www.nextwaveonline.com
News
Finland: Home of Nokia - And Huge Spiritual Need
06 August 2009
Finland is well known as the home of Nokia and Linux and one of the most Internet wired countries in the world.
It also enjoys one of the world's highest standards of living. Yet the nation also faces some very real social and spiritual challenges, as Mal Fletcher discovered on his most recent visit.
Speaking at the National Summer Conference of the Free Evangelical Churches of Finland, Mal addressed leaders on the changing face of society and what the church must become to meet the challenges and needs.
He also spoke at the main evening celebration event which drew thousands of people into the largest indoor stadium in the region. At the end of Mal's message on vision, the front of this huge building was packed with people as perhaps 60% of the crowd came forward for prayer in response.
One of the leaders of the event said: "This is the biggest response I've ever seen to ministry at this event."
Mal is known throughout Finland for his popular TV program, Edges.
Whilst there, Mal also spoke to the on-site youth event on the dangers of celebrity, a subject very much in the news at the time with the death of Michael Jackson.
After this visit, Mal said: "I have been to Finland now a number of time times. Each time I go, it feels like the church is becoming more conscious of its proper role in society as a 'city on a hill that cannot be hidden'."
"This nation, so technologically advanced, also has the highest rate of young adult suicide in the world (ages 25-34)."
"So the age of high tech is giving birth to a corresponding need for high touch."
"I want to say a special thank you to the churches and organisations who financially partner with us in the missions side of the work across Europe. Without them, I would not be able to invest time and effort into helping to reshape major church movements like this one."
For more on becoming an active partner in his mission to Europe, visit intothemainstream.net.
www.nextwaveonline.com