UTurn kick-off 2010 February 8, 2010

This coming Friday we have our first UTurn event this year, and we are excited about it! Our goal with those events is to be a voice into the young generation of Tartu. While there are few people today who dears to set a standard (but rather follows what the common man says) we from UTurn want to speak a clear message that will bring guidance and help to young people! Many youths have lost direction and are struggeling on their own, often witout a purpose or meaning in life! We believe that Jesus came for ONE purpose and that was to bring LIFE and life more abundantly! We have some good news to tell and we have a light to show to the world. We won’t hide it nor keep it to ourseleves!

This time we have invited some people from a Christian organization, “Elu Kaitseks”. In english it means “to protect lives”. They are working with giving informatIon in schools about the aportion and all that is connected to it. They are doing an excellent job and have a great impact on young people! They will have a presentation/lecture for us at UTurn and we believe it will be an evening that will touch our lives! Let us pray that many of the youths from Tartu will attend  this happening.

What a wintercamp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! January 31, 2010

I am sitting here now at home with a satisfaction that can’t be expressed by words. I am talking about the wintercamp that we had this weekend! It is just oustanding when you see how God is doing more than we could imagine and pray about. It was a mighty move of God from the beginning of the camp! You could sense the presence of God resting over the place. I can really see that God did a great work in the lives of the youths!

Friday we all arrived at the camp. First we started with a good evening meal that was prepared and then we had an opening meeting, where I was sharing from my heart. Most of the evening we had “free stage” where several youths where performing with different kinds of activities! It was an evening with much laughter and a lot of fun!! We as youthleaders took the challenge to perform this year as well. So the girls dressed up as Spice Girls and was singing one of their famous hits, and us guys dressed up as Backstreet’s boys and imitated them! Fun experience I tell you hehe…

Saturday morning we had two teaching session, where I had the first part about “You and Your Bible”. I really felt God was inspiring the youths, and a new thirst and hunger for the word of God was birthed into their lives! The second session was about our prayerlife and Calle was teaching! It was very good and inspiring as well! And after those two sessions God came so strong and we had a mighty aftermeeting where many youths came forward. There was an anointing that morning to enter into a stronger life in the word and in prayer!

During the day we  had different activites outside. Us guys were playing rugby which was REALLY exhausting! One of the youths even started to bleed from his nose, but it went alright;)

I must also mention the heros we had in the kitchen! They did an outstaning job! One of the guys in our youthwork, Artjom, took the full responsibility in preparing food for all of us, which saved us A LOT of money! Praise God for servants like him!

Saturday evening was powerful!! We had invited Slava, who is leading the Men’s fellowhip in our church. He is from Russia, but have now lived in Estonia for about 4 years. That evening he was preaching about the Fathers heart and His love for us! The spirit of God was moving strongly and youth were deeply touched that evening! God took completely over and it was amazing to stand and watch it all! One of the girls got baptized in the Holy Spirit during the worshipnight also! After the meeting and worship concert we had, it was time for suna. Girls first and then later the guys. We were jumping in the lake through a whole in the ice! It was freeezing cold, but very refreshing! Before I went to the sauna that evening I was washing some of the dishes in the kitchen together with one of the guys. I didn’t know him that much so I started to ask him some questions about himself. There he told me that he wasn’t saved, though he had attended youthmeetings for a long period of time..! That evening I led him in the salvation prayer and he also received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He was filled with the fire of God and changed forever!! Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday morning meeting I had prepared a sermon, but this time God had other plans hehe…Many of the youths were sharing their testimonies of how God had changed them during the camp! We started 11.00 and the meeting didn’t end until 13.30. It was undescribable!!  Powerful worship without any limits. You should have been there! It was such a blessing to have Chris over also. He was a part of the worship team and participated in the worshipconcert we had Saturday evening!!

I am so thankful to God!! To witness things like that is worth all the effort and costs! God is rising up a young generation that is radical and in fire for Him!! It is great to be a part of it and to be one of the  instruments in the hands of God.

Jesus! How fantastic you are!!! January 25, 2010

Another week is here and I feel they are speeding up! But every week is so backed with blessings and I am very thankful to God for all what he is doing. These last days I have experienced God in a powerful way through prayer. You know, it is a great priviledge to share apartment with Calle and we are connectning so good in many ways, not at least in prayer. It is powerful to have a prayerpartner and to agree about certain things in prayer. The Bible talks about praying out mysteries!

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit (1 Cor 14:2)

I can sense that God has much in store and really only the sky is the limit. We need to take hold of what God has for us and pray it out! It is so important!! Times of prayer are never wasted, but can mean life or death so to speak. I like what John Wesley said: “It seems like God moves only through our prayers…” Prayer in faith is the best investment you can make. It can pay off big time and bring great glory to God!!

On Friday I was actually preaching at the youthmeeting for the first time this year, since we have had visits from Norway these last two weeks. I was giving a speech about the person of Jesus. “How is YOUR Jesus?” was the title of the evening. Many times I think we as Christians have a wrong picture of him which is influencing our walk with Him. It is easy to know about all the things He has done for us, what He is capable of doing, but an other thing is to look into His eyes and to really know how He is as a person. That evening I was emphasising His personality according to the Scripture. In many ways I believe He was a free and joyful person, a charismatic type if you like. He was known for being a “friend of sinners”, which meant that He loved to hang out with people and people loved to hang out with Him. He carried a presence that caught the attention of all groups of people. After spending time with Him for some few minutes you wanted to be His follower and best friend. There was a warmth and peace about Him that nothing could be compared with. Jesus was an anti-religious person (even though He was a Jews and perfect in the law). He hated the bonds and burdens that religiouns loaded on people! He attacked the religious people over and over again and warned the people against them.

 ”For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:17)

Jesus was not a condemner, but the Saviour! He didn’t accept sin, but always accepeted the sinner! What a person He was!  A hunger and desire to know His is ever increasing and I am looking forward to walk side by side with him in the days, weeks, months and years to come!!

Please lift us up in prayer for the wintercamp that starts this coming weekend, 29th-31st of January! I believe it will have a great impact on the 50 youths that are coming!! God bless you, my friend.

 

 

 

Exciting times! January 18, 2010

Another amazing weekend has passed by. This time we had Tom Jensen and Ruben Meyer over here in Estonia. They came on Thursday and today they are leaving! They have both stayed in our apartment and we have had such a blessed time together! Friday we had youthmeeting and Ruben Meyer was preaching! Wow, it was powerful and God really showed up (as always!!). The worship was outstanding and the message from Ruben hit the hearts of the youths. Many youths came forward in the end of the meeting and the we could hardly stop the meeting that evening…

After the youthmeeting we gathered all the youthleaders in my apartment where Tom Jensen had a teaching session with us! It was very inspiering! What a priviledge to receive advices and wisdom from a man like him who has been working with youths for 25 years!

On Saturday I used much of the day to search for a car to buy. So in a short time I will have my own car to drive around with here in Estonia. That will make life much easier!

On Sunday Tom Jensen was preaching a powerful sermon about “Do you know the gift of God?”. He preached about leaving all behind and stretching out for everything God has for you! You will have what you believe for. When things look impossible and no doors seems to open, God has a way for you! I got inspired to get hold of the dreams and purposes God has for me, the gifts God has for me and to get hold of it, run with it like never before and use the gift(s) to give it out to others!!

Now I am looking forward to the wintercamp we will have in about 2 weeks! It starts the 29th of January and lasts for three days! Last year was really powerful and we are praying that God will pour out His blessing upon the whole wintercamp! The whole purpose is that the youths shall meet God in a powerful way and leave the camp with a heart in fire for Him!!! Remember us in prayer!

A wonderful weekend with the norwegian team! January 11, 2010

Now am sitting in my apartment and have just had some time with biblestudies from Isaiah! I am watching Calle who is cleaning the whole apartment! What a friend, what a man of God! Thank God for Him! We are excited about what God is leading us into this year! We both feel that 2010 has much in store and we are dedicated to run for God like never before!

This weekend we have had a smal team from Norway over and it has been such a blessing to have them here! Friday we had our first youthmeeting and God really moving strongly! We prayed that God would set the standard for this year and He we saw that God answered our prayer! Here are some goals for the youthwork this year. We will seek God in prayer to see this fulfilled before our eyes:

• To see a deeper hunger and longing for God among the youths
• To see a united youthgroup, where everyone feels they are a part of it.
• To see a boldness and eagerness to serve Jesus among the youths
• A strong presence in the youthmeetings, where the Holy Spirit is doing a great work in their lives
• A worship that is touching heaven!
• That the youths will have a desire like never before to invite friends from school or other areas to a youthmeeting, a cellgroup, a U Turn event
• To see our leaders with a deep passion for God. When we come together it is natural to talk about God, to pray together and stir eachother up about the things of God
• A passion for Jesus, a passion for His word, a passion for His presence, a passion and desire to live a holy life! In Jesus Name!!

Yeah, so the youthmeeting was awesome. Anette  was preaching, and Marta from the team was sharing a strong testimony about how God how used her to heal and save a momen! Saturday the team went to the childrenhome in Elva and in the evening we all went to a small village outside of Põlva. It was inspiring to see all the unsaved youths that attended the meeting. Thins are really growing in the youthwork there! So that evening Jostein was preaching a strong message about what we put into our lives and how it affects us positively or negatively. Øystein was sharing a testmony which was inspireing as well!

Sunday we all attended the morningservice! Great to be back in church after a long period in Norway! Pastor Eino was sharing a powerful message about the promises of God!!

Tonight we will have leadermeeting where we will make the last plans for the wintercamp that starts the last weekend of January! I pray that God will make it into a powerful camp!

On Thursday will Tom Jensen and Ruben Meyer come and they will stay here until Monday! It is such a priviledge to have regularly visits from Norway!

Keep on burning for Him!!

ESTONIA and 2010 January 6, 2010

 

Yesterday evening I came back to Estonia after over two weeks holiday in Norway! It has been some fantastic days at home and I have enjoyed every day so much! Much of the time was spent with family and friends, eating a lot of good food and Christmascakes!

To be in Estonia again feels very good! I am really excited about this coming year! None of us knows what will take place during this year. Personally I have a stronger desire than ever to embrace the things of God, to dwell in his word and spend time in His presence. I am hungry and thirsty to take new steps with Jesus and live tight to Him every single day of this year!

I believe as we ARE living in the last days, the darkness will cover the world with more intencity than ever. We will experience things that will shock us and even shake us, but I know the word of God has strong promises for the sons and daughter of God in this time and hour!  One verse from Ephesians I take to my heart and declare over my life;

“Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand! (Eph 6:13)

As a son and servant of God I am prepared and called to stand and keep on standing even though things are shaking like never before! I believe God is doing a work in the churches all over the world and cleansing every believer from what is not bearing fruit! Those who really want to live as true Christians will experience that they no longer can live for themselves, but rather give up their lives for the sake of Christ. I believe God is raising up a people that has their eyes on Jesus and not only on themselves, a people that will hate sin and love righteousness, with a passion to save the lost and to spread the Kingdom of God in every place they go!

This January will have a packed program. Tomorrow we have 4 norwegians coming over. Anette Flatin is one of them who worked as a missionary here in Estonia for many years. It’s going to be great to have them here! Next weekend Tom Jensen will come together with my good friend, Ruben Mayer. And the last weekend of January we have the wintercamp, which is going to be awesome! Christoffer Andersen will come to join us at the wintercamp! Praise God!

Christmas time -here we come! December 18, 2009

At the moment I am laying on my bed in a hotelroom in Tallinn, together with Calle. Tomorrow morning 05.30am we are going by plane back to Norway. Today we have spent most of the day buying in some christmas presents! It feel like a child because it has been long ago since I was looking forward for Christmas as much as now…hehe…That’s how it is when you haven’t seen your family for a while, then you really appreciate times like Christmas.

We have had some great days lately and overall year I can see how God has proven to be faithful! It is such an honor to be able to serve Him with all my time and effort. I never take that for granted!

Below you see some of the pictures from the Christmasparty we has last Saturday which was a really nice evening.

Nice pitures, yeah? Last years we had the Christmas party in the same place and one thing is for sure -time is flying!! I have now been 3,5 years in Estonia and this country has become my home. So to come to Norway now is more like a visit, even though I can’t neglect that I still have norwegian viking blood within me:) How long I will stay in Estonia I can not say, but I believe it will be for a while. Why leave when I can’t find any reason for it? Only God knows…

Yesterday, Calle and  I had the chance to spend some quality time with our pastor Eino and his wife Liljan. They invited us home for coffee, applecake and icecream. We also had some good talk us guys in the sauna! I feel so blessed to serve under pastor Eino. He is such an example to me and powerful man of God, anointed and full of wisdom!

Great things are taking place in the church at the moment as well! The word the church is standing on is from Isaiah 54:2

  “Enlarge the place of your tent,  stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes”

This year we have seen many areas of the church under devlopment and growth. The childrenwoork is stronger than ever, the youthwork has taken new steps, started up with “U Turn” we have spent much time spreading the Gospel in the city.  We had also a powerful youthconference in October where 500 youths from all over Estonia were gathered! These last months we have been in preparation for the launch the schoolorganisation, New Generation! We have now been in contact with different youthworks and we are building contacts with Christian youths from different schools. From January on we will start entering into the school after school, first in Tartu and then around of Estonia! It’s time to bring the powerful Gospel to the schools and win this generation for Jesus! A New Generation is rising up which will be a part of changing this nation!

 The church has started with Men’s fellowship, and also services for the russian-speaking people of the church! The childrenschool as been renovated and has expanded with more classes up to 9th grade. The church-building has been under renovation also (and much more is coming), the church has got their own beautiful cafiteria. This coming September, the church is starting with a fulltime bibleseminary! Glory be to God!!!!!!! It’s gonna be totally awesome!

Yeah, God is not sleeping, but He is indeed active and is breathing life into this church! We don’t measure our spirituality or success on outward things, but I know that God has made us to bear MUCH fruit in His Kingdom! The fact is when the anointing and life of God is flowing it will sooner or later be manifested before our physical eyes. The spiritual reality will effect the natural world!

What God had in mind for almost 4000 years would one day be manifested before our eyes. John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”.

What a time we are living in! We live in the time and hour when the end time prophesies are fulfilled before our eyes. The Son of God is not only born, but He had died for our sins, not only that, He has risen from that dead and conquered death and hell. It doesn’t stop there. He has taken the initiative to make His dwelling place WITHIN us through the Holy Spirit! What a reality we are living in, with the risen and victories King of kings, Lord of lords living IN us, never leaving us and never forsaking us! Oh, must 2010 be a year when we not anymore are silent about this Great News! Let us use every opportunity we have this Christmas time to spread the Good News about the Messiah who was born and lives today to seek and to save the lost!

Have a blessed Christmas time and stay in fire for Him today and every day throughout the coming year, 2010!!

For God SO LOVED the world that He GAVE… December 11, 2009

The last couple of days I have used much of the time for studies. I am studying theology over internet from Livets Ord University, and next week I have a bookreport to give in plus the final exam! 

Today I am preparing for the youthmeeting we’II have tonight, which will be the last youthmeeting before Christmas. Next Friday I will go back to Norway, while the youth will have a movienight in church. The title for the message tonight is, “The LOVE  of God”.  I will use the famous scripture, John 3:16 and then talk out from that. I am praying for God to reveal Himself in a mighty way! Often we hear a lot of truths from the word of God, but it needs to enter deep on the inside of us to the point that it transformes us.  When we grasp the love of God, all who He is, all what He had done, and all what He’s doing, then we live our lives in a different way. We will approach  God in a different way and we will look at people in a different way!

Tomorrow we have Christmas party. We will be 30 youths gathered in a building in the citycenter! There we will have a tasty Christmas-dinner, desert, coffee/tea and cakes + some program during the evening!

It has been a good year in many ways. God is faithful and leads us to His riches! I can’t wait to step into 2010!

Hoho…Christmas already? December 6, 2009

It has been over a week since I wrote here -time flies! Some few updates…This weekend has been so good! Friday we had “U Turn”!!! Since we were not able to use the location in the city (because of some misunderstanding), we decided to have the whole event outside in the center of Tartu! So that’s what we did. We put up a tent where we had a band playing, we had dance and drama + testimonies. The theme of the evening was “From drugs to freedom”, and Villy Võrk was the guest that evening and he was sharing his testimony on the street!

It was a powerful evening and many stoped and listened! I believe many were touched by the Gospel and they could experience the life of God that we brought to the street that evening! I love this stuff!! I feel like a fish in the water!

Next Friday we have the last youthmeeting before Christmas! And on Saturday we have Christmas party -good food and quality time together!

Gospel Night! November 26, 2009

Tomorrow evening we have “Gospel Night”! First all of the youths will meet in one of the leaders (Jenny) apartment in the city, where we have time with worhsip and preaching and then we will pray for eachother and go all of us to the downtown and get in touch with people in the city.

We will make a questionaire about the theme that we will have for “U Turn” next week. The theme is then “From drugs to freedom”, so the questionaire will consist of questions around that. The goal is both to  get answers from the youths in the city, but also for our youths in a easy way to get in touch with the man on the street. We will also at the same time distribute fliers and invite them for “U Turn” on the 4th of December! So praise God, I believe it will be a great evening with wonderful connection with people and that the Gospel will change lives!