The women's ministries of the Union of Latvian Baptists in America has from the very beginning
years of the Union supported missions and aid work in various parts of the world -- Latvia, Brazil,
Bolivia, India, Mexico. The Women's ministries of the Union of Latvian Baptists in America is a
member of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). Members of the congregations of the Union
participate in Women's Ministries throughout the year. In addition, once each year, the leaders of
the Women's ministries from each of the congregations gather at an annual meeting with the
Board of Trustees of the Women's Ministries to evaluate the activities of the prior year and to
establish plans for the next year's ministry. This year this meeting took place August 25th, during
the annual meeting and congress of the Union of Latvian Baptists in America.
A large part of the Women's Ministries mission involves support and assistance to further advance
various projects in Latvia. That is the way it was during the communist occupation and so it is
now. Most recently, the Women's Ministries have supported three special projects in Latvia:
1) Soup Kitchen Project. Several baptist congregations in Latvia extend help to the homeless by
providing them with meals and also provided them with spiritual refreshment and nourishment.
2) Support of rural pastors and their families. Living conditions and income opportunities are not
as great in rural areas as in the city of Riga. Often serving as a pastor in a rural area means not
having enough resources to support a family.
3) Infant school initiative. Several congregations have started infant schools where parents can
drop off their children while both parent work so that they can keep up their homes and provide
for their families. Infant schools are a new way that congregations can extend help and build
relationships with those outside the church family.
At this year's annual meeting, the Women's Ministry also agreed to support the Latvian baptist
mission and mission school in Rinkon, Bolivia. For many years, this school has provided an
opportunity for the native children of the area to gain an education. That would not be possible
without the work of this mission. Currently 210 students attend the school, with 120 living
"on-campus" at the mission, from February to October. In the area, 9 additional satellite schools
have been established, attended by 260 students. If not for these schools, many children would
not know how to read and would never have heard the Good News about Jesus Christ. Currently
there is an acute need to replace the matresses for those children living at the mission during the
school year. The old ones are simply worn out and no longer usable. Each replacement mattress
costs $80, un gives the opportunity for a child to gain a valuable education. We have heard that
the leftist government may threaten future opportunities for us to help. While we still have the
opportunity, the Women's Ministries of the Union of Latvian Baptists in America wants to help -- in
Bolivia as well as in Latvia.
If you would like to donate to any of the above-mentioned projects, please send your donations to
our Women's Ministries Treasurer, Aina Sturmanis (271 Winthrop Lane, Wayne, PA 19087).
Please make your check payable to the Union of Latvian Baptists in America, designating on the
memo line of the check that the donation is intended for the Women's Ministries, as well as the
project or initiative you would like to support.
If you would like more detailed information about the Women's Ministries and our missions work,
please write to the President of the Women's Ministries - Mrs. Benita Ukstins, 832 Gettysburg
Drive, Lansdale, PA 19447.