A Timeline of Friends of Latvia in the U.S.
April 27, 1997
Covenant with Riga 1st and WC Martin UMC, Bedford TX established. Covenant facilitated by Rev. Clint Rabb at GBGM.
1998
Trip #1 - Rev. Harvey Ozmer, Randy Tolleson, David and Rosemary Jobe travel to Riga 1st . Worship and workshops on Methodism, Finance, Christianity.
1999
Trip #2 - Gordon Doggett, Patti Griffith, Dana McCarty, Gary & Elaine Winburne , Randy Tolleson travel to Riga 1st for Youth Leadership Development, Worship, and Bible Study, Latvian History, Finance
2000
Martin hosts 1st Friends of Lativa Conference
Bishop Hans Vaxby preached and sang “Can’t Help Falling in Love” 1/9/00 . Initial discussions of a “Methodist Children’s Camp” near Jelgava. GBGM assignments of Raymond and Shirley Wo in addition to Clint Rabb to support Partner Church Program. WME represented by Rev James Thurmond.
2001
Martin hosts 2nd FOL Conference. Dana Nance took pictures at the conference. Financial transparency design commences.
2003
Martin funds Encephalitis vaccinations for 65 Latvian children enabling participation in Summer Youth Bible Camp.
Rev. Gita Mednis, pastor at Riga 1st preaches at Martin
October – Martin provides funds for materials to repair and paint Sunday school rooms
2004
Martin assists with curriculum development, children’s furniture, Sunday school supplies and youth Bibles for 1st Latvian Bible Festival (Vacation Bible School) in July. Latvian Methodists conduct 1st VBS without outside participation.
2005
Rev. Gita Mednis participates in the Martin Pentecost Service in May and speaks at the Latvian Luncheon afterwards.
Trip # 3 - Ross & Mary Carnes, Jack, Dana, Rebecca & Sara McCarty, Richard & Julie Payne, Randy & Sandy Tolleson, travel to Latvia. Replace floor Riga 1st 3rd floor hallway. Latvia-wide VBS “God is our Builder” Camp Wesley (UM Youth Camp) is dedicated in July.
Martin hosts a Latvian Luncheon “Meet the Faces of Latvia” in August, raising $12,000 for Riga’s heating system
2006
Dana McCarty and Julie Payne attend the Friends of Latvia meeting in Pennsylvania. Gita Mednis, Inese & her husband visit Martin in May. Gita speaks to the youth at “The Answer” on Wednesday evening
Trip # 4 -- Ron Lee & Jim Nance make 3-day exploratory trip to Latvia in October.
2007
Latvia Youth Choir gives numerous concerts throughout Alabama, Tennessee and Texas in June.
Paraments were presented to Gita for Riga 1st Videos on Youtube “Latvia Youth Choir”
2008
Dana McCarty, Julie Payne, Jim & Dana Nance attend the Mission Initiative Summit in April at St. Andrew’s UMC in Plano.
Martin hosts Friends of Latvia meeting on Saturday, April 19th. Kristine Vainovska, assistant to the District Superintendent (Gita Mednis) speaks to adult Sunday school classes Sunday morning. Gita offers pastoral prayer during worship services.
Roxane & Ansley Doughtery, and Jim and Dana Nance travel to Latvia in August. Projects included painting the sanctuary floor and entry way, preparing a Tex-Mex meal and leading Bible study.
2009
FOL meeting in Maryville, TN (May)
Dana Nance agreed to be FOL secretary/published first NL
Payne family traveled to Latvia representing White’s Chapel UMC
2010
FOL meeting Lancaster, OH (Cesis building purchased). Rev Patrick Friday introduces GBGM 50/50 Partnership Initiative.
2011
FOL meeting in Maryville, TN - 9 Latvia pastors attended
Jim & Dana Nance traveled to Latvia/helped “remodel the Bambi Room
Smithfield UMC make 1st trip to Cesis, Latvia with team Bill and Miranda Manning, Laurie and Sarah Rollins, Tommie Wells, Randy and Sandy Tolleson for Bible Study, Children’s activities, Texas BBQ Worship, outreach to Cesis Nursing Homes, Boys Prison, homes
2012
Payne family helps with Children’s Camp
Dana McCarty makes 3rd trip to Latvia/helps at Wesley Camp: Children’s Camp for unchurched
FOL meeting in Alcoa, TN (October)
2013
No FOL meeting
Smithfield UMC to Latvia Laurie Rollins, Rev. Lisa Neslony, Sandy and Cindy Staples, Eddie, Kaye, Miranda, and Matthew Leach, Lauren Bellamy, Tim, Lynn, and Allison Gross, Randy Tolleson
Payne family to Children’s Camp
2014
FOL meeting in Maryville, TN
Melissia Mason, new FOL Secretary
Grapevine UMC + Nance’s to Latvia
2015
FOL meeting in Grapevine, TX
Mark Croft, new FOL Chair
18 years of establishing relationships!
Covenant with Riga 1st and WC Martin UMC, Bedford TX established. Covenant facilitated by Rev. Clint Rabb at GBGM.
1998
Trip #1 - Rev. Harvey Ozmer, Randy Tolleson, David and Rosemary Jobe travel to Riga 1st . Worship and workshops on Methodism, Finance, Christianity.
1999
Trip #2 - Gordon Doggett, Patti Griffith, Dana McCarty, Gary & Elaine Winburne , Randy Tolleson travel to Riga 1st for Youth Leadership Development, Worship, and Bible Study, Latvian History, Finance
2000
Martin hosts 1st Friends of Lativa Conference
Bishop Hans Vaxby preached and sang “Can’t Help Falling in Love” 1/9/00 . Initial discussions of a “Methodist Children’s Camp” near Jelgava. GBGM assignments of Raymond and Shirley Wo in addition to Clint Rabb to support Partner Church Program. WME represented by Rev James Thurmond.
2001
Martin hosts 2nd FOL Conference. Dana Nance took pictures at the conference. Financial transparency design commences.
2003
Martin funds Encephalitis vaccinations for 65 Latvian children enabling participation in Summer Youth Bible Camp.
Rev. Gita Mednis, pastor at Riga 1st preaches at Martin
October – Martin provides funds for materials to repair and paint Sunday school rooms
2004
Martin assists with curriculum development, children’s furniture, Sunday school supplies and youth Bibles for 1st Latvian Bible Festival (Vacation Bible School) in July. Latvian Methodists conduct 1st VBS without outside participation.
2005
Rev. Gita Mednis participates in the Martin Pentecost Service in May and speaks at the Latvian Luncheon afterwards.
Trip # 3 - Ross & Mary Carnes, Jack, Dana, Rebecca & Sara McCarty, Richard & Julie Payne, Randy & Sandy Tolleson, travel to Latvia. Replace floor Riga 1st 3rd floor hallway. Latvia-wide VBS “God is our Builder” Camp Wesley (UM Youth Camp) is dedicated in July.
Martin hosts a Latvian Luncheon “Meet the Faces of Latvia” in August, raising $12,000 for Riga’s heating system
2006
Dana McCarty and Julie Payne attend the Friends of Latvia meeting in Pennsylvania. Gita Mednis, Inese & her husband visit Martin in May. Gita speaks to the youth at “The Answer” on Wednesday evening
Trip # 4 -- Ron Lee & Jim Nance make 3-day exploratory trip to Latvia in October.
2007
Latvia Youth Choir gives numerous concerts throughout Alabama, Tennessee and Texas in June.
Paraments were presented to Gita for Riga 1st Videos on Youtube “Latvia Youth Choir”
2008
Dana McCarty, Julie Payne, Jim & Dana Nance attend the Mission Initiative Summit in April at St. Andrew’s UMC in Plano.
Martin hosts Friends of Latvia meeting on Saturday, April 19th. Kristine Vainovska, assistant to the District Superintendent (Gita Mednis) speaks to adult Sunday school classes Sunday morning. Gita offers pastoral prayer during worship services.
Roxane & Ansley Doughtery, and Jim and Dana Nance travel to Latvia in August. Projects included painting the sanctuary floor and entry way, preparing a Tex-Mex meal and leading Bible study.
2009
FOL meeting in Maryville, TN (May)
Dana Nance agreed to be FOL secretary/published first NL
Payne family traveled to Latvia representing White’s Chapel UMC
2010
FOL meeting Lancaster, OH (Cesis building purchased). Rev Patrick Friday introduces GBGM 50/50 Partnership Initiative.
2011
FOL meeting in Maryville, TN - 9 Latvia pastors attended
Jim & Dana Nance traveled to Latvia/helped “remodel the Bambi Room
Smithfield UMC make 1st trip to Cesis, Latvia with team Bill and Miranda Manning, Laurie and Sarah Rollins, Tommie Wells, Randy and Sandy Tolleson for Bible Study, Children’s activities, Texas BBQ Worship, outreach to Cesis Nursing Homes, Boys Prison, homes
2012
Payne family helps with Children’s Camp
Dana McCarty makes 3rd trip to Latvia/helps at Wesley Camp: Children’s Camp for unchurched
FOL meeting in Alcoa, TN (October)
2013
No FOL meeting
Smithfield UMC to Latvia Laurie Rollins, Rev. Lisa Neslony, Sandy and Cindy Staples, Eddie, Kaye, Miranda, and Matthew Leach, Lauren Bellamy, Tim, Lynn, and Allison Gross, Randy Tolleson
Payne family to Children’s Camp
2014
FOL meeting in Maryville, TN
Melissia Mason, new FOL Secretary
Grapevine UMC + Nance’s to Latvia
2015
FOL meeting in Grapevine, TX
Mark Croft, new FOL Chair
18 years of establishing relationships!