Oklahoma Baptists’ partners in Latvia have listed their Top 5 priority projects so members of Oklahoma churches can begin praying how they can participate in the new partnership:

1. Soccer & sports field in the church yard for the needs of local children and youth at Liepaja Ciana Baptist Church. Reaching the local children, and also their parents through them. Increasing the number of Sunday School pupils. Involving the youth of the church in the children’s ministry. A team of approximately five people is needed to help set up the sports field, lead the first activities on the field alongside the church members, and celebrate together with the church.

2. Camp and Day Center for Families with Disabled children by Woman’s Ministry Association of the Union of Baptist Churches in Latvia and Ventspils Baptist Church.

3. Youth ministry and Teenager camps in summer and in winter by a church plant in Ropaz. Many young teens spend their summer/winter holidays uselessly, because their parents are at work and cannot spend time with them. Teams could invest in them—their spiritual growth—if they would be able to participate in these camps. And also it would give them a chance to spend their time actively and do interesting things.

4. Missional events of Ogre Trinity Baptist Church. To reach people and connect with them is important to organize different kinds of missional projects. For example, open-air neighborhood picnics, Bible daycamps for kids, sports events for kids, camp for men and women. The church is trying to reach people in three towns: Ogre, Rembate and Lielvarde. In each town there are possibilities to organize missional events and outreach.

5. Pastors education and mentoring by Latvian Baptist Union. In the last few years, we have seen a growing need to provide continuing education and mentoring for our pastors, especially those who are new in ministry. Many of them don’t have formal training, and some don’t have strong church backgrounds and experience. We understand that we need to raise the level of expectations as we ordain new brothers for ministry. We have many ideas how to organize that work, but it is also very clear that without clear oversight, it will not work.

We need teams of experienced, well-trained and respected pastors to help provide certain training events and retreats.

Churches interested in opportunities in Latvia may contact Mike Hand at 405/942-3800, Ext. 4370, or email mhand@bgco.org.