Greetings from Gothenburg, Sweden. Me and my son, Sebastian have now been on the road for almost a week and we have had a very busy, wonderful and very happening time. We left our hometown Vasa last week on tuesday and we did a couple of stops on the way down to Turku. Our first stop was at Frank Mangs Center in Närpes and it was wonderful to see how the works there proceed and it is a beautiful place also in the winter time when everything is covered with the white snow. From there we continued to the harbor of Turku from where we took the ferry over to Stockholm, Sweden.
We arrived in Stockholm early, wednesday morning and checked in at our room at our brother Jari's place. During the day we took it easy preparing for the first meeting on this journey. The meeting was held at Finska Filadelfia in Stockholm and many people came and God was present. Meanwhile the tv-program "Suhdekorjaamo" was sent on Finnish TV and many people got to see when I met my biological mother for the first time ever. These are things that are on my mind and I have to say that I have got so much from God only in five years. What have I done to deserve all this? Nothing and there is nothing I could have done. It is all by God's Amazing Grace! The program can be seen on the internet for another three weeks in Finland if you click HERE!
A very wonderful thing that showed that God is God was after the meeting. Some of the ladies from church went out to buy some milk. Outside there were some workers on the street and they asked where these ladies are coming from as they are so happy. They said that they are coming from church. One of these men decided to find out some more and walked to the church, came in and spoke with some people and gave his life to Jesus Christ. God called this man and this was one of God's mighty and mysterious ways to reach this man by sending out these happy ladies from church. Go figure!
The following day we picked up our brother Peter Hudd who used to work at the Visättra Rehab Center for alcoholics, drug addicts and criminals. We visited Visättra and this was the fourth time I visited the clients there, sang some songs and told them about Jesus who lifted me up from the pit of destruction and placed my feet on a rock that doesn't roll. It feels good to be able to go to places like this and share the wonderful things about what Jesus have done in my life. It is part of the calling Jesus gave me when He visited me at my deathbed five year ago: ... and help those who have same problems as you have had."
From Visättra we took a quick stop at the Harley Davidson dealership in Stockholm before we attended the afternoon meeting at St:a Klara Church in the heart of Stockholm. This was the third time I visited them, sang some songs and gave my testimony and the word of God. The place was packed and God was there. This church is a very unique place and the atmosphere is awesome. You see people from the street, people from all different nations, homeless people and all kinds of folks. They all come to praise our Lord and many of them are there to search for the truth. I do not know how many people this church have helped during the years and it is one of the few lutheran churches I have visited where they see the importance of the baptism in The Holy Spirit. They really do an awesome work for the Kingdom of God and the people of the streets of Stockholm.
Friday we headed south and our first stop was at the finnish Pentecostal church of Södertälje. It was the first youth night of the new year 2012 and I had the privilege to speak to those who came. It was another great night when I got to tell people about what Jesus have done in my life and I more and more realize how important it is for us Christians to tell people about what Jesus have done and does in our lives. When I faced death people visited me on my deathbed at the hospital. One of them was the pastor from this church in Södertälje, Sweden. He told me about that Jesus had healed him from and without his healing he also would have been dead. I did not pay so much attention to the actual testimony just in that moment but today I know that this brother planted a seed in me. A seed with faith that Jesus also could heal me. We need to believe that Jesus is Lord and that Jesus can heal us. A scripture that I have shared this last week has to do with this and it is from the book of Acts, chapter 14, verses 8-10:
"At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked. This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he leaped up and began to walk."
Here is a big secret and a key to your healing. Have you read my testimony and about where I came from you have heard that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and that HE still does miracles and heals people all around the world. I am just one example of millions of people. Believe that JESUS can heal you. If you say you do not have faith ask God to give you faith and He will do so. Faith is not something that we feel, faith is a gift that God gives us when we enter into His Kingdom and become His children. To believe is another thing but here Paul saw that this lame man had FAITH to be made well. Faith is all what we need and faith is a gift from God. When you have faith it is time to start to believe and this is a process that we learn the same way as we learn to ride a bike, so don't give up on God, have faith and believe that you can be healed and be made well and HE will do so.
From Södertälje we continued late at night to Jönköping where we overnighted. The next day it was time to head towards the west coast and the city of Gothenburg. We got into a snowstorm and we also got stopped by the police. They followed us for a while and I knew that we were going to be stopped. While one of them checked my drivers license on the computer I asked the other one if we look suspected and he shot us straight: We thought you were 1% bikers. We told them who we were and gave them a copy of the Thankful cd and my book and had a good time on our way to our final destination, Gothenburg.
The first meeting in Gothenburg was at Linneakyrkan. I was first nervous as I had a band backing me up. Usually the bands are a pain in the lower behind as they do not prepare and it is all a mess. This was different. These brothers had prepared themselves and they knew my songs better than I know them myself and I knew it was going to be good. The meeting was good and it was also filmed for Christian Television in Sweden. We also had a very special guest this night, Carina Nyman who also have met Jesus and got a completely new life in Him.
Yesterday was a long day. First we drove to Borås for a meeting at International Assemblies of God and it was a good one. I was also glad to have brother Nisse with me. He came all the way from Sölvesborg to be with us for a couple of days. After the meeting in Borås we drove back to Gothenburg, to Betelskeppet for the second meeting this cold sunday in January 2012. On Sundays they serve free soup for the homeless and the place was packed. While they were eating we played with The Betels and I spoke. It was an awesome atmosphere and I started to speak about the baptism in The Holy Spirit what I usually don't do too often. A man walked up to the stage and I wondered what he wanted. God had touched him and told him to give up his old life and start a new life with him. He laid down his knife at the altar and gave it to God and said he will never carry a knife again, he will follow Jesus.
I am so blessed to be here with these people at Betelskeppet. Will be here almost all week. There are so many "originals" around and religion is far away but Jesus is here. These people working her does an awesome work with the homeless people living here, people that many of us wont even look at and I have heard so many testimonies about people coming through this place with a new future and a new life together with Jesus. HE can take care of anything and everything. This is what it's all about. To tell people about Jesus!
Now we have one more week here in Sweden and next on our list is a two day trip to Skåne and Blekinge. On tuesday we will be back in Gothenburg and on wednesday we are going to be at Finska Pingstkyrkan in Gothenburg. Thursday the bike expo starts and we will be there for four days to spread the good news.
Love you all!
Pontus
Frank Mangs Center are standing behind me as an organization and together we have decided that it is not wise to stand outside the open doors just because there are not enough money to walk through those doors. Frank Mangs Center have opened up a new account for this ministry and we are now looking for people who would like to partner with us monthly. At least I would ask you all to pray for our work and for the harvest of 2012. You can read more about being a partner in finnish or swedish by clicking HERE.
