Living as a Community on Mission

Sunday was extra special and a bit different for us as we were joined Live via Skype by Adam Bradley from Life Church in Peterborough, England. He spoke to us as a group, sharing the story Nehemiah and helping us to see how closely this account of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem relates to our journey here in Helsinki, as we seek to see this city and the lives of the people who live here rebuilt, restored and transformed to the glory of God.

After 120 years of desolation the city of Jerusalem and its walls were in a bad way. Not dissimilar to the city of Helsinki, which although architecturally looks very modern, clean and well kept, like most European capital cities, is spiritually run down and in need.

1.    Adam's initial challenge to us came from the first three verses of the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah is not afraid to ask the big questions and to understand the grave situation Jerusalem found itself in. This was a great provocation to us to also ask the big questions. What is really going on here in Helsinki? What is the state of spiritual desolation in Helsinki? What are the issues causing people to live broken lives here in the city? 

This question focused discussion afterwards about how we can try to ensure we remain purposeful and intentional and avoid passivity, as we seek to bless the city according to some of its biggest needs. These are excellent questions to ask for any going into any new or cross cultural church planting situation. 

2.   In chapter 2 verses 17-18 we see a wonderful attitude of people’s willingness to commit, roll their sleeves up and put their hands to whatever they could do to help at that time. The response of the people is we’re with you, let’s get started! As an extension of the first point they acknowledge the reality of the situation but readily commit to serving the vision by doing what they can do now.

Adam reminded us that “pioneers feed themselves on the bread of vision”! Although we are currently small in number, a bright compelling vision for the people of the city of Helsinki should enable us to roll our sleeves up and take steps in doing what we can do now, even if these things cause us to feel out of our depth.

3.   Throughout chapter 3 we see a remarkable picture of a group of people willing to play out of position. Not restricted or limited by their egos or perceptions of natural talents, they are so compelled by and committed to the vision to see the walls rebuilt, that they are happy to play whatever part they can towards that goal. We don’t hear: well I would help, but that’s not my gifting actually, rather a resounding: here I am, send me!

4.   In chapter 4 verse 6, we read that in the face of huge opposition and adversity they worked with all of their hearts! In just 52 days they had accomplished something remarkable in repairing the walls. There are sacrifices to be made when living as a community together on mission. Partway into our building program here in Helsinki, we need to continue to work together in partnership, and ask: what does it mean for us to be an all of your heart Community? Everyone is needed as a vital part of the team and we all have significant roles to play.

Cobbled together technology & resources at our end [note the projection tablecloth on the wall]! but an amazing message from Adam, heard loud and clear in our apartment in Helsinki all the way from Peterborough!    

5.   At the beginning of chapter 4 we read about people who are willing to live on the edge of defeat. They were ill-equipped, outnumbered, unskilled and building with broken stones and shoddy materials. They were not master builders by any means and as a consequence they were making a less than perfect job of repairing the walls, but they repaired and secure the walls all the same. This is an extremely challenging picture. Rather than fall into the trap of waiting until they were 'ready' to begin the project, the people regard this as a project of faith. They choose to consider the promises of God much more highly than the reality of their own skills, tools and materials.

This presents a huge challenge to me and to us as a small church plant group.  As a relatively risk averse person, I could easily look at our current situation and think we’re a long way off doing anything. We are not properly equipped or resourced, we are not particularly trained, we don’t have finances in place, we don't have the physical space, and the on-going challenges just of living here leave us all with very little free time or energy. We could easily fall into the trap of looking at these factors and talking ourselves out of doing anything on the basis of not being ready. But those rebuilding the walls in Jerusalem understood that they were working within the promises of God. With that in mind, they’re best off not entertaining thoughts about whether they were equipped, or what would happen if they failed. This is not an excuse for a slapdash, anything will do attitude, but we must never allow perfectionism to paralyse us into inactivity.

We too are here based 100% on the promises and provision of God. Time spent hearing stories of others in the group, of how they came to be here and their journeys from various far-off places around the world, would convince you that we’re all here in Helsinki at this time for God ordained reason, and to be part of a bright compelling vision, which He is calling us to partner with Him to see realised. That’s why we are here. Not because we’ve got it all together, with all the equipment and all the answers!

6.   So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Nehemiah 6: 15-16

One can’t help but feel excited when reading these verses, that despite their seemingly disadvantaged initial position, not having equipment, materials, or expertise, the walls were actually finished and they had done it!

It’s so exciting to be on mission in community. What feels like a rollercoaster at times is also an opportunity and a privilege to get to experience special moments like this, were against all the odds, by feeding ourselves on the bread of vision and working together with all of our hearts, we get to see Gods seemingly impossible promises being fulfilled again and again!

Thanks Adam! It was such a blessing to have you join us on Sunday!

You can hear more from Adam by checking out the Life Church webpage or by following him on twitter.

Please pray for us as the group discuss and explore ways to further serve the community around us and engage with the big questions about the current situation here in Helsinki. Possible issues to pray into:

• We have a number of small-scale project ideas to bless and connect with the community around us. One of these ideas is to start a regular Finnish speaking conversation group. This would help us to regularly meet others, particularly forming links with non-finns, who can easily feel socially or culturally isolated. 
• Many of us now have deepening friendships and relationships with colleagues, neighbours and others. Please pray for boldness and opportunity for a greater measure of the Gospel to be shared within these relationships and to see these individuals to understand their need for God and miraculously come to faith.
• As I mentioned, we are small in number, lacking in time and in resources. Please pray for grace that as we faithfully try to plant the small amount of seed we have, that God multiplies this and causes an unprecedented harvest. Pray that we will be a community which is willing to step out, take risks, work with all of its heart and is not preoccupied with all the areas we lack in.

Follow on twitter: @Kevin_J_Jones

Email: finlandvision@gmail.com
Connect via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Helsinki.Plant

If you feel you would like to help financially, this can be done through The City Church Canterbury. Contact Simon Clark to discuss the best way to do this.

A Tale of Global Relations

Brittany, Ben & lovely Eowyn

Our friend Brittany has written this piece. She, husband Ben & two year old Eowyn moved to Helsinki from the US a few months ago & have become great buddies of ours. We're grateful to God to know them! I'll let Brittany tell more of their story. She's a great writer & a super photographer...

Hello! Happy fall to you! My name's Brittany. Ben (my husband) and I have been a part of Kev and Lydia's church plant for the past five months. Kev and Lydia have given me the opportunity to share a bit of what God has done here and I was delighted at the chance to share personally how we've seen God at work. It's a real pleasure getting to share with you. Thanks Joneses for the opportunity.

Back stateside my husband and I [the planners that we are], wanted to find a church home before we moved to Helsinki. I searched a lot of web pages, but was lacking all sorts of peace with the search. We were ending our nights a bit discouraged and had a rather bleak outlook of what we would find in terms of Christian community once we arrived here in Finland.  One night, I was searching for ‘Helsinki mom blogs’ (because moms know all the hidden gems, right!?) and google randomly led me to the very blog you’re now reading. How’s that for Divine appointment?

I remember reading through page after page of this blog and turning to Ben and saying “I found it!” I wrote a comment on the latest of Kev and Lydia’s posts asking for more information and then a few weeks passed. They were out on Holiday, but despite the silence I was pretty set in my resolve that we need not look further. We found our people. We got a lovely response shortly after and our relationship began. We started corresponding amidst boxes and packing slips, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief that Jesus found us community before we even made it across the pond. I kept thinking “God is clearly the God of Helsinki.”

About a week after we moved, we had our first meet-and-greet with the Joneses. The day itself turned out to have its own epic tale that foreshadowed the wild, yet clearly God-ordained friendship that would continue to grow over these next several months. Our interactions with the Joneses have continually made our hearts rest easy, regardless of the fact that we have several kids to wrangle and that our deep conversations are often patch-worked through toddler mediation and English vs American-English translation (Like Pants vs. Trousers!) Good thing Kev has such a good wit.  Needless to say, we’re a lively bunch.

Yet, God has carried us. God has used the Joneses in countless ways, even in redeeming the ‘wait’ that we struggled through preparing for Finland. (We were waiting over a year, and had major bouts of discouragement during that time.) To discover that the Joneses wouldn’t have been here if we'd moved when intended and to see the way God used the delays for our good has caused my heart to be slow to assume I know how a story ends.

On that note, a little back story: When I was 16, I had a prophetic word spoken over me that I would get to speak to dignitaries from all over the world. Back then, I was planning on majoring in Global Relations and this important prophetic word fit like a puzzle piece in my 10 year plan. Years passed, and here we are in Helsinki, Finland. A few weeks ago, we got to participate in the NEW Europe Weekend; a conference hosted here in Helsinki.  My husband and I got the pleasure of meeting so many of you and many of your children loved on our little girl.  It blessed us. Thank you.

A glimpse of God's family; friends from far & wide joined together, worshiping & dreaming of mission in the nations  

I never did major in Global Relations, and in many ways, I forgot that prophetic word spoken years ago. Then, on Sunday, after meeting so many of you from Estonia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, the UK and so many other nations, I felt God remind me of that word and say: these are my dignitaries. It has been a deep pleasure to get to mingle with Joneses and so many of you who read this blog. You are God’s chosen people, his royal priesthood, his dignitaries being sent all over the world. I’m humbled to be able to be in community with you. I’m glad to learn that the way I predict a story’s end is often so different from God’s reality. The prophetic words that a teenage girl interpreted to bring glory to self, was rather fulfilled much more beautifully by God’s glory in his loving community. I like that story better. Getting to see how God has used time, and place and even struggle as crucial aspects to His design in bringing His Kingdom has brought so much hope to my heart. I especially love how He uses His people.

Prayer for many church planting & pioneering situations happening across Europe     

The Helsinki Church plant is still in its early stages, and while I think God has clearly placed vision of where He wants to lead His people here, I also am encouraged by Kev and Lydia in their wisdom in waiting to see how God reveals His story for Finland. I’m excited to see if perhaps even a few of you reading this are about to be a part of this story here, and I’m eager to see and hear the ways God writes His BIG story of bringing all His people to Himself.

I'm learning the beauty in God creating a culture of remembrance throughout the Old Testament. Hearing and seeing of the ways God has shown up past-tense gives me hope in the present that he'll keep doing just that. Hopefully as the days get darker and we struggle through winter, church planting, or just living lives in a fallen world, we'll make a practice of remembering the chapters God has already written in our stories and the ways he's already redeemed. May we be sharp at remembering and quick at retelling of his works. 

From what I’ve seen so far, it really is a beautiful tale.

Follow on twitter: @Kevin_J_Jones

Email: finlandvision@gmail.com
Connect via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Helsinki.Plant

Maistraati vs. The Joneses - Full Match Report [Thumbs up!]

It has been a few months since our last post. This hasn't been down to lack of activity or due to things suddenly becoming very uneventful. So much has been happening, that it has been hard to know when to press pause for a moment to think and process all that has been happening. Today however, we received the jolt we needed to finally get some news out!

Where I grew up in the great naval city of Portsmouth, long before the internet and 24 hour coverage on Sky Sports, if we were unable to make it to Fratton Park to watch the mighty Pompey, there were three ways to find out the outcome of the match. The first was to listen to Radio 5 Sports Report and catch the classified football scores read out just after 5pm. This required being in the right place at the right time to be within earshot of a radio and also to maintain the rigorous concentration to stay focused long enough for the announcer to get into the lower divisions where Pompey resided [and do today]! The second was to ask somebody at the pub and the third was to call in at the local news agents and pick up a copy of the Saturday Sports Mail. Details of the match could be read on its pink Financial Times-esque pages, but the first thing to look for on the front page was the expression of the Pompey Sailor. Forlorn and dispirited with thumbs down indicated a defeat that day, while upbeat wide-eyed with thumbs up was a sure sign of victory. A draw was signified by something in between!

Many will have heard of our ongoing struggles negotiating the immigration system since arriving here in Finland. Our lack of Finnish relatives and the fact that we weren't coming to work at Nokia put us in the anomalies column with the immigration authorities. In their view [not ours], people rarely leave England and move to Finland without family ties or being forced to by their employer! This has caused the immigration people or Maistraati, as they are known, to have kept us on special probationary measures since we got here. It's been a hard battle, and the Maistraati are nice people, but tough cookies who show no mercy when it comes to thinking outside the conventional box when considering our unusual [to them] case!

It has been frustrating at times and humbling and eye opening to be viewed with such suspicion. The reality though was that until we entered the second year here nothing would change. We will have been here for one year towards the end of July and it seemed that we would need to wait until then. A surprise chance arose though when Lydia's boss recently began organising the staffing for the year ahead. Lydia received her next one year contract a few days ago [several months before its start date]. We decided to chance our arm at the Maistraati and they accepted this and several folders worth of other paperwork as sufficient evidence that we intend to continue here into the second year and beyond.

We are thankful to God that we have secured victory in our immigration situation much sooner than we anticipated. No extra time and no penalties, but a decent win in normal time! Barring any unforeseen complications, we look forward to being able to register at the medical centre and know that if we or the children become ill we will be able to receive medical treatment. Just in terms of our own momentum and sense of personal encouragement, this feels like a great milestone, to be able to say that we have a permanent address here at last.

There are so many other encouraging things happening right now. We are continuing to enjoy our friendship with the brilliant Finnish/English family who were here long before us. They are so fun, warm and supportive, with such a heart to see the lost reached and the church restored in Finland. We are excited to be hosting the The NEW Conference for European church planters and pioneers, here in Helsinki in September. It will be such a privilege to be able to serve others considering a cross-cultural or pioneering journey, at such an early stage in our church planting story here in Finland. We are very excited about this! We are also delighted to have met the Sprague family, who have very recently moved over from America for work, and are already eager and committed to partnering with us and recognise the huge eternal significance of being instrumental in building something from very small, which we hope will be long lasting and far reaching in Helsinki and beyond. We are having regular contact from a number of others from many nations. this is such a joy. In addition to these connections with other believers, we are enjoying forming a network of non-christian friends. This has been much easier than we had anticipated here in Finland [a place notorious for isolation and social boundaries which inhibit the framing of relationships between neighbours, colleagues etc.] God has been so faithful in opening these and many other doors for us. When faced with an inevitable moment of discouragement, it has been so useful to stop and consider all of the fruit we are beginning to see around us, particularly through relationship and often despite the more practical challenges. When we look at the tide of relational connections emerging and forming [remembering that we had very few contacts when we first moved out] we see God's faithfulness and can trust that this is just the beginning and He will see all of these things, and more, through in ways which go beyond our greatest hopes and expectations.

     Jubilent scenes after the showdown at the Maistraati today. Lydia slides on her knees at the final whistle!

More updates soon. But please pray for:

• Team to continue to form - for the existing contacts to form deep relationships & for a sense of community to form.
• Luke & Alison Morrison - they hope to move here to build with us this summer, but need great favour with jobs and all the other practicalities. They are such brilliant community builders [among many other things] and are vital ingredients to the team forming here.
• Provision of resources - [finances, but also time and workers], to enable us to continue in the momentum which is beginning to develop.
• Wisdom for the next steps - for the Autumn in continuing to build genuine, discipleship, grace community and serve those connected to us, and to be on the front foot in stepping out in the atmosphere of momentum which seems to be forming.

Also you may want to follow the new Relational Mission Helsinki Church Plant Facebook Page to get more frequent news, see more of what we're getting involved in and become part of the community.

Follow on twitter: @Kevin_J_Jones

Email: finlandvision@gmail.com

Finding Super Treasure

Lydia has written the latest update to the Helsinki Plant blog. After an emotional morning of reflecting, considering, discussion & praying together it seemed right to put together another update, but this time focusing on the children. Church planting is such an adventure, but it is so important to remember the heroic effort our three children have made in facing the everyday challenge and sacrifice, as they join us on cross-cultural mission.



This morning as a family we talked about the parable of the Hidden Treasure [Matthew 13]. We talked about how Jesus is our treasure and how we are urged give up things or leave things behind for Jesus and also how we are God’s treasure, how Jesus came into the world and paid the price, even though it cost Him everything in order to get His treasure – us. Kev read us Mark 10:29-30: 

‘Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses or brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”

The first tears came from Johan. He started to sob saying that he missed England, then Edith shared how she is missing friends and family, gradually we all expressed how we were feeling home sick and missing different aspects of ‘home’ and the comforts of familiarity, routine and longstanding friendships.

We have shot some video of the children asking them how they find living in Finland: 

So far on this adventure, Edith, Johan and Barnabas have been our heroes. They have adapted to this new land, culture, and people with real joy and zeal. Sometimes I think we take it for granted what a big deal it is for them going to Finnish school and daycare. Being immersed into an unknown language Is so exhausting, confusing and isolating yet the children daily thank Jesus that they get to go to school/daycare that day.

We finished our chats this morning with cuddles and prayers. We would love it if you would support us by praying into how we [especially the children] have been feeling:

• Missing our house in England – we are feeling quite cramped in the flat, particularly with all three children sharing one bedroom
• Missing friends – still longing for some more deep fun friendships and some friends for Barnsie that are his age
• Daddy missing his job and missing Mummy being at home 
• Mummy missing getting to meet other Mummies on the school run

We thank everyone who prays for us regularly. We love knowing that as we update this simple little blog, many will be mobilise to intercede on our behalf. We urge you to continue to do this and to really go for it, knowing the vital, world changing power that prayer has. Get stuck into praying for us and we look forward to reporting back about all that God has done!

Follow on twitter: @Kevin_J_Jones

Email: finlandvision@gmail.com 

Prayer Video For the #SKETCH Event on Sunday 2nd March 2014

We are looking forward to the #SKETCH event, which we are hoping will be a key stepping stone in the birth and establishing of the Relational Mission Helsinki Church Plant. The event is a taster with the purpose of helping us to #SKETCH and dream what it could be like to one day have another vibrant, strong, healthy, New Testament, Spirit filled church here in Helsinki, reaching an increasingly secular population with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are still at the beginnings of our journey toward this dream. We are hoping that this seemingly small event will be of big consequence and significance as a key stepping stone on this journey.

We have Adam Bradley from Life Church in Peterborough UK [part of Relational Mission] joining us to speak at the event and also to spend time over the weekend blessing and encouraging us and the small team which is forming here. We are very much looking forward to Adam's input and are fully expectant and excited about what God will do amongst us through him.

I have produced a [very spontaneous!] video highlighting some of my hopes for the weekend ahead and detailing some key themes and issues that you can stand with us in by praying your socks off.

We are so grateful to all who pray for us. We don't know all of you personally but we are so aware that this is the vital engine room to the remarkable breakthrough we have been seeing here so far. Your prayer for us matters! We ask you to get behind the #SKETCH event in the coming days and we look forward to reporting back on the many things God accomplishes over the coming weekend and as we continue to see God establish His church. Pray for Adam as he leaves his family to travel to Finland to serve and bless us.

Follow on twitter: @Kevin_J_Jones

Email: finlandvision@gmail.com 

New Beginnings: Living The Day

Lydia has written the latest update to the Helsinki Plant blog. She is a super wife and mother and an amazing woman of faith. Lydia and I have been married for 10 years. The last season, has been the best yet on our journey doing life together and embarking upon our church planting adventure here in Finland.

We have started the New Year with gratitude and amazement for all God has done in the last year. We still are thrilled that we are actually here. I often walk around thinking ‘wow we live in Finland’. This time last year we hadn’t got a clue how this would actually happen but here we are now with a beautiful story to tell of how God miraculously opened many doors for us to get here.

We are grateful for a mild winter, adjusting to the weather was something that we were very nervous about but graciously it has been a mild one, so far we have only seen temperatures go down to -21 and we have all escaped the dreaded frost bite! We have made some lovely friends in our time here so far, most weekends we socialise with others. When we moved here we wondered how we would make friends, so it has been lovely to be able to invite many people into our home. We are thankful for the key people who have been given to us, who know the Finnish system and have helped us get through different administrative and logistical problems.

Johan & Edith making the most of the playground at the
local school. In the winter the council ice it over & the
Children skate instead of gym. 

I am so grateful for a wonderful job and a precious colleague, Prajakta, and 14 bouncing 2-4 year olds to have fun with. We are so grateful for super teachers for Edith and Johan at their pre-school and daycare. They have both settled in well, we are very proud of them as they have dived full on and headfirst into Finnish culture! They are often both very tired and can be quiet at school, but their teachers say they are gradually starting to understand and use finnish more and more. I am so grateful for a husband who can do the stay at home role so well. I arrive home from work to dinner on the table and happy children, you cant beat that!

A super Christmas meal with Steve & Hannah Jacob [left] and Luke &
Alison Morrison [right] who visited from England

I think one of our biggest thank you’s to God is for the Jacob family. God has totally wowed me with His provision of this wonderful family into our lives. He knows us and certainly knows how to provide all that we need! At the end of November the Jacobs told us they wanted to join us for church. We have been meeting on Sundays, these have been fun and crazy times. I don't think Kev would ever have imagined he would have been a kids worker at church but he has done an amazing job and come up with many fun and creative ways to communicate the different stories to the children [who currently outnumber the adults].

We have also just started a monthly book group with Steve and Hanna. We are reading Terry Virgo’s The Spirit Filled Church. We are wanting to look at the type of background we have come from and the values we hold dear. We want to take the opportunity together to chat through how these kind of values fit into contemporary Finnish culture and what they would look like as we continue to work towards establishing a thriving, Spirit-filled New Testament church. These have been good times, encouraging us to rely more on the Holy Spirit and through Him be a distinctive people in all that we do.

When we left the UK six months ago without a home organised for us to move into when we arrived, we had to experience relying upon Jesus in a new, immediate way. During the first few months of our time living here there were many daunting new things where we needed to absolutely depend on God, earnestly seeking his guidance and strength. As we are gradually settling in some of the pressures of being ‘foreigners’ in a new culture have just begun to ease. This has in turn enabled us to start to ease back and establish some more familiar routines.

Enjoying the outdoors is such a massive part
of Finnish life

Since the New Year Kev and I have both felt such a desire to press in deeper to God. We are grateful for the non-Christian friendships that we have, but want to know a new boldness to bring Jesus into these relationships. Church is super but we long for more people to join with us.

As we currently stand, we are so grateful for all that God has done but we are now hungry to press in deeper and to broaden our horizons and expectations. We want to keep seeking the new. We have both been reading about Old Testament characters who have moved to new lands and been blessed even though they were often living and working in a Godless or secular culture. We want to ask for the same. That as we attempt to live faithfully with what God has given us, we would be a blessing and be blessed in this wonderful nation.

Barnabas enjoying the sledge he bought with
his Christmas money!

We constantly come up with different ideas for what Kev should go for once Barns starts daycare in August. At the moment we think Kev should pursue getting onto the full time Finnish course which is free of charge if taken during the first three years of arriving in Finland. One of the challenges is organising childcare to enable him to attend the meetings and interviews [all at various times of day] to get a place on the course. Although most Finns speak excellent English, without the Finnish language we feel we will only ever be able to become integrated up to a certain point. Although sometimes being from overseas makes the conversation easier, at other times it creates something of a barrier and adds to the suspicion here of people wanting to discuss religion or people giving away something for free.

For this season ahead we are really wanting to press in deeper to Jesus, we are so grateful for the friendships that He has given us but now want to step out in boldness in these relationships. We want to continue to enjoy and faithfully serve the friendships God has gifted to us. But, we are looking for breakthrough. We are looking to Jesus to do a miracle, which transforms an amazingly enjoyable network of relationships into something where people powerfully encounter the gospel of Jesus Christ and lives are won for Him and transformed with eternal consequence.

Some wizzy fizzy let’s get busy prayer points:

• For excellent foundations to continue to be built with the Jacobs and us.
• More people to be added to us [there are a number of people currently on the fringe].
• For boldness and blessing in our friendships with a number of non-christian families and for some of these to be miraculously saved & discipled. 
• For us all to become super fantastic Finnish speakers.
• Wisdom for us about Kev's future plans and for opportunities to emerge.

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you 

For your on going love and support!

Follow on twitter: @Kevin_J_Jones

Email: finlandvision@gmail.com