A Family Ministry – Bringing the Gospel to the People

My name is Pontus J. Back. I was born in Jyväskylä, Finland, in August 1972. On the very day I was born, my biological mother gave me away, and I was adopted into a loving home with wonderful parents. For that, I am deeply grateful.

However, being told at a very young age that I was adopted created an identity crisis within me. Something broke on the inside. Outwardly I was a happy boy, but inwardly I felt lost. Fear and anxiety grew within me, along with questions I could not answer.

At the age of twelve, I discovered that alcohol could numb my fear and emotional pain. It was a decision that nearly cost me my life. By the age of sixteen, I was already an alcoholic.

In 1990, I met Hannele. We fell in love, became engaged that same year, and married in August 1993. We have four children: Sebastian (born 1994), twins Jennifer and Jessica (born 1997), and Jeanette (born 1999). I am a proud father, and my wife faithfully stood beside me even during the darkest years when I was living far from God.

In 1995, I began touring internationally as a rock musician. I toured with members from bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, Whitesnake, Frankie Miller Band, and Status Quo. Outwardly it looked like success. Inwardly, I was falling apart. Fear and panic attacks increased, and I tried to silence them with alcohol — and later drugs.

By the autumn of 2006, I was completely broken. When I returned home to Finland, I was seriously ill. I could not stop drinking. I was consuming three large bottles of vodka every day just to survive. My body was shutting down.

On January 3, 2007, a friend took me to a small church. I was drunk, ashamed, and afraid. I expected judgment, but instead I encountered love. People laid their hands on me and prayed. I experienced the presence of God in a way I cannot describe with words — it felt warm, safe, and real. That evening, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.

From that night forward, I have not touched alcohol or drugs. Jesus set me free.

But physically, I was still dying.

On February 10, 2007, I was admitted to the hospital in Vaasa, Finland. The doctors examined me and called my wife and children for a family meeting. They told us that my liver was destroyed, my kidneys were shutting down, my pancreas was severely inflamed, I had multiple bleeding ulcers, and my abdomen was filled with fluid. My body was failing. They gave no hope that I would survive.

I was dying.

Christians came to the hospital and prayed for me. They shared testimonies of what Jesus had done in their lives, and a small spark of hope began to grow. But I was still terrified. I had carried the fear of death since childhood.

One night in the hospital, I heard a voice ask me:

“When was the last time you told your wife and children that you love them?”

The question pierced my heart. I realized I had never truly told my wife that I loved her, and I had not been there for my children. My heart broke. I began to cry and cried out:

“Jesus, if You are real — help me.”

That same night at 2:00 a.m., I woke up. The hospital room was filled with a bright shining light. I heard the voice again:

“When you get up from this bed, go out and tell all people about Me and about your life. Tell the young people about the dangers. Help those who struggle like you have struggled.”

Then the light disappeared.

And something else disappeared — my fear.

I was crying and laughing at the same time. I knew this was not the end. I saw in my heart that I would play music again — but now for Jesus. I understood that I would write a book and travel, sharing my life story together with music.

Against all medical expectations, I recovered.

It has now been nearly twenty years since that night in the hospital when I had this supernatural encounter. I have taken that calling seriously. Since my recovery, I have traveled full-time sharing my testimony of freedom, healing, and salvation.

This is a family ministry. My son Sebastian travels with me. My wife blesses us when we leave and prays for us while we are on the road. She knows we are doing this for a much higher purpose than when I was touring the world before.

In recent years, we have traveled through Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland with our Gospel Express bus. We visit churches, schools, and prisons.

Last year, we experienced especially powerful meetings in several prisons in Germany. When I later read a letter from one of the prisons, I had a tear in my eye. The letter said:

“I would like to thank you very much, personally and on behalf of the prison administration. It was a moving and successful event that reached many prisoners. I had goosebumps at times. Not all participants are affiliated with the church. Nevertheless, the wish of some prisoners to pray together was respected and patiently waited for. That's not a given these days! Pontus J. Back's message is well suited to the problems faced by prisoners and people in general.

I would like to thank you very much for the excellent cooperation and the joint implementation at such short notice!”

This is what it is all about.

It is not about me. It is about Jesus Christ — faith, hope, and love.

To continue this full-time ministry, we depend on prayer, connections, and financial support, as we have no other income. Speaking about finances has always been my weakest point, but my mentors and elders have encouraged me to be open about our needs. That is one reason you are reading this presentation.

The best thing you can do is pray for us. If you would also like to support us financially — through a one-time gift or monthly partnership — we are deeply grateful.

Together we can bring Jesus to people wherever they are.

God bless you!