I am overwhelmed and I just want to share this with you all. Last Saturday we had the best possible start for the new missions year 2016. We were invited to speak at an event hosted by the laestadians in Jakobstad, Finland. There is a huge problem with drugs amongst the youth in that region and the first meeting was more an informative meeting for parents and other people with concerns. A parent told her point of view as a mother and it was really heart breaking. Another person from the addiction clinic spoke about their way to help their clients and I shared how it is to live a life with addictions. Most important and most powerful of all was the good news about Jesus Christ as always. Between 500-600 people gathered for this first meeting.
Later the same night it was time for a youth night and I was skeptic, if any young people would come and listen to us. To my surprise over 700 young people came and they listened. There was an atmosphere of Jesus in the hall and I saw a hall full of opportunities. I saw a hall filled with future. The youth IS our future and it is our responsibility to encourage them into a relationship with the Lord and further into discipleship. We are called to make disciples who makes disciples. NOT to stand in a pulpit looking down at people. Imagine that there is potential in all of us! Imagine that God has something in store for YOU! I was so thankful after that night and I really respect what these brothers and sisters are doing for the Lord. It is not everyone who can assemble that many young people under the same roof in a little town like Jakobstad. To me only that was a big miracle.
Right priorities
I really feel that many churches today need to set their priorities right. If drugs and alcohol amongst our youth are escalating and people are searching elsewhere for their spiritual needs I see only one reason for that. WE as Christians have failed. We HAVE FAILED! Yes, we have failed to preach the original word of God and instead made own rules, rituals and traditions that has not made Jesus attractive. We should carry the love of God in us so the love of God in us would make Jesus in us attractive. We should be encouraging one another in a way that people see the potential who they can be in Christ. We should not look down at people and stand there with our pointing fingers thinking they can sit in the pew listening to what we preach when it is our responsibility to give them the pure food from the word of God that comes with restoration, healing, encouragement that leads to discipleship as the great command is for ALL of us, not only for a handful of leaders. Somewhere it went wrong and NOW it is time to take back what the devil stole from us.
Sweden January 2016
In two days we are leaving for our first missions trip to Sweden. We have a total of 11 events and mainly we are working with alcohol- and drug addicts or people with addictions. We are also going to be on the big motorcycle exhibition in Gothenburg the four last days of this month. I am looking forward to the concerts with the band as we are also going to take in some new songs and renew our set list. I believe that our Lord has something in store for this trip and that He is going to bless us for one reason; to be blessings to others.
Book release
End of February we are returning to USA and this trip is something different. For years I have been praying for my the book about my life written by Jukka Mäkinen would be translated to english. God answered my prayers and Alexandra Ryles from Turku, Finland have been working with the book and translated it from Finnish to english. Now we are in the last phase of the proofing before it goes to the printers. I am grateful for the relationship we have with Tate Publishing for the book and I am looking forward to see people in the US get a hold of one of my biggest gifts ever; my salvation and my testimony about at totally changed life.
Urgent need of partners
It has been slow over Christmas and New Year and we are really in a critical financial situation at the moment. We are in an urgent need of partners who can stand behind us and send us out to the ends of the earth this year. It starts with Sweden coming up in two days. We trust in God that He will meet our needs. We are both excited and thankful. Something that is hard to understand when you are under financial stress. Still we put our trust in the Lord and He is usually talking to people and blesses them so that they can be blessings to others. YOU can be part of this and we promise you that your seed will be put in good soil. Information under the "donate" link.
God Bless You All!
Pontus and Sebastian
