It has been a while. After my last trip with Pastor Tommy to Zambia I was bedridden for almost a week due to a flu or cold. We managed to get our ministry car, the yellow John 316 Buick inspected and registered right before we left for our next adventure; Big Power Meet in Västerås, Sweden.
We arrived late Wednesday night and checked in at the local Pentecostal church where we stayed during our time spent there. On Thursday worlds largest outdoor American Car meet started and the city of Västerås was filled with American cars and spectators. We were out talking and meeting people here and there and it was actually quite fun to see people reaction when they saw a car with christian sponsors and John 316. Too many of the people were so called ”raggare”, a subculture and one of their mottos is; get as many as you can in your beat up American car and get as drunk as you can. Sad but true.
On Friday we had our first outreach concert at Oxbackens Centrum. We played with the band from Gothenburg; Jukka Mäkikangas (drums), Per Karlsson (bass) and Zet Tonmyr (keyboards). It was a great time of rock and roll and sharing the good news from the stage.
Saturday we got hit by rain in the afternoon and did our first set in the rain. Praise God for a roof on the trailer stage. The weather cleared up and it was a great night. What was most powerful and important to me where all personal conversations with people between the sets. No, we did not see multitudes of people receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at the spot but I know that seeds were planted and people really had deep questions and were interested.
We worked together with the local Pentecostal church where we also attended Sunday church. They served coffee and pancakes to the cars cruising by and the spectators who had assembled all around the city to check out the cruising at night time. For us it was extra special as we were there the first time as Team RFC and we got really good feedback.
Sadly we received the news yesterday that it might have been the last Power Meet that was held. The arranger was given up after organizing the event for 39 years. He was robbed outside a hotel in Västerås, Friday night as they came back with the funds from the mail event. Sad but true!
Another trip to Zambia
Right now I am sitting in my hotel room at Stockholm, Arlanda airport. My son Sebastian dropped me off here yesterday before he was lucky to take the ferry and go home to the rest of the family. At places like this with a 27 hours waiting time to get to the next place I can get emotional. While I am on the road I miss my family at home and I miss my partner in crime, my own son Sebastian. I know it will all be good when I am in the air and I land in Zambia tomorrow, Wednesday, July 13th in Zambia.
Yes, I am on my way on another Gospel Crusade with Pastor Tommy Lilja and Tommy Lilja Ministries. This summer is the ”summer of contrasts”. Loud muscle cars, wonderful vintage cars and lot of car people one day. The following day multitudes of hungry Africans in an atmosphere that you only can describe by being there yourself. The Gospel need to be preached everywhere and I love the contrast. It is wonderful to see what God is doing in Africa where they people are in need but it is also wonderful to be out on the car events and sow a seed of faith and hope in peoples lives. Jesus is the same in Africa as on Big Power Meet in Västerås.
HOPE album to be ready
We are getting close to the final product. You who have followed the entire process can tell it has been a battle to get this phenomenal album ready. We all know that the enemy is not that happy with a christian album being released with musicians such as John Coghlan (Status Quo), Dave Hlubek (Molly Hatchet), Pete Rees (Gary More) and Jukka Tolonen to name a few. We are actually making rock and roll history with these people on board. Also we have recorded here and there for soon two years now. To get it all put together in a professional way and to get the best possible result is hard. You need professional people to work with and we have had the honor to work with songwriter and producer Jan Hyöty from Sugarhouse Publishing. Now we are making the final steps before mastering and the record will be out soon. Better a little bit late than ever but I tell you; this will be something special.
Back to Sweden
I return from Africa, June 19th and then I am going to spend some quality time with my family and hopefully have the record ready. In august we are returning to Sweden for another tour and we are going to be there all august. Check the calendar for information.
We are very excited to be part of what God is doing in the world today. People are being saved. Sick are being healed and people are being set free from addictions and different things. It is a privilege to serve the Lord as He is the same in Africa as on Big Power Meet. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. There are no hopeless cases.
God Bless you all!
Pontus
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