Pray for Lithuania

Lithuanian is one of the world’s oldest living languages and is one of two surviving Baltic languages. Pride in the preservation of their language and traditions through centuries of repression and foreign rule has long bound Lithuanians together. Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, and in 1990 it became the first Soviet republic to declare independence from the USSR. Along with their language and history, Lithuanians share their love for folk traditions such as the Midsummer Festival and harvest celebrations where they give thanks for their crops. The economy relies heavily on agriculture, especially grains and potatoes, as well as technology, manufacturing, furniture production, and shipping.

Many Lithuanians suffer from mental health challenges, leading to high suicide rates and the use of alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms. Because alcohol is deeply rooted in social gatherings, heavy drinking has become normalized throughout society. Divorce is common, giving Lithuania one of the highest rates of single-parent households in the European Union. Women and girls are vulnerable to being exploited locally for sex or forced labor or trafficked abroad to destinations across Europe, including Germany, Spain, and Scandinavia.

Lithuania was one of the last European nations to become Christian and managed to hold onto Roman Catholicism despite Soviet religious restrictions. Today, Lithuanians have the freedom to worship, and new Christian groups are emerging. More than 80 percent of Lithuanians are Christian, and the majority are Roman Catholic. However, very few attend church regularly. Under Soviet rule, evangelical churches faced restriction and surveillance, which hindered their ability to grow. Today, most evangelical churches are dependent on missionaries and are in need of more trained leadership. Lithuania is becoming increasingly secular as younger generations are detaching from the religious identity that older generations maintain.