9 December 2025 | Brussels, Belgium [Talivaldis Vilnis with tedNEWS]
A Latvian delegation joined more than 700 participants at the 28th European Parliament Prayer Breakfast in Brussels from 2 to 4 December, as Europe’s largest gathering of Christian leaders and policymakers for prayer and reflection.
Pastor 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 centred on the biblical verse from James 3:17: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Organisers said the 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, emphasised 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 not to be 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 programme offered times of learning, fellowship and meaningful encounters, and delegates also had the opportunity to observe the work of the European Parliament and enjoy Brussels in clear winter weather.
[Photos: Talivaldis Vilnis]
