From Stockholm with love

Once again the annual Calvary Chapel Scandinavia conference proved to be a venue for God's Spirit to work powerfully among the 120+ attendees who had gathered at Ekebyholm Castle outside Stockholm for 4-5 days of fellowship, edification, and worship from August 3rd-7th.



A colorful variety of guest teachers (including David Guzik, Pierre Petrignani, Matt Kottman, Mike Neglia, and Jeremy Foster) taught through First and Second Timothy, drawing relevant parallels from the ministry and life of Paul the Apostle's protogé to the lives of believers in Scandinavia anno 2011.



The teachings will be made available for free download soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, we bring you the official video of the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia conference 2011:

20110807_ccsconf2011 from Theisbro on Vimeo.

Secure your spot at the 2011 Conference

The registration for the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference 2011 is now open. Sign up now for some unforgettable days at a castle outside Stockholm on August 3rd-7th.

Last year more than 140 people shared 4½ days of heart-warming, mind-blowing, soul-squeezing fellowship around God's Word at an old castle outside Sweden's capitol. This year the stage is set for another edifying gathering in the same scenic surroundings.

THE PLACE
For the last two years Ekebyholm Castle has hosted the CCS Conference, much to everyone's enjoyment. Situated about 30 minutes outside Stockholm (by car or public busses). 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 generally lots of space for both indoor and outdoor activities.

THE TEACHING
Throughout the course of the conference's 11 main sessions, a mix of experienced guest pastors and young local missionaries will teach through two of the Apostle Paul's most powerful epistles; First and Second Timothy. The conference will also offer specific workshops on ministry, parenting, and other relevant topics. All teaching will be in English.

THE TEACHERS
So far the confirmed list of guest speakers include pastors David Guzik (CC Santa Barbara) and Kevin Fitzgerald (Crosspoint Dublin, Ireland). We expect to announce the names of the other guest speakers shortly. In addition to this, local ministry leaders from Scandinavia will teach a few sessions as well.

THE TIMING:
The official program will be announced soon. Until then, please note that the "Arrival and registration" takes place on Wednesday (Aug. 3rd) 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 40 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, Gender-divided dorms in classrooms (mattresses will be provided), or space for self-brought tent.

IMPORTANT: Please note that bedrooms will be assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis, however married couples, families with children, and elderly attendees will be prioritized in case of simultaneous overbooking.

ATTENDANCE PRICES
This year, the price for your attendance will depend 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 2011. If you register from May 1st and onwards the price for attending will increase.

Signing up before May 1st 2011:
Adults/teenagers: 1300 SEK (bedroom) / 800 SEK (dorm) / 700 SEK (tent)
2-12 year olds: 650 SEK (bedroom) / 450 SEK (dorm) / 350 SEK (tent)
0-1 year olds: 100 SEK (bedroom) / dorm not possible / free if in tent.

Signing up on May 1st 2011 or later:
Adults/teenagers: 1600 SEK (bedroom) / 1000 SEK (dorm) / 900 SEK (tent)
2-12 year olds: 850 SEK (bedroom) / 600 SEK (dorm) / 450 SEK (tent)
0-1 year olds: 100 SEK (bedroom) / dorm not possible / free if in tent.

HOW TO SIGN UP
If you want to come to the conference, please fill out the official registration form (click here to see form and click the "submit registration" link).

IMPORTANT: Please note that the deadline for paying your attendance fee is July 15th. When you register, we will send you a confirmation email with pre-payment details. This year, it is not possible to pay when you arrive.

MORE INFO
All who sign up will receive an email with specific transport directions, the official conference program, and information about potential airport pick-up. Until then, if you have questions that aren't answered on this page, please feel free to email them to conf@calvarychapel.dk. Please use the same email address if you have trouble filling out the registration form.

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).

That's it. The Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference 2011 is now open for registration! Spread the word.

The 2010 conference video

20100809_ccsconf2010 from Theisbro on Vimeo.

Bringing the Sermon on the Mount into the valley

You can now download or stream all the teachings from this year's Calvary Chapel Scandinavia conference in Stockholm.

Go to calvarychapel.fi (click on this link) to access the powerful studies of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" taught by pastors David Guzik, Nick Long, Kevin Fitzgerald and a series of local teachers from Scandinavian ministries.

Within a few weeks these teachings will also be made available in video format.

Captain Kyle goes from gutter to glory in Viking Games III

Last year he led his team to an embarrassing last-place finish in Viking Games II at the CCS Conference 2009. This year Kyle Bentz surprised everyone by leading the Beatitude Bulldogs to a final victory in Viking Games III.

"I have never felt more attacked in my life," said pastor David Guzik when asked to describe his participation in Viking Games III. He and Crosspoint Dublin's Kevin Fitzgerald (seen taking a hit in photo to the right) were selected to be the moving targets in the traditional Viking Games discipline "Shoot the Pastor" this year (where participants throw water balloons at the guest speakers for points).

Competing in disciplines such as beach volleyball, football penalty shoot-out, rubber boot-throwing and the trademark feature "Shoot the Pastor", six teams battled it out for the overall victory this year. But in the end, it was Kyle Bentz & The Beatitude Bulldogs who came out on top.

"I've been training all year to do well and to erase the memories of last year's performance, to seek retribution. This year we had great unity in the team and everyone fought hard for victory. I guess spending most of this summer at Viking Games camp really paid off and polished us off for this year's games. I'm proud of the team," says a smiling Kyle Bentz.

He adds that he will be ready to defend the title at next year's conference, thus sending a clear message to this year's defeated team captains to "bring it on!"...



For more pictures from this year's Viking Games III, check out this video:

20100810_vikinggamesIII from Theisbro on Vimeo.

Pastors blown away by Scandinavian conference

This year's three guest speakers have seen countless ministry conferences and attended many church retreats over the years, but all were left astonished by the work God is doing in and through the people of Calvary Chapel Scandinavia.

One is a world-reknowned Bible commentator, another is one of Calvary Chapel's pioneer pastors on European soil, and another is a pastor serving in a country locked down with some of the thickest chains of religious tradition in Europe (i.e. Ireland). David Guzik, Nick Long, and Kevin Fitzgerald have all served as pastors and leaders in ministry for decades, and all three agreed to spend their first week in August this year as guest speakers at the Calvary Chapel Scandinavia (CCS) Conference outside Stockholm, Sweden.

"I wasn't ready for this!"
For Nick Long, pastor of CC Siegen in Germany, it was a delightful first encounter with the fresh work of God in Northern Europe.

"What a blast! I have been in on many prayer meetings for Scandinavia, but I wasn't ready for this. To see first hand what God is doing in and through these special folks was more of a blessing than Sue and I could have imagined. May God continue to bless this work," says Nick Long after participating in his first ever CCS Conference.

Encouraged by local teachers
As one of the initial founders of the annual CCS Conferences, David Guzik has only missed one of the now 12 such conferences (that historic absence occurred in 2009). This year he and his wife Inga-Lill had a little farther to travel than usual, since David has recently handed over his ministry as director of CC Bible College in Siegen, Germany to become the new pastor of CC Santa Barbara in California. In spite of the move, his ties to Scandinavia and the native home-country of his wife (Sweden) remain intact.

"One of the things that really impressed me this year was the level of the teaching by the local guys. To come back here and see their skills and gifts growing year by year is very encouraging. It is just so exciting to see God bless and grow these guys in their ministries," he says.

Keeping the hands to the plow
Having also been a guest speaker at the CCS Conference in 2008, pastor Kevin Fitzgerald from Crosspoint Dublin in Ireland was back for his second Scandinavian conference this year.

"It was just such an encouragement to fellowship with the saints in Scandinavia! The presence of God's Spirit - at times - was thick, and so obviously moving amongst His people. The fellowship was sweet; the Word was powerful. And my heart and hope is that the individual believers, and all the works - collectively - in this part of the world will have been strengthened in keeping their hands to the plow until Christ's soon return," says Kevin Fitzgerald.

This year the guest speakers joined with 4 local speakers (see photo below) to lead the conference participants through a powerful study of "The Sermon on the Mount". In addition to this, the guest speakers taught special sessions on marriage, singleness, hearing the voice of the Lord, how to serve with and pray for your pastor, and other workshop sessions.

Scandinavia loses count as blessings mount

The 12th annual Calvary Chapel Scandinavia Conference brought nearly 150 people together at a castle outside Stockholm for a powerful study through "The Sermon on the Mount". As always, the Spirit-filled fellowship flowed freely as people united to serve each other and worship God.

Blessed are the attendees of the 2010 Calvary Chapel Scandinavia (CCS) Conference for they shall be touched by God. Alright, so this statement might not appear in the official Beatitudes that Jesus so famously taught in His "Sermon on the Mount" (the theme for this year's conference teachings), but it holds true nonetheless.

The phrase "it was the best Scandinavian conference ever" continues to be the description of choice for yet another year as each year just continues to get better and better - as God adds His blessings and expands His work in Scandinavia.



More than 120 adults (incl. local visitors) and 25 children participated in this year's conference. The guest speakers this year were pastors David Guzik (now CC Santa Barbara in California), Nick Long (CC Siegen in Germany), and Kevin Fitzgerald (Crosspoint in Dublin, Ireland). Along with a few local speakers they lead a series of heart-piercing studies of Jesus' trademark "Sermon on the Mount".

"It was so neat to see God at work during and in between the sessions this year. The worship was so personal and the Holy Spirit really used the teachings and the times of prayer. I can't wait to see what God will do through those lives who were touched at this conference," says Joel Wickström, who was among the key planners of this year's conference.



For the second year running, the venue was Ekebyholm Castle outside Stockholm, which once again created a beautiful setting with its lake, park, sports grounds, lounges, etc. This castle is quickly becoming a preferred location for the Scandinavian Calvary Chapel family as people gather from all across Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway as well as other parts of Europe and America.





The teachings from this year's CCS Conference will soon be made available online.