and soup kitchens.  When Covid lifts we will be able to facilitate more training utilizing Celebrate Recovery specialists and other recovery specialists from Florida as well.

Eagles Wings Camp a Christian Center in Ergli, Latvia has been able to function this past year, but in smaller groups. But still the impact and fruit has been strong.  We are now building a 3-dorm cabin and hope to get it done this year. Next year we hope to start building a multipurpose worship center at the camp. The sheep farm at the camp is once again thriving. In 2008 the sheep farm was started in hopes of providing long-term financial sustainability for the camp.

Financially, we have lost some supporters during this time of Covid.  At the same time, the Lord provided in a special way through a strong end of year response by friends of the ministry.

Prayer and Praise

• Please pray for safe travels once I am able to travel again.

• Please pray for God to continue to use these ministries to reach people for Himself.

• We are thankful for God's provision for our ministry.

• We are thankful for LTCC and your prayers and partnership.
  
  
  

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September, 2020

Lake Tapps Community Church has been connected with Chuck for twenty years. His organization, BBI, helps churches in Latvia and the United States form partnerships and navigate the complexities of international relationships. They also help reach many Latvians through programs dedicated to children, church leaders, recovering addicts, and artists.

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke in March, almost every important event and gathering was cancelled and postponed. Such cancellations have plagued schools, concerts, travel, church, businesses, entertainment and politics. This has applied to BBI as well, with the exception of those things they have been able to continue in a modified way via Zoom or other web gatherings. Typically, BBI’s Latvia summer ministries begin in July. They couldn’t do that this year, but they decided that “the show must go on!”

In June, Chuck was able to travel to Riga, the capital of Latvia, because of his Latvian citizenship. Because Latvia’s coronavirus caseload has been scarce, it has allowed the country to open back up. “Opportunities,” says Chuck, “begin to abound!” They have several projects around the corner, focusing on recovery leaders, art ministry, and more. Pray for Chuck and the BBI time during, what he calls, “this exciting time.”

Please pray for Chuck’s safety while he travels and that his trips would go smoothly in spite of the uncertain circumstances. Also, pray that BBI would continue to make meaningful connections in spreading the gospel across Latvia.