Lativa
In 1996, First Baptist Church entered into a “Sister Church” relationship with Baptist Church in Cesis, Latvia. Under the leadership of former IMB missionary Robert Tucker, we established a long term commitment to assist them in reaching their city for Christ. Cesis is a beautiful city of 20,000 people.
Most citizens are native Latvians but there are many naturalized Russians who immigrated during the Soviet occupation.
The relationship we have with our sister churches around the world is one of our highest priorities. Each year we assist in projects that will strengthen these churches as well as have an evangelistic effect on their communities.
Several years ago a couple from our church, Mark and Laura Wimberley, were commissioned by FBCA to serve as missionaries to the church in Cesis. The Lord has blessed and for the first time in over 70 years the church has a wonderful facility of their own. Mark and Laura serve as lay leaders of the church.
In the past few years, Mark and Laura have been joined in ministry by Katie Leatherwood. She works to provide prosthetics and orthotics to those in need.
Their ministry includes weekly men’s and women’s Bible studies, youth Bible Studies, ministry in the local boy’s prison, host seasonal sports camps and help advance the work of Christ with other churches in the area.
Each year FBCA sends teams to serve with the Cesis church. Sometimes these are youth sports camps combined with vacation Bible schools. This year teams have begun to go to help renovate the new church buildings. If you would like to learn more about the work in Latvia, please contact our minister of missions, Steve Akin.
