It's been a while since last update. Since I wrote last time I have been busy and this is something that I am very happy about. Some people might think that what I do is like any other regular "job". Well, I have to confess that it is different and thats just what drives me to continue to go on. In one way it is a job and I am depending on GOD in all finances since I have a family to feed as well as expenses to pay when I am doing what I am doing. To be honest with you all we need more supporters for my work at Frank Mangs Center since last year showed a big minus financially but spiritually it was way better, it was on the + side since people chose to follow JESUS and the Kingdom of GOD got bigger also through this ministry. Also people have been encouraged, set on fire, healed, set free and delivered from all kinds of stuff. It is not my call to witness about all people who get saved, healed or touched by GOD as I do NOT want to look like I would be something.
I believe and think that those who receive something from the Lord shall speak out themselves as their miracle, sign and wonder belongs to them and the glory always belongs to GOD. Without GOD I could not do ANYTHING and I am totally and absolutely depending on HIM and the fact that HE can use someone like me just testifies about that GOD can use ANYTHING to reach people for HIS Kingdom. In the Bible HE even used a donkey and I do not look at myself as any kind of big man of GOD or better or more spiritual than anyone else. I am just a small piece in HIS body and sometimes I can be a tool in HIS hand.
It is such awesome and big to see GOD do things and again it has nothing to do with me. GOD wants to meet those who comes in my way. HE sees their heart, their hunger and their thirst. What I am trying to say, is that I do not consider what I do as a regular "job" or "work" and I am thankful and happy that I feel alive. What I do is my life, thats how it feels in my heart.
Less is more
The first weekend of June I had the privilege and honor to be at my daughters school when the season ended. Again I had the grace so sing two songs together with my daughter Jennifer at her school and that she wanted to sing two of my songs together with me is something very big. We sang "Thankful" and "Thank You" from my last album and we had a good time.
Following week Sister Teresa Sutherland and her husband Mike arrived in Vasa to be with me and Martin Kantola in the studio recording a totally different worship album called "Less is more". It all started when Teresa was singing with me during my last visit in Texas, USA. She and her husband are members of the Ambassadors For Jesus Christ M/M and we stay in touch. We both got a vision to record something together and GOD took care of the rest. Honestly I am personally full of todays worship music, it feels like you heard one song and you have heard them all. Also there are many small churches that not have the capacity to have a full band with drums, bass, many guitars and keyboards... This is an acoustic album with some special written material mixed with old hymns and psalms. My personal favorite is the old song "Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus". Me and Teresa are singing together and our voices are totally different, that also adds a flavor to the style. Martin Kantola is producing the album and playing at least one of the guitars.
In less than a week we recorded 16 songs and I can't wait to listen to the complete album. We also had time to hook up with some of the other Finnish Ambassadors and we met brothers Timo, Veli-Matti, Juuso and Jacques in Lapua, Sunday June 10th. We also attended the Biker Church hosted in the local evangelistic church (Vapaakirkko). From there we moved forward to speak to a youth group and a confirmation camp and I just loved having my American brother and sister on board. It added another taste to the message to have people from another country sharing what JESUS have done in their lives.
Bikers On The Road
Last weekend we had our Ambassadors For Jesus Christ, Bikers On The Road rally in Orisberg, Finland for the second year in a row. We had some of our members from Sweden come in and with us we had Church on Wheels Pastor Ulf Mannebäck, also from Sweden. Personally I had expected more people but even if we were a small group of people we had an awesome weekend. We had church in the morning and church at night. During the day we had time to be together and there was a red line through the entire weekend; how to tell Jesus that you love Him!
So many times I have wondered and talked with JESUS about these things. I want to love Him more and more and I do not think anyone can love HIM enough. The word of God says:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)
As I just wrote I do not think we can love HIM enough, this is something that is growing as long as we spend time with JESUS and follow HIM. Of course we can say to JESUS that we love HIM but the best way to say to JESUS that you love HIM is to say it to one of HIS smallest or to ANY other person. What have have left undone to someone else we also have left undone to HIM. What we have done for someone else we also have done for HIM (Matthew 25:31-46)
We have to realize that we are not Christians just to get to heaven. Of course that is our main goal. We are not Christian just because so we can be blessed by GOD, we are Christians so GOD can bless us so we can be a blessing to someone else. If we don't have a flow out of what GOD is giving us we are not going to live. The Bible is clear with this, if we do not love our neighbor, we will not live (Luke 10:28). And for you who wonder who your neighbor is don't have to think about that anymore since the answer comes right after in the word. When they asked JESUS about the neighbor, JESUS told them the story about the good Samaritan.
On friday night before the rally started I also had the honor to baptize one brother to Christ. It was an awesome moment that I will never forget. Sister Anja Haka sat at a boat singing "I have decided to follow Jesus" when we walked into the water. In the water we had a confession and this brother got baptized. When we stood there and I looked at my brother confess his faith in JESUS the hairs on my arms stood right up. What a moment and there was a party in heaven.
For two days we stayed in Orisberg and on Saturday we went to the local grocery store market where the locals hung out. They had some other program there as well and when we showed up on our bikes we first got that look bikers usually get. I sang some of my songs right there, spoke about Jesus. We mingled around and talked with people and brother Juuso Laitinen took both children, young people and older people on a ride with his Harley Davidson. When we left they all were waving at us and we are welcome back next year. Most of those people were not Christians and my prayer is that those seeds that were planted these weekend shall be watered.
Biker Church at Frank Mangs Center
Yesterday we drove from Orisberg to Frank Mangs Center for this summers Biker Church there. We got more people than I had thought and Ulf Mannebäck was preaching. It was a fantastic night and again there were a party in heaven as a few people gave their lives to the Lord. I just thank GOD for all my Ambassador brothers and sisters, Pastor Ulf Mannebäck who is such an inspiration and also one of my many spiritual fathers. I thank GOD for Frank Mangs Center from where I am working out of. Not many people believed in me back in 2008 but they have supported me and helped me in my calling every day since in April 2008. Many times I have been mad and done things that I could have get fired but I am still there and that is just another miracle. Without Frank Mangs Center and my church Kvevlax Missionsförsamling I would not be where I am today, living my life.
As I said earlier we need more supporters for my ministry and Frank Mangs Center are accepting gifts and donations. We are looking for people who would like to donate 10, 20 or 50 or what ever amount the Lord puts on their hearts monthly. This is very important as it cost money to walk through the open doors and reach people today. This summer is filled with missions. Most of them are outside the four walls of the church and outside the four walls of the church there is no money. I can not tell a man on the street where I am singing to give me 10 dollars and I tell him what I know :) I have freely received and I will freely give.
Next week me and my son, Sebastian are heading out on the roads in Finland and Sweden on our motorcycles. It will be the first summer he drives on his own motorcycle. This means much to me, it is big to be able to have your own children with you when you go out living your Christian life. We are first driving down to Turku. From there we take the ferry to Stockholm, Sweden and from there we are driving down to the Church on Wheels rally at Bjärka-Säby. One meeting in the finnish pentecostal church of Södertälje, July 1st and for the first year ever we are going to be spreading the good news at the worlds largest Custom Car Meet, Power Meet in Västerås. A concert at Betelskeppet and another biker rally in Skara, Sweden and we are back home July 17th when my daughters turn 15 years old (yes I have twins).
One week at home and out on the road again. Next time out I bring my wife and my girls. IF you feel led by GOD to support this summers "On the road for JESUS mission" you are more than welcome to check out this page.
Ones again! I am such thankful that what I do does not feel like a "job". This is what it is living a Christian life. At least for me and we are all different and we all have different callings. IF you do not know your call, ask GOD in prayer and I am quite sure he will answer.
Love you all!
In Christ!
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.
