South Indiana volunteers assist Latvian United Methodists to grow

By Robert Epps

The Methodist Movement in Latvia began with a mission from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Evangelical Association in the late 19th century. These missions were suppressed by the Russians under the Tsar in 1905.

It revived and in the 1930s, when Nazi German and Russian communists fought for the territory, property deeds were taken to Geneva, Switzerland, and on to New York City.

When the Russian Communists took control in 1941, all Methodist ministers were either deported or executed. The Methodist church stayed dormant until Latvia gained independence in 1991. At that time, a few elderly Methodists began to re-create the church and appealed to the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries for help.

Volunteers and Latvians recovered and refurbished two church buildings in Riga and Lieapaja. Ten pastors lead 12 congregations.

Global Ministries sent three missionaries in 1998 for short-term leadership. Two of them, Kevin and Carol Seckel, have been re-appointed to a full term and are located in Cecis, an area of the country new to United Methodism. The youth group they started has outgrown their apartment. A building is being purchased and work teams will be invited to come and create a worship-study-fellowship center.

Meanwhile, the two mission priorities of Latvian United Methodists are youth ministry for 12 to 30 year olds and Alcohol Abuse Response. Both programs lost Global Ministries funding because of the drop in the general board's investment earnings. Both are now Advance Specials.

Youth ministry is essential to the growth and future of the church and is attracting significant numbers of un-churched young people across Latvia to a two-week camp and quarterly rallies.

This project is the recipient of offerings from the Charge Conferences of the Bloomington District. Its number is #014046-8RA. Congregations are invited to make contributions to this mission of renewal for youth and for growth of Wesleyan Christianity in a setting of great need.

At some point in the future, a ten-day work project on the church building at Cecis could be organized. From this location, participants also can learn some interesting things about the recent history of Latvia, as well as having the opportunity to see Riga, the capital.

For more information, contact the Bloomington District Office at 800-919-8161.

Last updated on February 09, 2004

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