Aizpute Seventh-day Adventist Church

Kalvenes iela 38a, Aizpute, Dienvidkurzemes novads

+371 29720361

Services on Saturdays:
11:00 AM – Bible Study (Sabbath School)
12:15 PM – Sermon

The Aizpute congregation was founded in August 1916. The Aizpute congregation has been active in missionary work, even holding courses for members on how to teach Bible lessons. It was a common practice among members to rise an hour earlier in the morning to have time for Bible reading. In its early years, the congregation experienced many hardships and uncertainties about the future due to the politically unstable conditions of the country.

In the summer of 1925, book distributors, or colporteurs, Augusts Baķis and Pēteris Krēsliņš were active around Aizpute. They wrote: "With joy, we testify that our new book ‘Prophecies and History’ is truly nourishment at the right time. We encounter souls who have been waiting for exactly such a book. Everywhere we meet people convinced that we are living in the last days. We are glad for this opportunity to work with our latest book and believe that God will richly bless our efforts in this work."

At the beginning of 1936, there were 42 members in the congregation. In 1937, regulations requiring congregations to have more than 50 members placed Aizpute on the brink of dissolution. However, a decision was made to merge with the smaller Kuldīga congregation, whose members were added to Aizpute’s membership rolls.

During the Soviet era, teachers were sent to inspect the Aizpute Adventist congregation to ensure schoolchildren and youth were not attending services. Workers from the Liepāja congregation served Aizpute but could not always be present at every meeting, so the congregation had to manage with its own members. Congregational elders and elected teachers led the meetings. The number of members slightly increased compared to the pre-war period. Concerts were held, and the congregation celebrated anniversaries. Eduards and Vaira Dambergi made significant efforts to strengthen the congregation.

Eduards Dambergs, the elder of the Aizpute congregation, became known even in tourist guides for building firewood castles around his home, which attracted visitors. Of these, he said, "Thousands of people could witness that we are God's children! This began unintentionally while acquiring firewood. It is remarkable how this simple heating material can spark the imagination in so many ways! The firewood stacks gradually depicted the course of human life, from Eden to our present day. Surrounding an orchard with a firewood 'wall' could symbolize lost Eden. Meanwhile, giant castles with towers and balconies represent human 'perfection,' which, like firewood, will eventually burn, just as all human achievements are transient and fleeting. In contrast stands the New Jerusalem, built from the highest-quality materials."

In 1990, the congregation purchased property at 38a Kalvenes Street, the former Orthodox church. It was renovated and adapted for congregational use, where the members have been meeting since November 1990.