Ladies, sign up and pay up

The deadline for signing up for the Scandinavian Women's Retreat is only a few weeks away, so here's how you can still book your spot.

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 one of the main organizers of the retreat.

However, in order to attend Makeover 09 is important that you sign up and pay the conference fee (550 SEK) no later than MARCH 15 (contrary to previous announcement that you could pay upon arrival). Here's how you secure your spot at the conference:

1 - Sign up by emailing allisonbroegger@gmail.com (please include your name and whether you expect to arrive by car, plane, or other public transportation).

2 - To cover the cost of food and lodging, please transfer 550 SEK to the Swedbank account number 914 060 637-8 (clearing number 8452-5). Questions about the payment can be emailed to sofiaortiz33@yahoo.com.

3 - Await an email with further practical details and information such as transport directions. Click here to see more info about the location (which is pictured on the right).

Revival revisited in Skövde

In September 2008, Simeon & Alex Fuchs were sent out as church-planters from Calvary Chapel Siegen. The mission? Plant a church in Skövde, Sweden.

With support from the Calvary Chapel fellowships in Siegen, Germany and Thousand Oaks, California, Simeon Fuchs (22) and his wife Alexandra (22) have responded to God's calling and moved near the birthplace of Sweden's last revival; the small town of Skövde, halfway between Gothenburg and the capitol of Stockholm.

To the two former Bible College graduates from Siegen, the mission is by no means modest and the place by no means coincidental.

"We have moved here to plant a church in Skövde. 50,000 people live here, and there's a great need for revival and God. The last revival in Sweden started in this city and God has confirmed through prophecies that he wants to do a great thing here again," Simeon explains.

In the fall of 2007, Simeon led a prayer outreach team from the Bible College in Siegen to Skövde (see picture) where God again confirmed their vision for Skövde. While praying for the people of Skövde during this trip, Alexandra received her call to Sweden, and after subsequent months of praying, the young couple decided to move there.

"Since we moved here we have filled the air with prayers and have gotten in contact with Christians in the city and on the university. In June we are going to move closer to or into the city. We will see what God will do and how he will lead us," Simeon says.

For more information about prayer needs and the mission in Skövde, you can contact Simeon and Alex Fuchs by emailing them at missionfuchs@googlemail.com