RIVER RĪGA

River Rīga is a christian church filled with passion for God and His calling. We are part of an international movement with a heart for revival and the power of the gospel — a power that can transform individual lives and shape the future of nations. Our desire is to see faith, hope, and love flourish in Latvia and across Europe, all rooted in Jesus Christ.

We believe the church is not just a Sunday service or a gathering place — it is a family where everyone can experience acceptance, healing, and transformation. The atmosphere at River Rīga is free, joyful, and filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is a place where worship is alive, prayers are powerful, and God’s Word is preached with passion and truth.

Our mission is to equip believers to fulfill their God-given calling — to be a light to the world and influence families, cities, and nations. We long to see people renewed in spirit, soul, and body so they can live in the freedom and power that the Holy Spirit gives.

River Rīga is a place where you can discover the reality of your new creation in Christ, strengthen your faith, and find your spiritual home. We believe every person has a unique purpose in God’s plan, and our heart is to help you step into your divine calling.

Our church is open to everyone — regardless of age, nationality, or background. Come and experience the life-changing love of God. We are joyful to walk this journey of faith with you and to be part of what God is doing in Latvia and beyond. We also boldly share the truth of the gospel on the streets because we believe every person must hear the Good News of salvation and hope through Jesus Christ.

church slogan

 “FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE GREEK.”

ROMANS. 1:16 (KJV)

what we believe

  • We believe that true ministry flows from the love of God and is led by the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the highest authority for the life of faith.
  • We believe in one God who reveals Himself in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  • We believe in God the Father, who is holy, all-knowing, and almighty, who cares for people with grace and saves all who come to Him through Christ.
  • We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died for the sins of the world, rose again, and is alive at the right hand of the Father. He will return visibly in power and glory.
  • We believe in the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers, sanctifies, leads, teaches, and strengthens them.
  • We believe that all people are sinners and that the only way to salvation is through the grace of Jesus Christ.
  • We believe that every Christian is called to share the Gospel and to serve with the gifts given by the Holy Spirit.
  • We believe that the love of Christ is the greatest gift and the primary message that surpasses all differences.
  • We believe that the Bible is the only and all-sufficient guide and the foundational authority for both faith and daily life.

Therefore, River Riga church and its ministries accept and affirm the following statements of faith:

THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is divine revelation given to humanity and the only fully trustworthy and infallible revelation. The Bible is the highest authority in all matters of faith and conduct. It is the direct revelation of God’s will for all people in all generations. 

We believe that the Scriptures are fully inspired by the Holy Spirit — He gave the words and thoughts through human authors in harmony with their personality, character, and expression, yet preserving every thought, sentence, and word free from error or distortion.

2 Timothy 3:16–17; Hebrews 4:12; Exodus 24:4; 2 Peter 3:2

THE ONE TRUE GOD

We believe in one God, revealed in Scripture as the eternal Godhead — the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one in essence, yet exists in three distinct Persons. He is united and indivisible in His nature, yet eternally exists with three distinctions.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal in divinity, attributes, power, and glory. We believe that God is One, but is revealed in three perfect Persons.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 4:4–6

THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and the second Person of the Trinity, who existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit before the creation of the world.

His incarnation and birth from the virgin revealed Him as both fully God and fully Man. He became fully human without losing His divinity. Jesus lived without sin, died on the cross for the sins of humanity, was buried, rose again, ascended into heaven, was glorified, and will return again in power and glory.

He is the only mediator between God and mankind, for in Him is complete divinity and complete humanity. He is equal with the Father in His divine nature and equal with us in His humanity — fully God and fully Man.

Colossians 1:15–19; Philippians 2:5–8; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; John 1:1–3, 14–18

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS  BAPTISM

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is equal, eternal, and exists together with the Father and the Son. His ministry on earth is to reveal and convict of sin, lead people to salvation, and strengthen the church as the Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, Helper, and Strengthener.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire is God’s gift to all believers, as promised by the Lord Jesus. It is received after the new birth and is distinct from it. The initial evidence of this baptism is speaking in new tongues, along with other manifestations described in Acts chapter 2. There is one initial baptism in the Holy Spirit, but many subsequent fillings. The purpose of this baptism is that believers receive power to be witnesses of Christ.

Matthew 3:11; John 14:16–17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2

THE REDEMPTION OF MAN

Man is a created being and was made in the likeness and image of God (both male and female). But, through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world and passed upon all men. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. Salvation is the free gift of God to Man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. This salvation experience occurs when an individual confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in his heart that God has raised Him from the dead.

Romans 5:12-21; Romans 10:9-10; John 3:16-17; I John 3:8

THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH

Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, established two ordinances for the church to observe: 

  1. Water baptism by full immersion is a direct command of the Lord. It is not a requirement for salvation but is intended for all believers. This ordinance is an outward sign of an inward transformation and symbolizes the believer’s union with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection.
  2. The Lord’s Supper is also a direct command of Jesus and is to be observed regularly until His return. Only believers may partake of it, receiving the bread and the cup. The bread symbolizes His body broken for us, and the cup His blood shed for us. These elements proclaim the New Covenant in which we live and prophetically declare Christ’s second coming.

Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 3:21; Luke 22:7–20; 1 Corinthians 11:17–30

THE WORK OF SALVATION AND ITS BENEFITS

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided not only eternal salvation from sin, but also healing from sickness and deliverance from lack and poverty.

Divine healing is included in the atonement of Christ. It is intended for physical sickness and is manifested by the power of God in various ways as described in Scripture.

Divine blessing and prosperity are also part of Christ’s atoning work. This is not merely financial provision, but blessing and fullness of the soul. These blessings operate through the principles of tithes and offerings, sowing and reaping, and many stewardship truths revealed in Scripture.

Isaiah 53:4–5; 1 Peter 2:24; 3 John 2; 2 Corinthians 8:9

SANCTIFICATION

The Bible teaches that without holiness no one will see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification — a definite yet continual work of grace. It begins at the new birth and continues until the completion of salvation at the return of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12–14; 1 Corinthians 1:30

THE END OF ALL THINGS

Jesus promised to return for His church. Scripture teaches that when He comes, the dead in Christ will rise first, and those who are alive will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

After the rapture of believers, the “Great Tribulation” described in Revelation will begin. After this period, Jesus will visibly return to earth with His saints and establish His kingdom. He will reign with His people for a thousand years, and Satan will be bound in the abyss.

After the thousand years, Satan will be released for a short time, ending with his final judgment in the lake of fire. Then the “Great White Throne Judgment” will take place for those who did not accept the Lord during their lifetime. After this, God will reveal a new heaven and a new earth, and we will forever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; Revelation 20; Revelation 21

HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION

The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and therefore has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting" used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God.

Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 25:31–46; Mark 9:43–48; Mark 16:15–16