It is winter and our country is covered with white snow. Some like it some not. When I was younger I used to love being out in the snow but now when I am soon 40 years old I seem to have change my mind and my heart is longing for the summer, sunshine and dry roads. Since I became a Christian many things have happened in my life and one of these mysterious things are how I became a Biker. A story that touches my heart when I think back and some nights ago I walked to our garage here at home to see what my son was up to and I was standing there watching him clean his first motorcycle so it would be ready for the roads when the spring gets here and it will be his first season on his own and first bike.
How I became a Biker
It was soon after I had my encounter with Jesus, who healed me and set me free I was called into motorcycle ministry by God! I did not understand this myself as I had never ridden a biker, I did not have a driving license for motorcycles and I was not even interested in motorcycles!
When all this took place I was covered in something that I would call "a religious costume". Since I had given my life to the Lord I wanted to live up to the "Christian standard" and I covered my tattooed arms with long sleeve nice shirts, I cut my hair and my beard, I had a big cross hanging around my neck. I used hair gel to make my hair due look nice and I wore reading glasses so I could live up to what I thought was the "Christian standard".
Meanwhile our oldest child, our son was walking his own direction and I have to admit that I was worried about him making the same choice that I mad at his age when I dedicated my life to alcohol and later drugs. At church they were very concerned about my speech about becoming a biker for Christ and they spoke against my back and told people to tell me to not listen to what I felt was God!
I was investigating the Christian Biker World and also the finnish clubs. Some of them had protocol with prospects and supports for a couple of years before you could become a patch holder and one club was too easy to get into. At the same time I read about Christian motorcycle clubs and ministries on line and I found one page with all the different colors and patches. There was one patch that stood out and ministered to me. It was a yellow patch with a cross and the text "AMBASSADORS FOR JESUS CHRIST MOTORCYCLE MINISTRY". This was the first organization over seas I contacted and immediately we connected. We were in the same Spirit with the same vision about reaching the lost.
It did not take that long before we decided that I was going to start up a branch for the ministry over here in Europe and so happened. I told the brothers and sisters over in Texas that I did not have a bike, neither did I have a drivers license. I told them about my bad credit and that it was impossible for me to get all this worked out. Their answer to me was clear and they asked me: - Where is your faith brother?
I realized that I had received faith as a GIFT but that I had to start using my faith and I had to BELIEVE. Two different things, to have faith and to believe. I prayed and believed and soon GOD took care of these things. The very same day I received my drivers license I took out my Harley Davidson 2004 Night Train on the roads and I wore my leather vest with the Ambassadors For Jesus Christ M/M colors. It felt good and it was something I never had experienced before! It was still cold out but I felt freedom and peace while I was out riding.
This very first season became a big change in my life. Both in my old life and in my new life. Not just the fact that I ripped of the "religious costume" and became myself and let my hair and beard grow out again. When the motorcycle came to our family me and my son found something in common and the same year in may we did our first longer ride together on the motorcycle to Stockholm, Sweden. That was an adventure and it was the first time I ever took my son with me on the road or did something together with my son. I remember me sitting and watching him at night while he was sleeping in his hotel bed where we stayed during this trip and I was crying and thanking GOD for my son. I loved him and I love him so much!
Since then me and my son have driven thousands of kilometers together on that same Harley Davidson and we are not just father and son. We became best friends! We have done so many trips together, not only on the motorcycle but we are a good team. Even if he is in the age of 17 years old now and is not necessary so interested in hanging at the church and he wants to hang out with his friends we do travel together and the most important of all; we have fun together with JESUS! We are Ambassadors For Jesus Christ!
I am so thankful today when I think back. What if I had done what the people told me to do? Then I would not have all the wonderful brothers and sisters within the biker community all over the world. I don't know how my relationship with my son would be? I don't know if I still would look like a clown in my short hair and reading glasses? I don't know if I still would be here? I don't know...
Due to this I have also made trips with my youngest daughter and I am looking forward to get out on the roads with the twin daughters as well. I never thought I would be a biker but God had a plan for me. A way bigger plan than I could imagine. Tonight I was watching my son fix up his bike, waiting for the summer to come. It felt in my heart to see him take care of his first bike and fix it up as this coming summer we will not ride on the same bike, we will ride next to each other not only as father and son but as best friends and Ambassadors For Jesus Christ and the plan is to involve the whole family in this ministry in the future. It all is about listening to God and following His plan for our lives.
I could never ever have imagined that I am where I am today and I am not ashamed to be a Christian! I am not ashamed to be a tattooed and hairy biker! I love JESUS and I love my FAMILY! I love my brothers and I love my sisters! I am so thankful!
Today we are 25 Ambassadors For Jesus Christ in Finland and Sweden and I am proud of all of these guys! Another thing I am happy and blessed about is the relationship to so many other Christian and non Christian Biker Clubs and Ministries around the world and a fruit bearing relationship with Pastor Ulf Mannebäck and Church On Wheels Europe. Today I know for sure that GOD was in this from the beginning. God works in mysterious ways!
2012 A Happening Year
So far this year has been busy. After me and Sebastian returned from Sweden I spoke for a bunch of Students in Vasa and for a group of youth in the church of Vöyri, outside Vasa. This week has been more or less off, without any meetings but I have still been busy. I am studying as well as starting up a business to make some more money on the side so we could survive. We are importing Harley Davidsons from USA and I hope and pray that this will be a good compliment in my life and hopefully something that Sebastian can build up for the future. My main thing is still to be out there sharing the good news about Jesus Christ and as soon I see something else stealing this focus I have to drop it as I know what I am called to and I have made my decision to follow Jesus.
I am happy to announce that a new book about my life is written in Finnish by author Jukka Mäkinen. The book as the title "Kun kivisydän murtui" that means "When the stone heart broke", If everything goes as scheduled the book will be released and for sale next month. You can pre-order the finnish book here.
March will also be a busy month. March 3rd it is time to do a show with my old friends and my own band, The Rubbish Bros. featuring John J. Kulju and Tom Suomela. We are going to play at a party at Recycle Motor and Music in Vasa. Why I do this? Because I want to :) Good opportunity to show people that being a Christian does not mean you are going to be boring or forget your old friends and skills. Yes, I am going to play the bass.
The following week Pastor Tommy Lilja is coming on a short tour of the middle part of Finland and I am looking forward to this. Pastor Tommy is a wonderful person and my mentor. Every time I am out with him I learn and I am hungry to learn more about Jesus. Our meeting schedule is found in the calendar. We are going to be in Larsmo, Kaskö, Lapua and Kvevlax.
There is one day time to pack the bag after the meetings with Pastor Tommy and it is time for the first trip to USA this year. This trip will be something different. First of all it will not be another month over there. It will almost be like flying in and flying out. Flying straight into Daytona Bike Week at Daytona Beach, Florida where some of us Ambassadors are going to serve the Lord together with several other ministries and clubs hosted by Calvary Christian Riders and Broken Chains Biker Church.
Before all that it is time to do a couple of meetings in Spain together with some Finns living down there. Me and my wife are together with our youngest daughter leaving for Spain next week on Monday. We are really looking forward to travel somewhere together. It has been a while since my wife had a chance to travel and last time was all the way back in 1995 when we visited London, UK. My love, my wife celebrates her 40th birthday while we are away and this is something special for all of us. IF you would like to bless her with a small birthday gift to make her trip possible and something special you are more than welcome too. Donations and gifts can be sent to our AKTIA account. You find the details among the contact details on the right side in the navigation bar. We will surely keep you posted about what is going on while we are away. The best way to follow us day by day is to hook up with us on Facebook.
Before I close I would like to share a scripture with you that has been on my mind the last couple of days. Something that is not only on my mind but on the heart of GOD:
"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." John 17:20-21
It is so clear what Jesus, Himself is saying here. It has been on His heart that we as The Body of Christ should be one. There is only one body, either you are in it or not. Who can say who is in it or not? There is only one who can tell, that is GOD! So much division in the body right now that it breaks my heart to tears. Where else does people fight about small things like we Christians do? I am shocked and sad because of this fact but I also know that GOD is way bigger. One more time! Lets focus on Jesus and lets speak for Him, NOT against each other! It is the will of our Father that we would be one. That does not mean that we have to have the same opinion in everything but we have to love one another. Amen!
Have a blessed week!
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.
