Association Lithuanian Christian Foundation

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Mission, operational philosophy

The fundamental purpose of the Lithuanian Christian Foundation (LKF) is to contribute to the dissemination of Christian values, to the support of the evangelical communities of the region and to the formation of authentic Christian ministry. LKF’s activities also aim to respond meaningfully to the educational, social and cultural needs of the region in the context of the dramatic changes of our times.

The activities of the LKF are based on a Christian worldview and an evangelical, Protestant religious tradition. At the same time, the wider experience of historical and global Christianity is valued and acknowledged. The mission of the LKF is implemented through targeted programmes of activities. The resources and support structure of the programmes are developed in cooperation with local and foreign organisations. LKF’s activities are not institutionally closed, but are directed towards the evangelical communities of the region and those groups in need. Christian service initiatives in other communities and organisations are also supported wherever possible. Finally, the activities of the LKF consist in the development of models of ministry, assessment and analysis of the situation.

The highest decision-making body of the LKF is the assembly of its members.

History

The Lithuanian Christian Foundation (LKF) is a public, non-profit organisation. Founded in 1989 on the initiative of evangelical Christians, LKF is considered one of the first of its kind in the region. The German mission “Licht im Osten” was the first important partner in the creation and development of the organisation’s Christian activities in the region. Later, partnerships were established in North America.

Initiatives of mercy, publishing, and support for the ministry to the evangelical communities in the region began as a service initiative and later developed into a series of religious, educational, social and cultural programmes.

In the spring of 1995, the Lithuanian Christian Foundation (LKF) acquired an administrative building in Ginkūnai, the former manor of Counts V. and S. Zubovas. The reconstruction and adaptation of this building for the community and various programmes has become one of the most significant projects of LKF.

2008 – present
1996 – 2005
1994 – 2019
1994 – 2006
1992 – 1998
1990 – 1994
1990 – present

2008 – present

Children’s Day Care Centre.

1996 – 2005

English language training programme.

1994 – 2019

Evangelinis Biblijos institutas.

1994 – 2006

Publishing house “Jona”.

1992 – 1998

Piano studio.

1990 – 1994

Social assistance and support programme.

1990 – present

LCC University.

Programmes

Christian Cultural Centre.

The aim of this programme is to complete the equipping and adaptation of a building in Ginkunai, Šiauliai district, for the various needs of evangelical communities and LKF programmes. This 19th century building, which was renovated in 1980, was acquired by LKF in 1995. The reconstruction and landscaping works (which cost more than the building itself) have already enabled the LKF and the Free Christian Church of Šiauliai to operate their programmes.

Evangelical Bible Institute.

The history of Evangelical Bible Institute (EBI) began in 1994 in the premises of Klaipėda Baptist Church. The training was initiated by teachers from the Lithuanian Christian Foundation College in North America. In 1995, the programme was moved to Šiauliai, and on 14 January 1997 to the new LKF premises in Ginkūnai. Under the leadership of Dennis Brooks (Eastern Mennonite Missions) a two-year training programme was developed.

In the autumn of 1999, after returning from theological studies in the USA, Otonas and Raimonda Balčiūnas, together with Christoph Haegele (German MBMS – Mennonite Brethren), undertook the revival and reorganization of this program of theological training, personal development and study.

In 2012 a new page in the history of EBI was opened. Seven organisations – the Christian Fellowship “Word of Faith”, the Free Christian Church, the Synod of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania, the Christian Foundation of Lithuania, the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities (USA), Contact Mission (Germany) and the Mennonite Brethren Mission (Canada) – established the Evangelical Biblical Institute as a separate public institution with two centres in Šiauliai and Vilnius.

The EBI offered study programmes in Christian ministry and pastoral ministry for ministers of Evangelical churches in the region.

In April 2015, two of EBI’s programmes (Pastoral Ministry and Christian Ministry) received EAAA accreditation for three years.

In 2019, the EBI training programme was relocated to Vilnius by decision of the EBI Council. (www.ebinstitutas.lt)

Children's Day Care Centre.

Operational since 2008. Up to 20 children currently attend the Children’s Day Care Centre (VDC). The mission of the VDC is to promote the well-being of children by providing social and non-formal education services to the children of Šiauliai district.

In 2020, the Children’s Day Centre service was accredited.

Objectives:

  • contribute to meeting children's social needs
  • promoting children's self-esteem in their local community
  • developing citizenship
  • to introduce children to the basic values of Christian morality and to encourage them to implement them in their lives
  • to provide staff and volunteers with the opportunity to learn and develop their competences as social workers
  • to bring together good initiatives from public institutions, NVOs and the local Christian community to address the problems of social exclusion and after-school employment of children in Šiauliai district

Services for children include: tuition assistance, meals, Christian education, music education, art studios, sports and culinary activities. Outings, meetings and excursions are organised. During the summer, children can participate in camps.
Head: Soleveiga Čužiauskienė. (see Facebook Vaikų dienos centras Ginkūnuose).

People

Heads

Otonas
Balčiūnas

Otonas and his wife Raimonda founded LKF. Head of the organisation: 1989-1998, 2001-2004 and 2015-2016.

Otonas currently lives and works in the USA with his wife Raimonda and youngest daughter Urte. He has three daughters and two granddaughters.

Christoph
Haegele

Head of the organization: 2005-2010. Pastor GEC Basel, coordinator and head of the organization Kontaktmission Switzerland. Currently lives and works in Basel with his wife Antonia. They have two sons and two daughters.

Zenonas
Buivydas

Head of organisation: 1999-2000 and 2014

Serves as Secretary General of LINAVA, the Lithuanian National Association of Car Carriers by Road. He lives with his wife Neringa in Trakai district. He has four daughters and three sons.

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Valdas
Vaitkevičius

2011-2013, 2017 – present.

Pastor of the Free Christian Church in Šiauliai.

Has three daughters and two grandchildren. Lives and works in Šiauliai.

Staff and volunteers

Čužiauskienė
Solveiga

Children’s Day Centre Manager

Vytautas Kurmis

Vytautas
Kurmis

Head of Economy.
Volunteer

Ignaciūnienė
Vida

housekeeping Administrator

Stancelienė
Asta

Social Educator

Pavlavičienė
Aistė

Finance Manager

Vaitkevičius
Valdas

President

Members of the foundation

Balčiūnas Otonas

Buivydas Zenonas

Gorodničenko Bronislava

Balčiūnienė Raimonda

Buivydienė Neringa

Jucevičius Remigijus

Balčiūnas Vitoldas

Christoph Haegele

Kurmis Vytautas

Bagdonas Audrius

Čužiauskienė Solveiga

Vaitkevičius Valdas