Heigo Ritsbek (born on April 12, 1951, in Pärnu) is an Estonian church figure. His life journey has been marked by various roles and accomplishments:
- Methodist Church: Heigo Ritsbek served as a pastor in the Estonian Methodist Church. He held positions such as the secretary of the Estonian Methodist Church’s government and pastor of the Tallinn Methodist congregation.
- Emigration and Theological Studies: In February 1989, he emigrated to the United States with his family. There, he continued his theological studies and obtained a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from the Methodist Asbury Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in Theological Studies (DMin) degree from Boston University. His doctoral dissertation focused on the mission of Methodism in Estonia.
- Karismaatilise Episkopaalkirik (Charismatic Episcopal Church): Heigo Ritsbek joined the Charismatic Episcopal Church, where he served as a priest from 1996 to 2012. During this time, he was the head vicar of the Estonian Charismatic Episcopal Church and rector of the Harkujärve St. Stephen’s congregation.
- Becoming a Bishop: On August 25, 2012, he was consecrated as a bishop by Archbishop Dr. Kiiza S. Thomas in Kasese, Uganda, Africa.
- Founding the Anglo-Catholic Church: In 2016, Heigo Ritsbek co-founded the Anglo-Catholic Church with like-minded individuals. He currently serves as the worldwide patriarch and president of the Church’s Holy Trinity Anglo-Catholic School of Ministry.
- Teaching and Writing: Heigo Ritsbek has been an educator, teaching history, religious studies, social studies, and philosophy in various schools. He has also authored several works, including books on baptism, the Eucharist, and church history.
- Recognition and Outreach: He has preached and ministered to approximately 385,000 people across 27 countries through personal visits, radio, and TV broadcasts. His Christian message has reached a total of 1.7 million people. Additionally, he has visited 41 different countries in connection with his church work.
Heigo Ritsbek’s journey reflects a rich tapestry of faith, education, and service to others.