24 February 2026 | Riga, Latvia [Inga Slakota with tedNEWS]
Around 100 participants gathered in Riga from 7 to 9 February for Mission: Latvia, a conference designed to strengthen church planting across the country. By the end of the event, many indicated they were ready to pursue further training and take steps towards planting new congregations.
Beginning on Friday, the programme was structured into two halves. The first saw employees from the Latvian Conference invited to a morning seminar, held before the event began for lay members, entitled “The Role of the Pastor in Church Planting and Mission.” Pastor Atte Helminen shared insights from the congregation in Helsinki, Finland, which over the past 30 years has intentionally planted six new churches. During that time, despite repeatedly sending out capable leaders, the attendance of the mother church has remained stable, while the overall membership in Helsinki has increased tenfold.
The second half marked the beginning of the event for lay members, with Helminen’s Friday evening message inviting participants to reflect on the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus and how their hearts were set on fire in conversation with Jesus.
On Sabbath, the Riga First Seventh-day Adventist Church and event attendees experienced a Sabbath School format different from what they are accustomed to, incorporating testimony sharing and prayer requests while modelling intentional care for one another. Many participants noted that this format fostered meaningful personal connection and spiritual renewal. During the worship service, Pastor Sylvia Cariotoglou, Trans-European Division (TED) Director for Adventist Mission and Evangelism, spoke on the theme Better Together, highlighting the importance of intentionally investing in relationships, both within the church community and with those outside it.
The Sabbath afternoon programme featured six testimonies, three from Latvia and three from abroad. Tālivaldis Vilnis shared insights from their church planting efforts in the 1990s. Jānis Mucenieks presented the beginnings of the Sadraudzība, Latvia, congregation, reflecting on sacrifice, determination and God’s guidance in response to a group of believers seeking to establish their own church. Agris Bērziņš spoke about the recent development of a group in Lubāna, Latvia.
Pastor Meeri Pajula, the Estonian Conference Youth Director, introduced the Tallinn Compass Adventist Church in Estonia, a congregation initiated and led by lay members. Helminen shared the story of the recently established Oikos church in Finland, which rents a residential house for worship services and consistently welcomes newcomers each Sabbath in a warm and relational atmosphere. Daniel Meder, a Brazilian missionary currently serving in Estonia, moved listeners with his testimony from Japan, where patient friendship and the work of the Holy Spirit led to transformation in a man’s life. Speakers underlined that authentic mission requires sincerity, patience and sensitivity to culture rather than pressure or strategy-driven relationships.
On Sunday, following a devotional presented by Meders focusing on the missionary model of the church in Antioch from the Book of Acts, there were three seminars, with one of them reflecting on practical approaches to faith-sharing.
“It was inspiring to attend the conference. It highlighted the importance of planting new churches to reach people across Latvia,” said Cariotoglou. “I want to thank the Latvian Conference team for their support, and especially acknowledge Inga Slakota for her vision and dedication to mission and church planting. Let us continue to pray for the important work taking place across the Baltic Union Conference.”
In a post-conference survey, participants expressed renewed clarity and commitment to the mission of the Adventist Church. Several indicated they sensed God calling them to begin new congregations. Others had long-held visions affirmed, recognised the importance of prayer partnerships, or resolved to invest more deeply in a smaller number of people, replicating the model of Jesus with His twelve disciples. Many highlighted the need to build genuine friendships, serve people where they are, and prioritise mission-minded initiatives. One participant described the event as “the best conference ever”, noting the practical value of the presentations and the evident dedication of those attending.
[Photos: Daniel Floetzner and Benjamin Floetzner]
