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This blog brings you short updates about the people and ministries associated with Calvary Chapel Scandinavia (CCS). Tip us about good stories at csu@calvarychapel.dk or via Facebook or Twitter (twitter.com/ccscandinavia).

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Stockholm to Host Next Scandinavian Conference

Bring out your calendars! For the first time ever, the annual Scandinavian Calvary Chapel conference will be held in the Stockholm area.

Known by many for its meatballs, IKEA, and "fika", Sweden is now back in the role of hosting a Scandinavian conference for the first time since 2005. This time, it's the capitol of Stockholm which will have the honors of putting on the 2009 Calvary Chapel conference for the first time ever, thus giving next year's conference the most northern location so far in the history of the Scandinavian conferences.

"We had several reasons for choosing Stockholm as the 2009 location," says co-planner and Stockholmer Joel Wickström.

"We've talked a lot about rotating the host nations from year to year, and I'm very excited that God has allowed us to place the next conference near Stockholm. Although the Danes will have to drive a bit further than they've been used to in the past three years, it will give more people from Finland and Stockholm a chance to attend. For our Norwegian guests and all those flying in from afar, Stockholm is just as accessible as Eastern Denmark. Finally, we've also seen from previous years in Denmark that having a Calvary Chapel conference in your area can actually bless the local ministries as new people discover the blessing of thorough Bible teaching," says Joel.

The conference will be held at Ekebyholm outside Stockholm (see photos). The location is a former royal castle from the 1700's, which holds up to 100 guests and includes separate rooms for families and married couples - plus lots of facilities for indoor and outdoor activities. Specific directions will be provided later, but there is a direct and cheap bus connection from the central train station in Stockholm. It has yet to be determined if a shuttle service will be arranged directly from the airport.

The 2009 conference starts on August 5 (Wednesday evening) and ends on August 9 (Sunday noon), so make sure you book your calendars! It is not possible to sign up yet, but more information will be sent out as soon as possible. Until then, further questions can be sent to conf@calvarychapel.dk.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Get Ready, Ladies

Back by popular demand, it’s time for another Scandinavian Women’s Retreat. Here’s what you need to know about the event.

From May 1st to May 3rd (Friday to Sunday), women from various corners of Scandinavia will gather to spend a few days seeking God together and getting refreshed by His Word. The event is only the second Calvary Chapel Women’s Retreat in Scandinavia, following the successful gathering of 12 women in the spring of 2008.

”We really enjoyed the retreat last spring, and we’ve been encouraged to repeat the success in 2009. The theme will be Makeover 09, and Inga-Lil Guzik will come and teach from Ezekiel about God taking our heart of stone and giving us a heart of flesh and giving life to our dry bones. I’m sure many women across the Scandinavian region could do with some of that, so we’re hoping to see as many ladies show up as possible,” says Sofia Ortiz, who is the main organizer of the retreat.

Makeover 09 will be held at a small and cozy conference center in the scenic surroundings of Vaxholm about 45 minutes outside Stockholm (see picture). You can check out more pictures of the location by visiting the website: www.bogesundsslottsvandrarhem.se.

The attendance fee for the entire weekend retreat is 550 SEK (please exchange to Swedish currency), and payment can be made upon arrival.

To sign up for Makeover 09, please email Sofia Ortiz (Sofiaortiz33@yahoo.com) or Allison Broegger (allisonbroegger@gmail.com). They will also be able to give you information about how to get to the retreat location.

Friday, October 10, 2008

On Fire for Finland


Austrian-based Daniel Ornelas (here seen with his wife, Petra) recently visited the Calvary Chapel team in Finland. After two weeks of fellowship on the Finnish front-lines, he left with a calling to return.

The ministry of Calvary Chapel Finland is currently carried out by Pastor Bob Pecoraro and his wife (see photo). Last month, they were pleased to welcome Daniel Ornelas, who left Austria (his current country of residence) to spend two weeks with the team in Finland.

"The trip to Turku and Helsinki was like returning home. I am blessed by the love shared to us by Bobby and the team there. Thank you for housing us and allowing us to be a part of the ministry there to the Fins," says Daniel Ornelas.

"Our two weeks went by so fast we could hardly believe it. Parting was difficult. The Lord has given us a like-minded heart and mind for the people over there. The Lord blessed us with so many rich times of fellowship, it was rewarding. Teaching at the fellowship in Turku and at the Bible Study in Helsinki brought back so many sweet memories. The privilege of sitting there and watching these saints appreciate God's word being taught to them in our way is something that makes your hair stand. Our Finnish brothers and sisters there are so appreciative. You can really see the joy in their eyes as you're sharing," Daniel reports.

For Daniel, this was his second trip to Finland after having visited the country a few years back. And it may very well not be his last. In fact, he and Petra are now praying about moving there to support the ministry full-time.

"The last I remember about the spiritual state in Helsinki was that is was strongly influenced by hyper Pentecostal churches, "word faith", and dead traditionalism. Although those still exist, we now witnessed many Fins having grown tired of the false promises, false experiences and the pain that is attached with those denominations. They are now desiring a more stabile way in their faith. This development brought smiles to our faces. I left with such a burning to help Bobby and those along side him, Aron Pratt and Kyle Bentz (see photo) that I am moving forward in prayer about returning on a regular basis. Perhaps once this winter. And quarterly until our family moves permanently over there. We will wait and see how the Lord directs."

To read more about the ministry in Finland, go to http://www.calvarychapel.fi/

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Blessed and Challenged by Growth in Hillerod

Since the Scandinavian conference in early August, the Bible Study in Hillerod, Denmark has doubled in size, leaving Daniel Jacobsen's ministry team with some fresh challenges.

On an average Tuesday evening in the Danish town of Hillerod - a suburb north of Copenhagen - 10 to 15 people cram together in Daniel Jacobsen's apartment for a weekly Bible Study. In only two months, the home group has doubled in size, with a few brand new believers having joined the group. Even a few non-believers are beginning to attend the studies.

"Since the summer break, we've been going through the Gospel of Matthew verse by verse, and it's been an exciting time," says Daniel Jacobsen, who teaches and hosts the Hillerod Bible studies.

The Hillerod Bible Study has existed for a year and half now, and with the recent growth, Daniel and his team of ministry leaders have a new kind of challenge on their hands.

"We would really covet your prayers for this group to remain one in the Lord and to become like-minded in our vision for this ministry. With the new additions to our group, we have new situations to deal with, such as making sure we keep the unity in our group," Daniel explains.

Leading the Bible Study on the side of his full-time job as an accountant, Daniel also asks you all to pray that he will have enough time and grace to prepare thoroughly for each week's study.