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/