About this page

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).

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Conference teachings and radio podcast now available!

Now you can listen to all the teachings from this year's Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference online. A new episode of the radio podcast Calvary Scandinavia Update is also available now on iTunes and online with reactions to this year's conference.

In a 12 session study this year's invited guest speakers - pastors David Guzik from CC Santa Barbara, Craig Quam from CC Montebelluna, and Rafael Manzanares of CC Mallorca - joined various local pastors from ministries in Scandinavia and taught through the first half of Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians.

Whether you sat in on each of those sessions at the conference or missed a few or couldn't make it to the conference, now you have the chance to revisit this powerful piece of divine Scripture. Go to calvarychapel.fi or click here to download or stream the teachings, including some of the workshops from the conference.

For a more casual look at what God did at this year's conference, download the newest episode of the radio podcast Calvary Scandinavia Update and listen to it anywhere on your smartphone, tablet or computer. The radio podcast is available on iTunes or at calvarychapel.fi for immediate playback.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Captain Bob and Axes of Agape triumph in Viking Games 7

There will never be a closer winning margin than the one deciding this year's Viking Games. One point was all that separated the winning team from the runners-up as the team Axes of Agape came out on top, thus ending a long title drought for team captain Bob Pecoraro.

Six teams played in Viking Games 7 on Friday afternoon at the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference 2014, competing in various activites such as beach volleyball, water balloon duals, a custom-made form of baseball, and relay races.

After years of failed attempts at Viking Games glory, Bob Pecoraro can finally call himself a champion after he eventually led his team, Axes of Agape, to victory in this year's tournament, finishing only a point ahead of the team Death by Smorgasbord, led by captain Johan Wikfeldt.

"It was due. Last year I came so close, so this win gets that Viking Games monkey off my back. My thoughts go out to Johan and his team for coming in just one point short. I've been there. But our win was a great team effort; we took all those water balloon hits, dominated the volleyball court, and ran all those yards to bring this trophy home," says Bob Pecoraro, who - when he's not exercising his athletic skills - pastors CC Turku in Finland.

Captain Homerun
Bob proved his worth by raking in the points at the custom-made Baseball contest, batting several homeruns for his team, and by winning the captains' javelin contest at the end. He showed high form from start to finish, becoming the sixth captain in history to lead a team to a Viking Games championship (see infographic below).

His team consisted of Alex Lahtinen, Sara Fuchs, Mouritz Fuchs, Helge Rasmussen, Toni Alajärvi, Maria Bentz, and Anniina Vahala.

The final scores of Viking Games 7:

129 points - Axes of Agape (captain Bob Pecoraro)
128 points - Death by Smorgasbord (captain Johan Wikfeldt)
113 points - Rimbo Raiders (captain Joel Wickström)
110 points - Moose Mafia (captain Simeon Fuchs)
83 points - Disciple This (captain Kyle Bentz)
74 points - Pillaging Prophets (captain Darrel Wilmoth)

The Viking Games is an annual tradition at the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia conferences, which started in 2008 and has since been staged each year, each time with more and more participants joining in. It's a fun way for conference participants to take a break from all the sitting down at teaching sessions and get to know new people (or new sides of familiar people) through competitive comradery.

Click here or on the video below to see the Viking Games 7 film:


2014 Conference - Viking Games 7 from Calvary Chapel Scandinavia on Vimeo.









Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Guest speakers tap into Scandinavian unity

Three guest pastors came to the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference 2014 to teach God's Word and encourage the believers, and all of them left impressed by the love and unity that binds the fellowships in Scandinavia together.

There were both fresh and familiar faces among this year's guest speakers as pastors Craig Quam of CC Montebelluna and Rafael Manzanares of CC Mallorca both made their debuts at a CC Scandinavia conference while David Guzik and his wife Inga-Lill were there continue their support for the work in Scandinavia of many years.

David Guzik, Craig Quam, and Rafael Manzanares joined local pastors Bob Pecoraro, Joel Wickström, Daniel Jacobsen, and Simeon Fuchs on the teaching bill as the conference congregation were taken through the first 10 chapters of 1 Corinthians in 12 main sessions.

Here's what the guest speakers thought of this year's conference:

David and Inga-Lill Guzik
David Guzik helped launch the first Scandinavian conferences 16 years ago and has been to most of them since then. Today he pastors CC Santa Barbara in California, and this year he attended the conference together with his wife Inga-Lill, who is originally from Sweden. Both of them refreshed by the return to Scandinavia.

"I'm really struck by the spirit of fellowship here. The New Testament word is koinonia, a real sharing, and you sense that in such a strong way here. I also love that there's a wonderful openness to the move of the spirit at this conference. It's a deep, meaningful time," said David Guzik before having to leave the conference late Friday night to make it back to CC Santa Barbara in time for Sunday's church services.

"I always take back a renewed heart and vision to pray for Scandinavia. Especially because I get a chance to connect with so many of the leaders of the works that are going on here, I feel like I have a better idea of how to pray. And personally, I'm refreshed by the fellowship and the love and the grace that's shown around here," he added.

His wife Inga-Lill also attended the conference this year, teaching a women's workshop and meeting with the wives of pastors and ministry leaders from across the region to encourage and advise them.

"There's a sense that everybody knows how hard it is in Scandinavia, and so there's a comradery that makes you realize that nobody's got it easy, you're all in the same situation of hard struggle and hard labor that it is to ministry here. That bonds people together in a strong way, it creates a feeling that you need each other's company. So the fellowship is always the best part of this conference," she says.

Craig Quam
Attending a CC Scandinavia conference for the first time, pastor Craig Quam from CC Montebelluna in Italy was pleasantly surprised to see up close what God is doing in the Scandinavian region.

"It's been a amazing to worship the Lord with my Scandinavian brothers and sisters and to meet old friends and make new ones. The churches in Scandinavia are geographically and culturally unique, and that creates a real warmth. I was especially impressed by how the pastors and leaders here work together and you can see there's a lot of unity, and that's great," he said.

Rafael Manzanares
Pastor of CC Mallorca in Spain, Rafael Manzanares, taught the first Scandinavian leadership retreat last year, but this was his first regional CC Scandinavia conference.

"It's so great to be here because of the great love you see in the people as well as the unity, and the hunger to be together and to go from teaching to teaching to teaching. It's just very refreshing to see the oneness of the body here in Scandinavia," said Rafael.

You can hear more reactions from the three guest speakers plus other conference participants in the next edition of the radio podcast Calvary Scandinavia Update, which will be released soon (subscribe to the podcast here to be notified of the release).

All teachings from this year's conference will be available online soon. Stay tuned on this blog for more info.


Monday, August 4, 2014

Scandinavia dives into lessons from Corinth

This year's Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference carried the title "Not of This World", and God made sure it lived up to its title as none left untouched by His Word, His love, and His call to live for His kingdom in the midst of an unbelieving society.

The 16th annual Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference saw 130+ people gather outside Stockholm, Sweden for an in-depth dip into God's Word, an intimate entry before God's thrown through worship, and days of refilling fellowship.

Guest speakers David Guzik (CC Santa Barbara), Craig Quam (CC Montebelluna), and Rafael Manzanares (CC Mallorca) joined local pastors and Bible study leaders to teach through the first half of 1 Corinthians in 12 sessions, with added workshops along the way.

Opening on Wednesday night, the conference went until Sunday at noon. Participants included missionaries and believers from Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark as well as believers from mainland Europe or America who share the desire of Calvary Chapel Scandinavia to see more verse-by-verse Bible teaching spread the knowledge of Jesus across this region.

Sunny and Son-centered
Covered with sunshine and hot temperatures for most of the conference, the former castle in Ekebyholm outside Stockholm, Sweden provided a wonderful venue as usual. But even though this may go down as the hottest and most sunny CC Scandinavia conference to date, the summer sun was outshone by the Son of God from start to finish as Jesus became the clear focus of all the Bible teachings, workshops, prayer times, and worship sessions.

"You can plan and organize and prepare all you want, but it's all a waste of time if Jesus doesn't take center stage. We felt He certainly did this year, leaving us all on the receiving end of some serious insights from the Scriptures and glimpses of His glory during moments of worship. The fellowship was the loving kind that only the Spirit of God can create - the kind that leaves a mark for months. We thank Jesus for this conference," says Theis, one of the four conference organizers.

Served by Dream Teams
This year a mix of visiting mission's teams provided great service to the conference. Bruce and Teresa Muller, sent out by Calvary Monterey and currently serving in CC Siegen, came up to lead worship along with other local worship leaders.

CC Leipzig sent a team to put together a full children's ministry program for the second year running, while Calvary Front Range in Colorado flew over to serve all the conference participants by taking care of the many practical chores and tasks surrounding each meal and other daily duties.

All teachings from the 2014 conference (incl. workshops) will be available online soon. Stay tuned on this blog for announcements about available teachings plus additional articles with reactions from guest speakers and more.

Click here to see the official conference video (or here to see an extended version with added photos) or click below on your video of choice. If you want to download the official group photo from this year's conference, just click on the photo below.





2014 Conference from Calvary Chapel Scandinavia on Vimeo.


2014 Conference - Extended version from Calvary Chapel Scandinavia on Vimeo.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Another Leadership Retreat edifies Scandinavian Calvary ministries

16 men involved in Calvary Chapel-related ministries in the Scandinavian countries came together this past weekend for the second annual Scandinavian leadership retreat. It was an intense time in God's Word, in prayer and at the feet of Jesus.

With the first humble signs of spring visibly decorating the outdoor surroundings after a long dark winter, a new season of life and refreshment was in the air as a group of leaders and elders from Scandinavia huddled together in a small guest house near Karlsborg, Sweden on April 11-13. The hope of a new season dawning was also prevalant in a spiritual sense inside the guest house, as God breathed new life into that intimate huddle through His Word and in the moments spent in prayer and worship.

From Friday afternoon to lunchtime on Sunday the 16 believers shared their testimonies, experiences, and prayer needs for the sake of mutual encouragement and strengthening in between the scheduled Bible studies, worship and prayer sessions and mealtimes.

Leading the Bible studies through the Apostle Paul's second letter to Timothy was John Marsh from the church Fairport Christian near Rochester, NY in the U.S.

"It was a really intense retreat. Not just the Bible studies, but especially the time spent in prayer. God spoke, and it really gave us all something to take home with us. There isn't a better feeling in the world than hearing from God," says John Marsh.

A new retreat ministry evolving
It was only the second time that this type of leadership retreat was put together in Scandinavia, hosted and arranged by Tim Fuchs along with his brothers and parents who all live near the retreat venue.

"We have sensed a need for the leaders in Scandinavia to come together and be equipped for their ministries and lives, and our vision is to serve those who serve in Calvary ministries across Scandinavia. As long as that need is there and as long as God calls us to do it, we plan to arrange this annual retreat and possibly look for other ways to bless the people serving in the region," says Tim Fuchs.

In the video below (or via this link), you can see a short video with snapshots from this year's leadership retreat.







Saturday, January 4, 2014

Sign up for the 2014 conference

The registration for the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference 2014 is now open. The conference will take place from July 30th to August 3rd and will offer a life-changing study of the first half of 1. Corinthians.

THE PLACE
By now cemented as a new tradition, Ekebyholm Castle will be the venue for the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia (CCS) Conference yet again. Situated about 30 minutes' drive outside Stockholm. The location is a former royal castle from the 1700's, which today is used as a boarding school. Outdoor facilities include a large playground, two beach volleyball courts, a football pitch, and lots of space for both indoor and outdoor activities.

THE TEACHING
At the 2014 conference a line-up of invited guest pastors and local speakers will teach through the first half of Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians. The conference will also offer specific workshops on topics that are highly relevant to our daily lives as Christians. All teaching will be in English.

THE TEACHERS
This year we expect to welcome three guest speakers to teach alongside local ministry leaders from Scandinavia throughout the conference. So far the confirmed guest speakers are pastors David Guzik (CC Santa Barbara in California), Craig Quam (CC Montebelluna in Italy), and Jeremy Foster (CC in the Ozarks in Arkansas). Inga-Lill Guzik will teach a Women's Workshop as well.

THE TIMING
The official program will be announced soon. Until then, please note that the "Arrival and registration" takes place on Wednesday (July 30th) between 4pm and 7pm. The first worship and teaching sessions starts at 7:30pm.

IMPORTANT: Please note that due to people's differing arrival times, the Wednesday evening dinner is NOT included in the attendance prices listed below. However, if you would like to have a light dinner on Wednesday evening, you must let us know when filling out the registration form. It will be served at 6pm and costs an extra 50 SEK pr. person. If you would like lunch on Sunday, you can buy lunch for 75 SEK pr. person.

THE SLEEPING FACILITIES
When you sign up, you can choose between three different types of accommodation which all vary in price (see below): Private bedroom (with your own key), Gender-divided dorms in classrooms or bedrooms (mattresses will be provided), or space for self-brought tent.

IMPORTANT: Please note that private bedrooms will be assigned based on who signed up the earliest, however married couples, families with children, and elderly attendees will be prioritized in case of simultaneous overbooking.

ATTENDANCE PRICES
The price for your attendance depends on what type of accommodation you choose. See all prices below. The price covers your accommodation, your use of the castle facilities (such as restrooms, showers, sports facilities, etc), and all meals throughout the entire conference (meals include breakfast, lunch, dinner and various servings of refreshments in the afternoon and evenings).

IMPORTANT: Please note that discount prices apply if you register before May 1st 2014. If you register from May 1st and onwards the price for attending will increase due to the added administration burden for the organizers.

Signing up before May 1st 2014:
Adults/teenagers: 1275 SEK (bedroom) / 1075 SEK (dorm) / 875 SEK (tent)
2-12 year olds: 600 SEK (bedroom) / dorm not possible / 425 SEK (tent)
0-1 year olds: 100 SEK (bedroom) / dorm not possible / free if in tent.

Signing up on May 1st 2014 or later:
Adults/teenagers: 1600 SEK (bedroom) / 1300 SEK (dorm) / 1100 SEK (tent)
2-12 year olds: 800 SEK (bedroom) / dorm not possible / 550 SEK (tent)
0-1 year olds: 100 SEK (bedroom) / dorm not possible / free if in tent.

HOW TO SIGN UP
If you want to attend this conference, please CLICK HERE to fill out the official registration form and click the "submit registration" link afterwards to complete your registration.

IMPORTANT: Please note that the deadline for paying your attendance fee is June 15th. When you register, we will send you a confirmation email with payment details. It is not possible to pay in cash when you arrive.

MORE INFO
All who sign up will receive an email with specific transport directions and the official conference program. Until then, if you have questions that aren't answered on this page, please feel free to email us at conf@calvarychapel.dk.

Please note that the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Team cannot assist or vouch for any participants in any visa application process (if you require special visas to enter Sweden due to your citizenship you must provide this on your own).