HISTORY
History of Kemeri Center and vision for the future
The Kemeri Center is an evangelistic project started by the pastor of a small evangelical church in Latvia .
Zolitude Christian Fellowship is a young church. The fellowship of believers, that grown over the last 11 years by bringing the "church to the people" through visitation, as written in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25:35,36, Jesus said:
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
When people cannot come to church, the church must go to the people. We are thankful to God for possibility to have many years regular Sunday meetings in school in Riga. In Christmas time and other special moments we had a lot of guests...
The property at Kemeri was found as Pastor Gill was searching for a meeting facility for his church. After considerable prayer God opened the doors for the purchase of this property and the buildings on it. The site of approximately 3,000 sq m. has three large buildings on it. Its location is about thirty-five kilometers (twenty-two miles) from Riga , the capital city of Latvia . Kemeri is situated in the Baltic Sea coastal region of Latvia . This small township is on the outskirts of the most popular seaside resort area of Latvia . During Soviet times this area was a resting-place for many politicians and factory workers from the Soviet Union , and is now considered a very valuable region. There are more than 30 springs with sulfuric water in the Kemeri health resort. For more info click here: Jurmala, Kemeri.
|
The regions closer to Riga have become a main attraction, not only for the residents of Latvia but for tourists as well. The main building is a large cement structure with four floors, including an attic. During Soviet times this building was used as a living building of sanatorium "Latvia". It was abandoned during the 1990 revolution and breakdown of the Soviet Union . Unfortunately this building became totally derelict during this period, and had no roof, windows or doors. The floors were covered with trash and debris. All of the fixtures and plumbing were stolen. Even the wood from the roof was taken away and used as firewood. |
|
|
During Soviet times this building was used as a living building of sanatorium "Latvia". It was abandoned during the 1990 revolution and breakdown of the Soviet Union . Unfortunately this building became totally derelict during this period, and had no roof, windows or doors. The floors were covered with trash and debris. All of the fixtures and plumbing were stolen. Even the wood from the roof was taken away and used as firewood. |
From the very beginning our vision was to use this place for children and teenagers for the camps and other activities.
And our mission was to serve orphans, teenagers and young people, who come from difficult families.
Of course first steps were a lot of cleaning. So we invited our friends and teenagers to whom we tried to help. It was work, rest and fun same time...
For children from families in difficult situation it was good place already...
Our friends and young people from the neighborhood came to help us.
First work inside. Some teenagers were excited…
Where we found our new friends? Just across our territory… They had big fun…
They were happy to help us just for food and pocket money…
We needed guard and family, which lived in garage and had no job, was happy to live here and receive support for the family.
Several people needed rehabilitation after difficult time in their life and they were happy to clean whole attic and prepare for building the roof..
It was real miracle! Somebody donated money for the roof! So we invited some professionals and our helpers to do the job.
But children and teenagers from neighbourhoods couldn’t wait when we will finish the Centre… So, thanks to our donors, we could send them to the camps in other places.
When family has mother and six children or mother and four children, they need real help, even if they live 70 km away... Again, thanks our donors, they received support.
Children from orphanage in Eleja (70 km from Riga) are watching performance of drama group from our church…
Teenagers from neighbourhoods came to visit us. There is nothing to do in small town...They helped us to find out what they would like to see in Kemeri Centre. One answer was... "to have safe place to prepare homework for the school."
Visit of our drama group to Detention Centre in Riga.
We had regular meetings with teenagers in hostel in Riga. They really needed friends… not only on the street…
Our guard learned about 100 Christian songs… and teenagers liked it.
Sunday school meetings in Kemeri Centre… which we had Saturdays for children from difficult families.
Our visit with drama group to prison for young people (200 km from Riga)
We are thankful to God and to our donors for new windows for the whole house! Only now we really could start to use the building.
They were regular visitors of our Sunday school… even in cold winter time and without heating in the house!
For families in difficult situation picnic on our territory was more then time to rest...
With all the children at famous place of The Sulphur Spring in Kemeri.
Of course many times we visited seaside just 4 km from Kemeri.
For teenagers and adults it is good place to rest…after work at our centre.
Visit to the Christmas party in the church in Riga or visit to the seaside we could do because some people made another miracle for us…
The vehicle for the ministry! Again we are thankful to God and to our donors.
OUR VISION:
Kemeri Centre, when all of its rooms are completed, will be used to provide living quarters for teachers and necessary workers, for children's work and for conferences or meeting place.
Kemeri Centre can be used for Summer Camps. These will help many teenagers use their summer profitably, and stay away from bad company and influences. Every summer many young people find Jesus through Christian camps, and we believe Kemeri could be effectively used in this way.
Kemeri Centre is the perfect place for Bible conferences and a Christian leaders training center.
