SUMMER'S SWEETEST FRUIT.
Partnerships Grow Through Summer Ministry
By Marsha Hill
Summertime. Lemonade, picnics...and partnerships!
Sister-church partners on both sides of the ocean eagerly look forward to summer and joint ministry. The beauty of partnerships is especially evident as churches build loving, trusting relationships over years of interaction.
This summer, 14 churches-Latvian, Russian, and American-worked together for the Kingdom. Eighty-five Americans were hosted by their sister-churches in Latvia. Language differences did not slow the evangelism, construction projects, sports outreaches, English-language camps, and Vacation Bible Schools.
 | Pastor Girts Asnevics
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God provided surprising opportunities. Pastor Girts Asnevics of Vilandes Baptist Church in Riga related, "The Richardson Church [First Baptist Church of Richardson, Texas] approached this trip with great faith. They wanted to prepare for 100 [children for VBS], we said 60, and we had about 90 kids during the week!"
Insights were gained through the cross-cultural nature of the partnerships. "We will share what the Kandava Church has taught us," said Pastor Aaron Rutledge of Living Faith Community Church of Philomath, Oregon. "Pray faithfully, be content in all situations, work hard, sacrifice, and love without condition."
And most importantly, the ongoing nature of partnerships is creating lasting fruit. Calvary Church of Los Gatos repeated their  | Pastor Aaron Rutledge
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successful VBS of 2001 with their sister-church partner, Salvation Temple of Riga. Kaspars Donis of Salvation Temple reported, "Many kids from last year's VBS came to Sunday School. Our Sunday School teachers worked hard to follow-up on all the kids. So this year, we have more kids."
 | Kaspars Donis
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Fellowship, fun, and fruitfulness-summer and partnerships are made for each other.
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