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Paul the Apostle wrote that “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28). These words reflect the mission of theology and religious science students at the University of Latvia (UL) – to serve people all around, as well as in a parish and in a church.
This great life’s task – to strengthen spirituality and spiritual teaching in Latvia – was promoted by the Canadian Latvian Žanis Lapuķis (1913-2008), who bequeathed 500’000 Canadian dollars to the University of Latvia for the support of the UL Faculty of Theology. In 8 years, the gold patron’s Žanis Lapuķis bequest, thanks to the Christ Church of Hamilton and the University of Latvia Foundation, have received 49 talented, gifted students of the UL Faculty of Theology.
In the name of spirituality and philanthropy
While living the true Christian life, Lapuķis wanted his convictions to continue to live even after he had gone. It is now fulfilled and implemented by the recipients of the Žanis Lapuķis Memorial Scholarship, who can achieve their dreams - to serve in churches and to teach in schools. According to the will of the patron, the memorial scholarships have been received by UL students who serve in the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia or work as religion teachers in schools in Latvia.
Ž. Lapuķis was born in Skrunda, Kurzeme. He had served in the military for many years and had acquired the status of an irreplaceable employee until he went to Canada as a refugee in 1944. During the war, Žanis Lapuķis' was a volunteer in the gathering of donations organized by the People's Aid.
In exile, Lapuķis had participated in the formation of the congregation of Christ Church of Hamilton and was its employee, as well as a member of the council. There, under the guidance of Pastor Juris Cālītis, he participated in the Alpha courses and strengthened spiritual values and beliefs. Ž. Lapuķis cared about the education of young theologians in Latvia and had provided them with support during his lifetime and wished that it would continue after his death so that there would be no shortage of clergymen in his homeland.
Graduate of the UL Faculty of Theology, pastor Oskars Smoļaks. Photo from personal archive.
Scholarship – a valuable gift for life
For the first time, scholarships named after Žanis Lapuķis were awarded to the UL students in 2011/2012 academic year. A four-time scholarship recipient (2011-2015) and a true guide for all his fellows is Oskars Smoļaks, a graduate of the UL Faculty of Theology and a clergyman. While studying for a master's degree at the UL Faculty of Theology, O. Smoļaks also started studying at the LELB Luther Academy. In 2014, he was ordained as an evangelist and began serving in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bolderāja. In 2015, on the day of the Reformation, he was ordained, and in 2016, he received a cross of the position of pastor. Currently, Oskars Smoļaks serves as the pastor of the congregation at the Old St. Gertrude’s Church in Riga, and at the Bolderāja congregation, along with pastors Rinalds Grants and Krists Kalniņš, who have inspired and served as an example, advisers and leaders on his way, as Oskars admits. As well O. Smoļaks leads the Diakonia sector and is involved in the work of the LELB Diakonia Centre.
“I am very grateful to the University of Latvia Foundation for the opportunity to receive Ž. Lapuķis Memorial Scholarship, at the time when I studied at the UL Faculty of Theology. I also deeply appreciate the patron's desire to support future clergies in their theology studies,” says Oskars, and continues to share his experience. Thanks to the scholarship, he could be a full-time theology student and dedicate himself completely to the study process without worrying, how to survive in the capital city. “It also opened up opportunities and time for voluntary activities in the church, which allowed me to use the acquired knowledge in a practical way already during the studies and developed experience that is still useful today."
It is more blessed to give than to receive
O. Smoļaks expresses his conviction: “I think we are slowly forming into a society that learns to turn, what has been acquired and accumulated, both spiritual and material, during our lives, into gifts which in fact become our common good over time. In this matter, after restoring Latvia's independence, Latvians living abroad have been an invaluable support, as well as an example and inspiration to strengthen and share with others. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Education is undeniably a fundamental basis for a personal and also for the growth and stability of society. That is why it is important that students can receive support and experience a quality study process."
“In the Christian tradition, donating has an important role and is one of the spiritual practices of Christians. In the scriptures we can read: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20: 35) It is an invitation for each of us to see and realize how I, through my life, words, deeds, and what I have been given, can be the one who influences others and adds value to the lives of others. It is a testament that we are, in fact, interdependent, and when I give up, I get back. A great person is the one who has not only been able to gain a lot in one’s life but also has been able to give a lot with joy. Until I can support students with a scholarship, I still have a way to go, but I learn every day how to serve and be a blessing to others with what I have been given. And the more we can do that, the more the society in which we live is changed and strengthened. May we succeed in creating this world a better place to live and thus be co-workers in the work of God!"
Graduate of the UL Faculty of Theology, chaplain Estere Pumpura. Photo from personal archive.
Spiritual people aspire to things of the spirit
The scholarship recipient of the 2015. /16. academic year, a graduate of the UL Faculty of Theology, Lieutenant-General Estere Pumpura, is the first woman in Latvia, who has become a chaplain in the army. Estere also acknowledges that she feels extremely honoured to receive the Žanis Lapuķis Memorial Scholarship and emphasizes that it was an important support to continue what she had started, to improve herself and achieve what has not yet been achieved. "It is very gratifying that my time and efforts were noticed and strengthened in this way. I would like to thank everyone - the patron, the University of Latvia Foundation, the representatives of the scholarship committee, and my most amazing UL Faculty of Theology lecturers! Thank you for the scholarship and the opportunity to experience a student's life, becoming a more complete, more generous, and a brighter person!” says E. Pumpura with pleasure.
“Is it possible to be satisfied and happy without giving, helping, and without supporting those who need it?" asks Estere and continues, "a student today is very different from a student in the past century or even before. The age of technology has made fundamental adjustments to our thinking, our perception, and this reflects in our daily lives: how we spend our time, how we communicate with the world around us, how we plan our lives, and what we base it on. A living person as a feeling body, audible voice, and radiant heat is becoming a phenomenon of history more and more rapidly every day. The physical person is beginning to disappear in society, but the virtual person is growing in popularity, and we are not able to stop this trend”.
The good works multiply exponentially
Estere Pumpura continues to highlight the importance of giving and philanthropy to cultivate talent: “The patrons of the University of Latvia are a phenomenon that has made an amazing contribution. It is very important to support students because each of them has the value of gold, which we do not always notice and not always find it important, but to let them know how much they have done and how much can be done, patrons are needed and the idea that every student can be a patron in the future.”
"Every one of us has to learn to become a better person throughout our lives. It can only be done by learning to give, by learning to trust and by learning to rejoice in other's achievements, and that is how we can do great things. Furthermore, we must do it together, because learning to live and be together, allowing everyone to be themselves, is a great task that needs to be learned.”
Let us love ourselves and one another
“We tend to think about different questions, such as: am I sufficiently educated, competent, appropriate? To what extent have I developed my personality? How aware of the ability to be? Depending on how we answer these questions, we may or may not be satisfied with ourselves. If a person wants to explore one’s abilities in a certain field, it should not cause envy, disbelief or a tendency to look at everything with suspicion, but rather try to evaluate one's opportunities and learn to give, and, most importantly, trust people.
For example, Paul the Apostle wrote: "Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." [Hebrews 6:12]
A mentally mature person is characterized by a willingness to cooperate, unity, and love, not envy, mistrust, and rivalry. We want to treat well the person we love, and we are delighted when he is happy, and all is well. In this case, it feels easy to give, to delight and support. But what about other cases?
People's abilities and circumstances are very different, and there will always be someone who will do better, get more, be able to give more, but if we do not stop comparing, we will never be good enough. Therefore, we should not look comparatively at what others are capable of, but rather love ourselves exactly as we are, learn to truly rejoice in the success of others, and then we will also be able to be successful and happy about what we do and what we have. A person likes to be aware that he is doing just as well as others. We tend to look at others, and if they are the same as us (at least we see them as like ourselves), if they have achieved something in life, then we assume that we can do it too because we can embody and adjust ourselves to the success of others.
Paul the Apostle wrote, "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else." [Galatians 6:4]
The University of Latvia Foundation is pleased that, in cooperation with benefactors and patrons, it is possible to provide support to the most successful students and young researchers from year to year, thus allowing them to continue to develop and improve themselves in the process of theology studies, achieve goals and broaden horizons. And indeed, all that is good returns to us, because sooner or later the effort is being noticed and rewarded with gifts – both material and, more importantly, spiritual values.
About the University of Latvia Foundation
Since 2004, the UL Foundation provides an opportunity to patrons and cooperation partners to support both the University of Latvia and other leading higher education institutions of our country, thereby investing in the future of Latvia. The priorities of the UL Foundation are to support the most outstanding, dedicated students and researchers, to advance creation of a modern study environment, as well as to promote construction and refurbishment of university’s buildings.
