{"id":3313,"date":"2016-09-22T14:28:35","date_gmt":"2016-09-22T14:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/2016\/09\/22\/still-active-at-120-latvia-celebrates\/"},"modified":"2021-12-10T20:40:00","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T20:40:00","slug":"still-active-at-120-latvia-celebrates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/still-active-at-120-latvia-celebrates\/","title":{"rendered":"Still active at 120 \u2013 Latvia celebrates"},"content":{"rendered":"

22 September 2016 | Riga, Latvia [Victor Hulbert]<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Despite some time in prison, by 1916 they managed to establish a church in Riga, Latvia\u2019s 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\u2019s special message to a new generation via a variety of traditional and innovative witnessing methods.<\/p>\n

A plaque in the road outside the Riga central church \u2013 home also to the Baltic Union and Latvian Conference offices, commemorates the way Adventists hid Jews during the Nazi occupation. \"\"<\/a>One of those, 17-year old \u012azaks 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.<\/p>\n

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. \u201cHe was such a hard worker. He never took a vacation during the 50 years of our marriage,\u201d Kleimanis said in an interview after Sabbath worship services. [See more in Stories of Faithfulness.<\/a>]<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Andris Pe\u0161elis, 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 Auni\u0146a even though at the time communist authorities had confiscated it. Aunina lived to be 104 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n