22 September 2016 | Riga, Latvia [Victor Hulbert]
A church which started as the forerunner of Adventism in the Russian Empire celebrated its 120th birthday this past weekend with a mixture of worship, history, an ordination service and an inspiring musical concert. In 1914 a German colporteur, Gerhard Perk, headed north to Latvia. He was soon joined by LD Conradi, at the time, President of the European Division of the Adventist Church.
Despite some time in prison, by 1916 they managed to establish a church in Riga, Latvia’s capital city. Since then it has grown regardless of the combined onslaughts of the Russian revolution, Nazi occupation, communism and now secularism. Some 4,000 church members today still share God’s special message to a new generation via a variety of traditional and innovative witnessing methods.
A plaque in the road outside the Riga central church – home also to the Baltic Union and Latvian Conference offices, commemorates the way Adventists hid Jews during the Nazi occupation. 
One of those, 17-year old Īzaks Kleimanis, was hidden in the small upstairs flat of two sisters, Eugenia and Katrin Apogas. He lost his entire family, but found a new family in the Adventist church. After baptism in 1948 he became a minister serving faithfully until his death in 2007.
Despite horrific treatment by communist authorities he stayed faithful to the church and is still remembered fondly today as one of their most loved and effective ministers. His widow, Lidija Kleimanis remembered him fondly during the 120th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, 17 September. “He was such a hard worker. He never took a vacation during the 50 years of our marriage,” Kleimanis said in an interview after Sabbath worship services. [See more in Stories of Faithfulness.]
Andris Pešelis, who was ordained to the Gospel Ministry on Friday evening as part of the anniversary celebrations, also recounted how the church he now pastors, Riga 7, came into existence as an extraordinary gift by two ladies, Anna Terauds who willed the property to her younger friend, Pauline Auniņa even though at the time communist authorities had confiscated it. Aunina lived to be 104 – long enough to see the house returned and given to the church. Today it is a beautiful 70 seater building with a thriving Pathfinder club and active membership.
But it is the church of today that was the main focus of the weekend. Fully packed auditoriums at the Central church on Friday night and a nearby 600 seater theatre on Sabbath, 17 September demonstrated the church is still vibrant. Mārtińš Subatovičs (28), is associate pastor of the central church in Riga. He first qualified as head of his class in music school, a place where, over a two-year period, he also found Jesus through the influence of another Adventist student.
His incessant questioning eventually changed his life and perspective. Despite his father’s protests it led him to ministry. He was just one of those who conducted choirs, sang in small groups, played the harp, the trumpet, or a range of other instruments, or demonstrated their skills through sand art or the skilful hosting of a concert that led the audience through the complete story of redemption.
Liene Meiere and Guntra Rusko were also in the congregation. They run an Adventist internet radio station using both a small studio in the Conference office, and the facilities of the Latvian State Radio where Rusko works. Working with volunteers, they hope to expand the service, touching lives both in Latvia and abroad. [See a full report in Adventist Review]
Vilnis Latgalis, President of the Adventist Church in Latvia, could not be more proud of his members and their commitment. While bemoaning the secular nature of Latvian society where less than five percent of the population attend any church, he noted how Latvian Pathfinders is one of their best outreach programmes, attracting 600 youth to summer camps, up to half of them from non-Adventist backgrounds.
Latgalis shared examples of the enthusiasm of his members, people like Madara Daukste, director of Latvia’s fledgling ADRA office, but who has managed to establish a nursing home catering to elderly community residents, as well as a substantial welfare programme. Valdis Zelčs is another enthusiast. Trained in engineering he gave up a lucrative career to invest in what is currently Riga’s only successful health food store – not just supplying church members, but the growing vegan and vegetarian community in the city, and even local restaurants. Latgalis challenged members on Friday evening, “Ours is a church with mission in a mission.”
Always entertaining, but with deep spiritual thoughts, guest speaker for the weekend, Artur Stele quipped, “Noah built and ark in 120 years. What have you built?” Preaching both Friday evening and Sabbath morning he encouraged members in Mission. In a church that has seen repression in the past and apathy in the present he reflected that Pharisees could put a seal on a tombstone to prevent God’s Mission, but come Sunday morning that Mission was still fulfilled. “Which will you choose,” he said, “a seal on a tomb, or an angel on the stone.”
He was equally incisive in challenging the two newly ordained pastors, Aldis Zēmele and Andris Pešelis. Recounting the story of Moses calling at the burning bush he reflected on the many difficulties of following God’s call, but pointed out that while the bush was burning, it was never consumed! “God knew that Moses would go through fire,” he noted, “but trusting in God, the fire will never consume you.”
Baltic Union President, David Nõmmik takes responsibility not just for Latvia, but for close neighbours, Estonia and Lithuania, both of whom sent representatives to the weekend. Delighted with the whole celebrations, Nõmmik also focused on the future, noting from 2 Peter 3:8-9 and John 13 & 14 that God’s end-time message is not so much focused on time as on God’s character and how His character impacts his follower’s behaviour. “The major theme that precedes His coming is one of love,” he emphasised. Meeting Latvian members this past week, it seems clear that, for them, sharing God’s love in action is fully part of their lifestyle. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, director; Esti Pujic, editor
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