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For a number of years Westgate Church has sought to
encourage the Baptist Church in Latvia by helping to train future
church leaders at Gordon Conwell
Theological Seminary. To date we have provided partial scholarships
to Edgars and Kristine Mazis, Martins Balodis, Andrejs and Evija Balodis.
Edgars is teaching in seminary and pastoring a large church in Latvia's
capital, Riga. Kristine helps with Christian Education. Martins and
his new wife are responsible for a church in Liepaja. Andrejs is the
younger brother of Martins. Presently Westgate is sponsoring Aldis
Kibensat GCTS.
In addition to scholarships Westgate members have participated
in four short term missions trips to Latvia to help reopen a former
Baptist mission station in Tilza as an extension seminary to train
church planters. The final of three buildings is nearing completion
in renovations. The first class of five has graduated and is now planting
two new churches. The second class began classes in the fall of 2000.
Aldis Kibens
130 Essex St
Box 283A
South Hamilton, MA 01982
978-646-4415
aldisk@yahoo.com
Prayer Requests:
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Pray for Aldis to have a good grasp of the English
language and to have wisdom and perseverance in studies.
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Pray for successful ministries of former students.
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Pray for the church planting ministry of the Latvian
Baptist church and for ongoing training in the two seminaries.
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Pray for Latvians to open to the Gospel.
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During the current summer session Aldis is taking
a Gordon Conwell semlink theology course dealing with current
theological questions/problems. June 14 he will travel to Latvia
for the summer months. This summer he will do a mentored ministry
unit in Latvia working on groundwork for establishing an ongoing
youth ministry program for the Association of Baptist Churches
in Latvia. This will hopefully prepare the way for developing
and activating this ministry when he graduates and returns to
Latvia a year from now. Aldis will be contacting local church
pastors on youth ministry needs, issues, and concerns, and also
working with the Association council in developing a strategy
to design a strong youth program for churches across Latvia.
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A yet unsolved local need is to find a reliable
used car for about $2,500 to replace the current donated 1987
Saab which is literally on its last legs (steering assembly, exhaust
system, water coming in through rusted areas, etc.). Steve Peluso
is keeping his eyes open, and Jim Lombardi (Goodworks) is looking
also.
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Aldis would appreciate prayer both for the summer
ministry preparation work, and for the provision of a used car.
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