Our Latvia mission team produced 5 videos that provide an overview of the country as well as the UMC missionaries' efforts to re-establish the Latvian Methodist church. The videos also summarize several outreach efforts to the Latvian youth including Camp Wesley and the Hope Center.

Just click on the title of the video you want to watch in the box below the video player.

 

Part I: Latvia Overview

Latvia has been an occupied country through much of its history. Regional powers such as Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Russia have all conquered Latvia beginning in the 10th century. Finally in 1918, Latvia declared its first independence and was recognized by the international community in 1921. Over the next 20 years the country flourished.

During WWII, Latvia was again occupied by the Russians, followed by the Germans, and finally liberated by the Russians. But this liberation did not bring freedom to Latvia and Latvia was assimilated as a Soviet state. Massive deportations to Siberia began in 1949 along with many casualties of the Latvian people. Today, Ethnic Latvian’s account for just 60% of the population of Latvia, 30% are Russian and the remaining 10% other ethnic groups.

The Church has had a presence in Latvia from the crusades and through the Reformation until today. In 1921, the Methodist Church officially entered Latvia and started an orphanage and an eye clinic that same year. The Methodist Church grew into more than 20 congregations, and in 1925 she sent her first missionary to India.

As WWII began, the Methodist Church, viewed as an American organization by Nazis and Soviets, started facing persecution. As the war intensified, the Soviets cinched their grasp on Latvia and officially closed Methodist doors. Methodists, however, continued to meet in secret – those caught being sent to labor camps. In 1947, the Methodists signed a treaty with the Lutheran Church, which took her pastors and property in an attempt to protect them from the KGB. (However, eventually the Soviets confiscated all property from every denomination in Latvia.)

The Latvian Methodist Church - a vibrant, self-sustaining, sending church – was crushed into a smoldering wick. The United Methodist Church in Latvia (LAMB) re-emerged in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union in ‘91. Today she has 13 congregations (11 Latvian speaking, 2 Russian speaking) many consisting of the lost and the least in Latvian society.

Currently LAMB has eight pastors, yet some of them work other jobs to supplement their pastor salaries, which fall 50% below a living wage. Further, students training for ministry opt for other professions because the Methodist church here currently cannot provide viable support. Even so, one exciting outreach of the church is the Hope Center. With Latvia having one of the highest documented abortions rates among teens in Eastern Europe (most of these girls begin in the orphanage), this home provides a haven for pregnant teens who wish to keep their babies. The Hope Center houses and nurtures girls while teaching them parenting and other skills, which allows them to keep their babies and raise them as children.

The UMC in Latvia desires and envisions becoming, once again, a vibrant, self sustaining, sending church - yet LAMB desperately needs your prayers and financial support to help her in the early stages of this journey.

 

Part II: The UMC in Jelgava

The main part of our trip was to connect, and build relationships with the Jelgava congregation. After spending time with this church I can honestly say that Middlebrook Pike made the correct decision to support them, and our connection is certainly a God thing. Let me give you some history on the Jelgava congregation.

Jelgava UMC is the newest of the 13 congregations with 26 members and 14-21 in weekly attendance. For its weekly meeting, the congregation gathers in their two rented rooms on the third floor of a sewing factory in an industrial area. The congregation is developing its work in several directions: youth and children’s ministry, social outreach, and establishment of the congregation. Children and youth take part in the worship with singing and drama. Outreach ministry is directed toward local social centers. Future plans are for a teen club and an English club.

Ilze Pauksha pastors this congregation, and she also teaches in the public school system during the week. She recently graduated from the Baltic Theological Seminary. Her husband, Ansis, commutes to Riga for work everyday. He is actively involved with Ilze’s ministry, and he currently takes distance learning courses at the Baltic Theological Seminary in Tallinn, Estonia. Ilze is the daughter of Arijs Viksna who pastors the churches in Liepaja and Paplaka. Ilze’s sister, Inese Budnika, is also a UMC pastor in the in Latvia.

Upon arriving in Jelgava, we were immediately thrown into a situation that we were not totally prepared for, however, it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Our first task upon arriving was to lead a worship service at a local retirement facility. Wil delivered a good sermon but Eric Bronkala stole the show. One of the residents stated the Eric has the “Voice of an Angel.”

One of the most beautiful things that we learned about this congregation is that they believe worship can, and should happen anywhere. While with the congregation we worshiped in a retirement facility, a park, a social services center, and in their church. We shared many unique experiences with this congregation; some good, some bad, but each experience solidified for us that this congregation loves the Lord, and they’re working extremely hard to figure out the most effective way to spread the word of God.

Our experiences with the Jelgava congregation cannot be expressed in this short article, so I urge each family to get a copy of the DVD that should be available in a few weeks.

Thanks and God Bless.
Justin M. Haynes

 

Part III: The Missionaries

Southern hospitality is alive and well in Latvia in the presence of Dan and Courtney Randall. The Randalls, both graduates of Duke Seminary, are serving as missionaries to the United Methodist Church of Latvia (LAMB) through the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM). They are half way through their three-year commitment and are expecting their first child “any day” now. They have no car, which is not unusual in Latvia. All travel is by foot or public transportation.

The couple serves the Methodist churches of Latvia in many ways. Dan is the Young Adult Coordinator and Camp Director of Camp Wesley. He assists the local pastors, leads Bible studies, mentors students and preaches. Courtney is the Director of Sunday School Education; Youth Work Coordinator and is the camp’s program director. She also works closely with the girls at the Hope Center, an outreach to unwed mothers and their babies.

With all that they have going they still had time to host the Middlebrook Latvia team. Dan and Courtney arranged lodging for the guys on the team at 1st Riga UMC, and housed the ladies at their apartment. On our first day, Dan served as tour guide, translator and driver as the team got oriented to the Latvian culture and people.

The following day we traveled to Cesis and the Hope Center where we met with the mothers and babies, as well as several of the youth from the Cesis UMC. An afternoon of food, fellowship and music allowed us to interact one on one with the residents. Courtney’s compassion for this program was evident in her interaction with the girls.

The team continued on to Jelgava. We joined Dan and Courtney later that week for the two-hour trip to Camp Wesley. Dan proudly showed us around the camp on the Baltic Sea where ambitious renovations are under way. Dan will spend the summer here helping young people grow closer to God.

We spent our last night in Latvia in Riga at the Randall’s apartment. It was a powerful evening of fellowship and worship led by Dan and Wil. God has truly touched this young couple. Their love of God and dedication to their mission is inspiring. They have overcome frustrations and difficulties to further their work for the church. They need our continuing support, praise and prayer.

Pat Kessler

To keep up with the Randalls, visit their blog by clicking here!

 

Part IV: The Hope Center in Liepa, Latvia

What is the Hope Center?
The Hope Center is a non – profit organization begun by the Latvian Methodist Church to help give young pregnant women, who choose to keep their baby, an opportunity to realize this choice. The Center’s goal is to make a real difference in the lives of these young women, not just offer food and shelter until their baby is born. They need help in caring for the infant, finding a place to live, employment and child care. The Center has expanded its original goal by also reaching out to underage girls living in orphanages who are pregnant and determined to keep their babies. The Hope Center keeps them from being shuffled around and placed in short term crises centers or shelters because they became an embarrassment to the orphanage.

The Hope Center is a new building in Liepa not without its construction woes. The young mothers live on the second floor of this building. There are seven bedrooms, a kitchen, kitchenette and 3 bathrooms. The downstairs of this building houses a sanctuary for two of the UMC Liepa congregations and Sunday School rooms.

How does the Hope Center
create a home?
The Hope Center offers these young women a safe home in which to grow and be a part of a family. They live together with other young pregnant women. They help care for each other’s infants under the watchful eye of the housemother, giving them experience with infants before their own baby arrives. They can stay in the Center until they have mastered the skills of motherhood and have a safe place to live with their baby. This is an important time in their lives. They learn to trust and take responsibility. They are nurtured, taught the skills of motherhood and just as importantly life skills.

MPUMC’s Mission Team was able to spend a beautiful day with the young women at the hope center, other local youth involved in the church, and Dan and Courtney Randall. We stopped at a grocery along the way and brought with us all the items needed for a delicious cookout. Using a makeshift grill from bricks, we were able to cook sausages, hot dogs, and wonderful skewers of Shasliks. Shasliks are marinated chunks of pork that were really just amazing! Everyone in Latvia seems to have their own recipe for the marinade and all of us want to recreate this dish here in Knoxville! After a great picnic with all the trimmings – potato salad, pea salad, potato chips (some tomato flavored and mushroom flavored), we played games in the yard with the youth, loved the babies, and took lots of pictures. We then moved into the sanctuary of the Hope Center and had a meaningful music service together. It was such a blessing to see the young mothers and their sons and daughters together in the service and to be able to share this time with them. At the end of the day, we were hesitant to leave and tears were shed among us and the young mothers as we made our way back to Riga for the evening. Yes, we have to return someday soon.

Susan Beck

 

Part V: Wesley Camp in Liepaja

Wesley Camp is located on the west coast of Latvia near the town of Liepaja. It consists of approximately 24 acres of farmland near the Baltic Sea and was acquired by the United Methodist Church in December of 2004. The farm was in general disrepair and work began to renovate the camp in May of 2005. Founding gifts came from the North Alabama Conference, Holston Conference, Red Bird Mission Conference, and Martin United Methodist Church in Martin, TX.

Over the past few years, many improvements have been made due to these generous gifts. However, there is still much to do. The original farmhouse has become the office and caretaker’s house. Two large barns have been renovated with new roofs and insulation. Ongoing renovations include - plumbing for bathrooms and showers, and a functioning kitchen, making it possible to comfortably accommodate 100 campers in the summer and 50 in the winter. Other farm structures, stage, fire pit, beach, and an apple orchard make up the remainder of the grounds of Wesley Camp.

What goes on at Wesley Camp? Not unlike our own Methodist camps in the Holton Conference, Wesley Camp offers a unique opportunity for Christian growth at every stage in life: as children, as teenagers and as adults. Wesley Camp has week-long camping events during the summer, designed especially for large groups of children and youth. In addition to a rigorous summer schedule, Wesley Camp offers three-day weekend retreats during the spring, fall, and winter, designed for smaller groups from local congregations.

The importance of Wesley Camp may not be evident to those in places where church camps are common. But to camp director Dan Randall and his staff, this facility represents hopes reborn and ministry extended to children, youth, and adults of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and around the world.

Eric Bronkala

 

Part VI: What's Next in Latvia?

With this article, the sixth and final article in the series, I'd like to tell you about what's next in our partnership and ministry in Latvia. At least, I'd like to tell you about five things we think and hope might be next.

First, we will continue to support our missionaries, Dan and Courtney Randall, and our paltner church in Jelgava from our missions budget. In some ways, this financial assistance is the least powerful of our ministries in Latvia because it is the least relational. However, without financial assistance from churches like ours, Dan and Courtney Randall would not be serving in Latvia and the church in Jelgava might have never even been planted.

Second, we hope to be able to invite Pastor Ilze Paukshis and her husband Ansis, who is currently in seminary, to come visit us in Knoxville. Logistics and funding for the trip would have to be worked out for this to occur, but we are hopeful these obstacles are not insurmountable.

Thirdly, we hope to be able to send another team to Latvia. Our hope is that the team could be both a relationship building team and a literal building team. Our vision is for a team that can work on taking care of some of the building repairs and renovations needed at Camp Wesley while also spending time supporiting our partner congregation in Jelgava.

Fourth, the women of our church's United Methodist Women's (UMW) groups are exploring ways we can reach out to the children of Jelgava and the women of the Hope Center. One exciting idea being explored is the possibility of preparing Christmas shoeboxes filled with school supplies for needy children in the Jelgava area.

Fifthly, Eric Bronkala and our youth leaders are exploring the possibility of one day taking a youth team to Latvia and the possibility of perhaps doing a youth director exchange with the church in Jelgava.

Finally, we have to admit we don't exactly know what is in store for us in Latvia in the future. We know we have many dreams and visions, several of which are outlined above. We pray God will adjust any of our visions that are out of line with God's visions and that God will provide the resources needed for God's dreams and visions for our church's connection with Latvia to become a reality. Thanks to all of you who God has already used to make our connection to Latvia a reality and a blessing.

Wil Cantrell

Our Latvia mission team produced 5 videos that provide an overview of the country as well as the UMC missionaries' efforts to re-establish the Latvian Methodist church. The videos also summarize several outreach efforts to the Latvian youth including Camp Wesley and the Hope Center.

Just click on the title of the video you want to watch in the box below the video player.