News from United Methodist Church - Nordic & Baltic area

With the desire to touch lives

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In September 2007 it was as if God simply decided to place His hand on the United Methodist church in Kokkola, Finland. The church was dying, having one active member plus 2-3 friends left, all over 80 years. When I came there, prayer was the only strategy. We began to ask God to send people, to change their lives, to let them understand their need of salvation. We asked Him to heal physically, mentally and spiritually.

We asked Him for wisdom to know how to disciple those that came. The vision was, and still is: Changed lives.

Today people from 15-20 different nations worship with us. Around 50 people worship with us every Sunday. Some of them are new converts.

Some have been physically healed. Some are still struggling. Around 15 people go through our school of leaders, with the vision to start new faith communities here and elsewhere.

We praise God for what He has done. Prayer is still our main focus, because we believe that it is the real presence of Jesus that makes all the difference.

Camilla Klockars, pastor

Area Cabinets sets new goals for church planting

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:30:00 +0100

We want to start at least one new church in each conference by the end of 2011, said the district superintendants gathered in Tallinn for their annual meeting responding to the Central Conference statement: "Forwaord by creating new faith communities"

They have set up the following goals for 2009-2011:

To start 1 new church plant in each conference
To train at least 1-2 church planters in each conference every year
To set up an area wide network for church planters – for mutual learning and support
To Hire a church plant coordinator for the area
To set aside funding in each conference for church planting

We have committed ourselves to preach and teach about starting new faith communities in the comming months. We will be looking for church planters, we will look for possible places to start new churches and support churches that want to start new churches.

New preaching points

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0100

New Preaching point in Paceriaukštė.
A little more than one year ago the Lithuanian Pagalbos Centras purchased a small house in this village. The intent was to provide a place in the community for feeding children after school, a wash program, and emergency shelter for women and children in domestic violence situations. Last spring Pastor Walla Carllson began holding worship services at the house one Sunday afternoon each month. Now others share in leading this worship. Persons from this village and surrounding villages are now coming for “spiritual” food. Normally 25 attend, sometimes as many as 50.

New Preaching point in Šveicarija.
Last spring a couple from this village attended a Bible Study at our church in Ukmergė. They had a relative who attended the Ukmergė Church, about 50 kilometers from their village. They attended twice and then asked if it were possible for us to begin a Bible Study in their village. They were willing to offer their home. They saw that there are many needs in their village, especially with children and wanted to perhaps create a church community that could help. In the summer 5 youth from this Bible Study attended our youth camp. Now 8-10 folks meet on a weekly basis led by Pastor Bonnie. A core group from this Bible Study also attend the Kaunas Church on a regular basis.

For more information on these new ministries go to http://www.lithuaniaumc.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=40480&PID=740070