Guest speakers were outgiven by God

All four guest speakers at this year's Scandinavian conference were left blessed, impressed and refreshed by God's work in Scandinavia, and found themselves leaving the conference just as edified as the people they ministered to.

From Wednesday evening to Sunday morning four guest speakers and three local ministry leaders taught through the first half of "the Acts of the Apostles" and also served up a few sharp workshop teachings for married couples, singles, men, women, and worship leaders (respectively) at the 2012 Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference near Stockholm. This provided a fruitful platform for God's Spirit to work from as He ministered to each heart according to need.

But as praise reports from this year's conference participants are currently filling up the organizers' inboxes and flooding Facebook, the guest speakers all insist that they find themselves on the receiving end of the blessings.

A Deeper Work
Pastor and director of Calvary Chapel (CC) Bible College in New Zealand, Mark Walsh, attended his third Scandinavian conference, the second as a teacher. It has been six years since his last visit to Scandinavia, so for him the growth was evident:

"I loved seeing what God has founded and grown in Scandinavia in recent years - and just to see some of the leaders being more sure of their calling. There was a sense of the ministry being deepened and consolidated, this is real work and it is healthy. I was very blessed," he says.

New Friendships
Another guest speaker to make a comeback at the Scandinavian pulpit was pastor of Calvary Monterey in California, Nate Holdridge, who previously made one guest appearance in 2009:

"I saw first-hand the Spirit moving people towards a life of ministry and service. Each session seemed to bang the drum of the forward march of God in the Scandinavian countries. What an incredible privilege to be involved in God's work at this level! Around the conference center people were in continual ministry towards one another, encouraging each other in their walks with God, helping one another endure in life and ministry, and shaping one another towards greater fruitfulness. It was wonderful to see," he says.

In 2009 Nate Holdridge journeyed to Scandinavia alone, but this year he came with his wife Christina, who served on the prayer team and as co-speaker at the marriage workshop.

"I was honestly blessed through new friendships. I hadn't expected to form such wonderful bonds with other laborers. Additionally, it was great to serve with my wife in this way. With three small children it isn't often we get an opportunity to serve like this together. She was a pro," Nate Holdridge says.

A Rare Love and Unity
Two of the 2012 guest speakers made their debut at the Scandinavian conferences, one of whom was pastor and director at CC Bible College Europe in Hungary, Arpad Horvath-Kavai. His wife Andrea also participated as she taught the women's workshop and served on the conference prayer team.

"We are so glad we came to this conference. God stirred our hearts and we love it. I was blessed by the teaching, by God speaking into my life, but the biggest blessing to me was being able to minister in a team with my wife as we haven't had a chance to do that to this extent since our first child was born. We were also blessed to get to know new people and to re-connect with some old friends, to see God working in the lives of all these people. To be honest, I was surprised by the love and the unity believers showed to everyone around them. It was something I don't see too often," he says.

God Outgave Us
The other pastor to make his first ever appearance at a Scandinavian conference was pastor and senior director of CC Bible College Europe, Phil Metzger, whose wife Joy also attended and served on the prayer team.

"I really enjoyed the response times after a study. It's always a beautiful work when we hear God's Word and then have the chance to respond! I loved how responsive the people were. Personally, I can't even begin to count the ways I was blessed at this conference. I heard some great teachings that really encouraged me, and Joy and I enjoyed the times of fellowshipping with as many people as we could. The stories and testimonies of how God saved people was wonderful to hear," he says.

"It is an incredible work of God up in Scandinavia and it was a joy for us to come and give but, as always, our God outgives whatever we give to Him. I left more refreshed than I had come. God is good!"

Amen.
___________________

The teachings at the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference 2012 are available online now.

For audio streaming or download click here or here.

For video streaming click here or here.

The Spirit Acts at 14th Scandinavian Conference

On the outskirts of the Swedish village of Rimbo near Stockholm, the Spirit of God did a fresh work in the congregation of Calvary Chapel Scandinavia as they met for the 14th regional conference to study "the Acts of the Apostles" and receive new strength for ministry in the north.

It was the fourth consecutive time that the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia conference took place at the former castle in Ekebyholm an hour north of the Swedish capitol, and the 14th annual gathering of the Calvary Chapel crew of Scandinavia.



Local ministry leaders were joined by guest speakers - this year pastors Phil Metzger (CC Budapest & CCBC Europe), Mark Walsh (CCBC New Zealand), Arpad Horvath-Kavai (CCBC Europe), and Nate Holdridge (Calvary Monterey) - as they taught through the first 12 chapters of "the Acts of the Apostles". And just as in that very book of Scripture, the Spirit of God proved Himself as the main character and author of fresh acts of God at the conference.

Jesus is equipping people
"These conferences just keep getting sweeter and sweeter, because the people serving in Scandinavia are getting more and more knit together in love, as described in Colossians. Not only was God ministering to us all this year by speaking truth and challenge into our hearts through His Word, but it also seems that people were ministering to one another in a greater capacity than before," says Joel Wickström, who is part of the conference organizing team.

"It feels more and more like a family and a fully functional body of Christ when we get together for these conferences. I love it. For us as planners, it just gets easier and easier to organize, because Jesus is equipping and using people to serve and minister to each other. Hopefully, all who serve in ministries up here have gone home from this conference refreshed and strengthened for the work ahead in Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden," he says.





The Spirit at Work
This year the conference kicked off Wednesday evening on August 1st and lasted until Sunday around noon on August 5th. In those five days the approximately 100 participants enjoyed 11 main sessions covering the first half of "the Acts of the Apostles", as well as various topical workshop sessions prepared specifically for married couples, singles, men, women, and worship leaders (respectively).

In between the studies of God's Word, there was also time for fun and games, such as the Viking Olympics and a beach volleyball tournament as most days of the conference were blessed with sunshine.

Local Swedish chefs served up traditional meatballs and other trademark delicacies throughout the five-day gathering, and the fellowship flowed freely at meal times and across the castle grounds in between sessions. All days were concluded with extended worship and prayer time in the main sanctuary, a time of the conference when the Spirit appeared to work strongly in people's hearts and minister to the needs of those present.

Click here for more information about how to hear or download the teachings from the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference 2012.

Click on the video below to see the official video of the 2012 conference:

Celebrating 14 years of seed-planting in Scandinavia

On Wednesday August 1st 2012 the 14th annual Scandinavian Calvary Chapel conference kicked off outside Stockholm, Sweden. Revisit all previous conferences in 5 minutes.

Welcoming approximately 100 participants, the following video was used to open the conference and to recount how God slowly but surely has used and expanded the work of the Calvary Chapel ministry in Scandinavia through these regional conferences to plant seeds for future ministry and growth:

2012 Guest Speakers: Arpad Horvath-Kavai

To introduce you to this year's guest speakers, we will bring you a series of short profile interviews with each of the pastors who have accepted our invitation to teach God's Word at this summer's conference.

With less than two weeks to go before this year's gathering in Stockholm, Hungarian pastor and program director at Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe, Arpad Horvath-Kavai, is getting ready for his first ever Scandinavian conference. And he and his wife Andrea, who is teaching the women's workshop at this year's conference, is anticipating a great first encounter with Scandinavia:

"I have had an inexplicable love for all things Scandinavian throughout my entire life. I love the crime show Wallander (the original Swedish version) and Forbrydelsen (the original Danish version - can hardly wait for the 3rd season to start this September). More importantly there are people connecting me to Scandinavia; former missionaries and friends who serve in Scandinavian countries, as well as former students of mine at CCBCE who are Scandinavian."

When did you first know that God was calling you to pastor and/or teach the Bible?
"I used to translate Bible studies from English into Hungarian and Croatian, and I often found myself wishing to teach the study. When seeking God, He confirmed He has teaching in store for me."

For you, what is the most rewarding thing about being a pastor?
"Changed lives, no question."

What is the toughest part about being a pastor?
"The stories of sin, and stories of ill consequences sin causes."

What book are you reading right now?
"The Demise of Guys by Philip Zimbaro."

This will be your 1st Scandinavian conference. What do you expect?
"I am expecting God to work, fellowship with the saints (Psalm 133), lots of IKEA furniture and my wife is looking forward to H&M stores on every corner :)"

See also:
2012 Guest Speakers: Phil Metzger
2012 Guest Speakers: Mark Walsh
2012 Guest Speakers: Nate Holdridge

You can sign up for the 2012 Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference right here.

2012 Guest Speakers: Phil Metzger

To introduce you to this year's guest speakers, we will bring you a series of short profile interviews with each of the pastors who have accepted our invitation to teach God's Word at this summer's conference.

One of the speakers who is set to make his Scandinavian debut this year is Phil Metzger. As pastor of Calvary Chapel (CC) Budapest in Hungary and director of CC Bible College Europe, he is well-acquainted with the challenges of teaching God's Word on hard soil.

He currently oversees church plants throughout Eastern Europe, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. He and his wife Joy has been on the mission field for 15 years, and they have four children: Niki, Karina, Judah, and Hannah. This summer's conference will be the American pastor's first ever visit to Scandinavia.

You're a busy man, involved in ministries across the continent. Why have you taken time out of your schedule to come to Scandinavia this August?
We have so many friends serving up there and we are always hearing about the good things God is doing. It's a joy to finally get to be at this conference.

When did you first know that God was calling you to pastor and teach the Bible?
When I was 17 and teaching my first Bible study I felt God's call. I'm pretty sure the Bible study was aweful, but God used it in my life!

For you, what is the most rewarding thing about being a pastor?
When God changes a life... it's like a drug!

What is the toughest part about being a pastor?
Probably two things: the disappointment of people rejecting God's wisdom and my own failings and weaknesses.

What books are you reading right now?
A Journey To See by Mary Chapman, and the story of Condeleeza Rice.

This will be your 1st Scandinavian conference. What do you expect?
My hope is for God to refresh all of us!

See also:
Guest Speakers 2012: Mark Walsh
Guest Speakers 2012: Nate Holdridge

2012 Guest Speakers: Mark Walsh

To introduce you to this year's guest speakers, we will bring you a series of short profile interviews with each of the pastors who have accepted our invitation to teach God's Word at this summer's conference.

Among the guest speakers this year is Mark Walsh, who thereby will take part in his third Scandinavian conference after attending the conferences back in 2005 and 2006 (the latter as a guest speaker).

In your own words, who are you?
I am a 50 year old englishman currently serving in New Zealand as the Senior Pastor and Director of Calvary Chapel Bible Institute. My wife Gwyn and I, along with our two kids Becky and Jordan, have been serving as missionaries for the last 15 years in Austria, Hungary and now middle earth.

When did you first know that God was calling you to pastor and/or teach the Bible?
I had a heart for service and ministry right from the time I was converted in 1978. I was involved firstly in worship leading. After about 10 years of struggling with my calling, I accepted the fact that God was calling me in that direction and then just became more and more involved in ministry.

For you, what is the most rewarding thing about being a pastor?
Simply being where I am in the center of God's will for my life. That's not really about being a pastors, that is just about being believer.

What is the toughest part about being a pastor?
The continued battle with discouragement.

What book(s) are you reading right now?
Mainly the Bible, but also Spurgeon on spiritual leadership and the book Abide In Christ by Andrew Murray. I tend to read for the the things I am studying and teaching.

Why have you accepted the invitation to be a guest speaker at this year's conference in Scandinavia?
I have a heart for Europe and Scandinavia and have some very special long-term friendships in that area that are also very special to me.

This will be your 3rd Scandinavian conference and your 2nd time speaking. How do you feel about being invited back?
It's always nice to be invited anywhere :) It's been a while, though, so I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone has grown.

See also:
2012 Guest Speakers: Nate Holdridge

2012 Guest Speakers: Nate Holdridge

Tonight there is exactly three weeks until the 2012 Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference kicks off outside Stockholm.

To introduce you to this year's guest speakers, we will bring you a series of short profile interviews with each of the pastors who have accepted our invitation to teach God's Word at this summer's conference.

One of these guest speakers is Nate Holdridge who, at 34, is the lead pastor at Calvary Monterey in California. He is married to Christina with whom he has three daughters (Lauren, Violet, and June). This will be Pastor Nate's second Scandinavian conference as he also taught as a guest speaker at the 2009 conference.

When did you first know that God was calling you to pastor and/or teach the Bible?
I was 18 years old, reading a book by Pastor Chuck Smith, when God spoke to my heart clear as a bell, "I've called you to teach my word." I seriously held out hope that he meant as a children's ministry volunteer, but that never materialized, as He intended the pastorate for me.

For you, what is the most rewarding thing about being a pastor?
There are many joys in it, but my greatest reward comes from knowing I am doing what the Chief Shepherd has asked me to do. That brings any Christian incredible joy.

What is the toughest part about being a pastor?
Watching sin decimate people you love.

What book(s) are you reading right now?
Life of Elijah by A.W. Pink.
Christ's Prophetic Plans by John MacArthur.
Lectures To My Students by Charles Spurgeon.
Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.

Why have you accepted the invitation to be a guest speaker at this year's conference in Scandinavia?
The Hawaii conference never called. Plus, having been to Scandinavia a few times, my impression is that it isn't the easiest place to profess Christ. I simply want to encourage and help the believers there in any way I can.

This will be your 2nd Scandinavian conference. How do you feel about being invited back?
I couldn't be more excited. This year I will bring Christina, my wife, and I think we will really treasure our time with the church body at the conference. Plus, I am really looking forward to demonstrating what pure domination looks like during the Viking Games.