Holding volleyball matches in prison isn’t exactly what Adventists in Latvia were planning on using as a Christian witness approach. But after Rihards Krievinsh, the Jelgava prison chaplain, told church members the idea, that’s exactly what happened.

Dzintars Geide, a pastor, organized a group of young people from the capital city of Riga, and began volleyball matches with the prisoners. Geide says that prison administration sees the matches as “very effective,” and hopes to continue them on a regular basis.

“This is a part of voluntary ministry in the prison; sports games and similar activities are another way to reach those who can’t be reached otherwise, who have no interest in religion or in the Bible truths,” Krievinsh says. “Currently we plan to do something similar—other types of sports events, but definitely it will be a team game.”

Krievinsh says that this Christian outreach has a positive influence on how the church is viewed in the local community. “This way we can establish good, friendly relationships. This is also [an] experience for youth to think about the new ways of witnessing about their faith, how to reach people where they are.”

The games are a first between prisoners and Christians in the history of any prison in Latvia, locals believe. Geide says that organizers have an opportunity to talk with prisoners, and several prisoners have already been baptized. Krievinsh is currently collecting donations for Bibles to distribute to inmates in Latvia prisons.