Adventist Representative Attends the European Parliament Prayer Breakfast

A Latvian delegation joined more than 700 participants at the twenty-eighth European Parliament Prayer Breakfast, Europe’s largest gathering of Christian leaders and policymakers for prayer and reflection, in Brussels from December 2 to 4.

Talivaldis Vilnis attended as the sole representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Talivaldis, who serves as Ministerial Association secretary of the Latvian Conference and Ministerial Association coordinator for the Baltic Union Conference, has been involved in the prayer breakfast movement in Latvia for more than two decades.

The event centered on the biblical verse from James 3:17: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” Organizers said that the James 3:17 passage shaped the service’s atmosphere of prayer, dialogue, and reflection.

One of the keynote speakers, Sari Miriam Essayah, Finland’s minister of agriculture and forestry, emphasized Christ’s transformative impact on society and reminded attendees of Europe’s Judeo-Christian foundations. Essayah noted that when a person’s identity is grounded in Christ, “the good within naturally flows into society.” She also highlighted the distinction between democracy, which follows the majority, and Christianity, which calls a faithful minority to remain steadfast, stating that Christians are called to be not the loudest but the most faithful.

His Serene Highness Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein urged participants to remember persecuted Christians worldwide and those suffering because of war and violence. His appeal echoed the qualities of mercy and compassion found in James 3:17.

Participants expressed deep gratitude as the three-day visit concluded. The program offered times of learning, fellowship, and meaningful encounters, attendees reported. Delegates also had the opportunity to observe the work of the European Parliament and enjoy Brussels in clear winter weather.

The original version of this story was posted on the Trans-European Division news site.