FINDING PLACES TO MEET

Rapid growth during the 1990’s called for larger places to hold meetings. In 1997 a suitable property was put up for public auction in Daugavpils, and the brothers were the only ones to bid. Renovations commenced in December 1998, and eight months later, the more than 140 publishers in that city were thrilled to assemble in their own Kingdom Hall.

The first Kingdom Hall to be built from the ground up was completed in Jūrmala in 1997. One local Bible student was so impressed with the quality of the work that he asked the Witnesses to build him a house! Of course, the brothers declined, explaining the spiritual nature of our work. Meanwhile, the brothers in the Torn̗akalns area of Riga obtained a burned-out cinema for a reduced price. By August 1998 the charred structure had been transformed into a beautiful double Kingdom Hall!

1997 First completely new Kingdom Hall is built, in Jūrmala.

[Pictures on page 218]

This burned-out cinema (left) became two Kingdom Halls (below)