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Related topics “Change My Life” Mikael’s journey from addiction, isolation, and spiritual struggle to surrender and ministry reveals how God transformed his life and led him to help launch Oikos House, a growing Adventist church plant in Helsinki.
“If You exist, change my life.” It was a simple prayer from a discouraged teenager who felt trapped in habits he couldn’t break. Mikael grew up in a Christian home in Finland, a fourth-generation Seventh-day Adventist on his father’s side. His mother discovered the Adventist faith through evangelistic meetings shortly after marrying Mikael’s father. When she later learned she was pregnant, she made a quiet promise to God: I will dedicate this child for Your service. As a small child, Mikael sensed that dedication without fully understanding it. He remembers pretending to be a pastor at age three, holding “home church” services in his living room. He was baptized at 11 and felt sensitive to God’s leading. But soon after, his family moved to rural Finland, where the Adventist church was small and Mikael felt isolated—both as a believer and as part of an ethnic minority. Wanting desperately to belong, he began smoking, drinking, and partying during his early teen years. Weekends were filled with alcohol, and Sabbaths sometimes found him sitting in the back of church with a hangover. He never stopped believing in God, but he felt torn between faith and the pull of the world. Adventist summer camps became a lifeline. Each year, Mikael felt drawn back to God—but once he returned to school, willpower alone wasn’t enough to change his habits. By age 15, his struggle reached its darkest point. “I made choices I deeply regretted,” he recalled. “It felt like a spiritual battle.” At one camp, Mikael listened as a visiting speaker shared his testimony of transformation. Sitting in the back row, Mikael thought, When I’m 25, I’ll get my life together. Even then, beneath the confusion, he sensed a quiet calling—a purpose he couldn’t fully explain but couldn’t escape either. The turning point came not through self-discipline, but surrender. Late one night, after another weekend of partying, Mikael looked at his reflection at a train station and asked himself, Who am I becoming? Back in his dorm room, he prayed honestly: “God, I love this lifestyle. I don’t even want to change. But if You want to, You have my permission.” Not long after, he prayed again: “If You exist, change my life.” God answered—not with dramatic emotion, but with quiet transformation. Mikael found himself longing for something different. He stopped his bad habits and began spending time with friends who took faith seriously. One evening, after praying with them, he felt no rush of emotion—yet everything changed. “I didn’t feel anything,” he said. “But I was never the same again.” Soon after, God began stretching him in unexpected ways. One Sabbath afternoon, while bored and wandering through a shopping mall, Mikael felt impressed to speak to strangers about God. Though he felt unqualified, he obeyed. As he spoke, faith that once felt distant suddenly became real. “It was like God was teaching me as I spoke,” he said. That experience marked the beginning of a journey into ministry. After high school, Mikael joined a mission training program in Australia. There, a dream began to form: planting a church back home in Finland. In 2019, he contacted church leaders and joined early planning efforts for a new ministry in Helsinki. Then came 2020. The pandemic halted plans, separated Mikael from his girlfriend overseas, drained his finances, and plunged him into deep discouragement. Sleep-deprived and isolated, he questioned why God would give him such hope only to take it away. Yet even in that season, God was quietly at work. That summer, a small team formed. Then a house became available with less than a month’s notice. By August 2020, the doors of Oikos House opened. What began as a fragile step of faith has grown into a vibrant Seventh-day Adventist church plant. Each Sabbath, young adults gather in the home for Bible study, worship, shared meals, and fellowship. People come from many backgrounds, over 30 nationalities, creating a warm, welcoming space where faith feels real. Over the past six years, hundreds have passed through Oikos House. Many have chosen baptism. Others have grown deeper in faith and stepped into leadership. Young people once searching for belonging have found a spiritual family. Mikael sees God’s hand clearly now. Today, Oikos House is outgrowing its space. The dream is bigger now: to plant another church and raise up a new generation of young leaders who will serve across Finland and beyond. This quarter, part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help support future church plants branching off of the Oikos House—places where faith is lived around the table, prayers are honest, and lives are changed.  Story Tips · Show the location of Helsinki, Finland on a map · Download photos for this story from Facebook: bit.ly/fb-mq · Share facts related to Finland (see below) Fast Facts · The brown bear is the national animal of Finland. The national bird is the swan, the national flower is the lily-of-the-valley, and the national tree is the silver birch. · There are more than 168,000 lakes in Finland and 179,000 islands. · Lapland is the largest and furthest-north region in Finland and is partly in the Arctic Circle. The Finnish name for Lapland is “ Lappi ” and in Swedish it is “ Lappland. ” · Finland has been ranked the world’s happiest country for the last seven years. · There are around 3 million saunas in Finland: that is one sauna for every two Finns. · The colors of the Finnish flag represent the blue of the lakes and white of the snow.  Get to know the region Related publications More Youth & Adult Mission Stories Topics

Mikael’s journey from addiction, isolation, and spiritual struggle to surrender and ministry reveals how God transformed his life and led him to help launch Oikos House, a growing Adventist church plant in Helsinki.

“Change My Life”

Related topics One Gospel, many urban accents: rethinking mission in the world’s cities New resources and mission experiences highlight the need for approaches shaped by the people and communities of each city.
Seventh-day Adventist mission in the world’s cities cannot rely on a single model or approach, Manuel Arteaga told members of the General Conference (GC) Executive Committee on October 11, calling on church leaders to listen more closely to the communities they hope to reach. Arteaga, director of the Globla Mission Center for Urban Mission (CFUM) at the GC, presented his report on the third day of Annual Council, highlighting lessons from urban mission projects around the world and outlining new initiatives designed to connect, inspire, and equip urban missionaries and church planters. “There’s no such thing as ‘the city,’” Arteaga said. “We have cities, and they’re diverse, and they’re different, and each one of them has a different context.” Urban mission, he added, requires the church “to learn how to speak to each and every one of these contexts.” Drawing on the experience of Pentecost, Arteaga said the early church did not expect people to learn its language first. Instead, through the Holy Spirit, the church learned to speak theirs. That principle, he said, shapes the work of CFUM, one of six Global Mission Centers supporting the church in sharing the gospel across diverse cultural and religious contexts. Rather than exporting a single urban mission model worldwide, the center works with divisions to develop approaches suited to individual cities. “There is one gospel that we proclaim. We know that we have one mission as a church,” Arteaga said. But reaching diverse cities, he added, requires the church to speak in “many urban accents.” Listening to cities During the past year, CFUM leaders visited several regions to listen, learn, and develop mission approaches alongside local leaders. Those conversations centered on a key question: “What are our cities saying?” Arteaga said effective urban church planting must go beyond simply establishing churches in cities or for cities. Congregations, he said, should be “doing life with the city,” understanding their communities and building bridges with the people who live there. The center also worked with church leaders to develop contextualized mission initiatives for priority cities and to produce Urban Life in the Word , a new Bible study resource designed to explore biblical prophecy from an urban perspective. The resource is part of a broader series of Bible studies developed collaboratively by the six Global Mission Centers to reach people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. The studies include materials designed for Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, urban, and secular audiences. Plans call for the studies to be made available online through Adventist World Radio ’s Global Bible School. Online training designed to help members and mission workers use them will also be available. Divisions will also be able to localize materials for their own cultural and mission contexts, in collaboration with the Global Mission Centers. “We don’t have the answer,” Arteaga said of CFUM’s role. “We are here to make sure that we come alongside you to discern faithful answers together,” including asking what the Holy Spirit is already doing in cities around the world. Mission taking different forms Arteaga illustrated that approach with experiences from recent visits to Japan and cities in Taiwan, where he saw mission taking different forms according to the opportunities within each community. In Tokyo, Japan, Adventists are using hospitality, house churches, and urban centers of influence to connect with people in one of the world’s highly secular cities. One house church began during the COVID-19 pandemic after a woman facing a cancer diagnosis began worshiping at home with her children. One Sabbath, a neighborhood boy knocked on the door and asked if he could join. He returned with friends, and the group continued to grow. Arteaga said about 20 young adults now regularly gather for worship in her home. In Taiwan, Arteaga met a businessman whose encounter with Jesus changed the way he used his time and resources. An apartment purchased with money his mother had saved for retirement became a place of worship in his community. To connect with neighbors, he began playing the ukulele and writing songs based on their stories. “What we see in him is someone who is faithfully using his time and his talents to reach people for Jesus Christ,” he said. Another experience came from a Korean pastor serving in Taiwan who initially tried to reach students at a nearby university but encountered restrictions on proselytizing. Interest in Korean culture eventually provided another way to connect. Students approached the pastor to learn Korean, and those relationships developed into a language club. Arteaga said the ministry has since expanded, creating opportunities to connect with students and share the gospel. Finding the next urban missionaries The experiences led Arteaga to turn his attention to people who may already have ideas for reaching their cities but need encouragement and support to move forward. “How many more potential missionaries?” he asked. “How many more young adults are staying awake at night, imagining this church plant that they believe [in]?” Arteaga outlined plans for a new global initiative centered on what he called “Dreamers,” designed to connect people with a vision for urban mission. Plans include a video series featuring missionaries, urban centers of influence, church plants, and house churches from across the world, allowing their experiences to be shared in one place. “A space where ‘Dreamers’ inspire ‘Dreamers’ to do mission,” Arteaga said. “A space where realized mission awakens new mission. A space where someone’s mission breakthrough becomes someone else’s mission beginning.” The center also plans to launch the Dreamers Academy, an online space where those interested in starting an urban mission initiative can learn the steps involved and receive coaching. A Dreamers Playbook and stories featuring church planters, Urban Center of Influence pioneers, house church leaders, and other urban missionaries are also planned. Arteaga closed his report by returning to the idea that reaching cities requires the church to understand and speak to their different contexts. “The city may not speak our language, but the Holy Spirit teaches us to speak theirs,” he said. “One name. One gospel. One voice. And we will do so in many urban accents.” This article was provided by the ANN . Get to know the region More Stories Topics

New resources and mission experiences highlight the need for approaches shaped by the people and communities of each city.

One Gospel, many urban accents: rethinking mission in the world’s cities

Related topics Global Mission Centers introduce new Bible studies for diverse communities Six new Bible study guides designed to share faith across cultures and religions.
In response to frequent requests for contextualized Bible study resources, the Seventh-day Adventist Church ’s six Global Mission Centers have developed six new study guides adaptable to local communities. ChanMin Chung, director of the Global Mission Centers, introduced the resources on October 11, during the 2026 Annual Council. These adaptable studies will provide church members and frontline workers with resources to share their faith with people from different traditions, including those who express interest through digital media. Chung explained that the centers focus on three mission windows: urban populations, secular and post-Christian communities, and the 10/40 Window. “Jesus is for everyone,” Chung emphasized. “We are not talking about headcounts or numbers. We are talking about people who need to know Jesus. That is why our six Global Mission Centers exist.” Bible studies for different audiences The new Bible studies are designed to help Adventist members and frontline workers share biblical teachings with people from different religious and cultural backgrounds. Recognizing that traditional approaches may not resonate with every audience, the guides introduce Scripture through familiar concepts and questions, providing a foundation that can be adapted to the unique needs of local communities. Among the guides introduced was Prophecies of the Coming Messiah , a 12-part Bible study series developed by the Global Mission Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations. Recognizing that many Muslims honor Jesus and want to learn more about Him, the studies explore Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and their fulfillment in Jesus' life. “Our goal is to equip Adventists to use these 12 Bible studies with their Muslim friends to explore the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and how they were fulfilled in the life of Jesus,” explained Petras Badahaur, director of the Global Mission Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations. “The studies encourage respectful conversation and careful reading of Scripture within relationships of trust and friendship.” The Global Mission Center for Urban Ministry also developed another study, Urban Life in the Word , to connect biblical teachings with the experiences of people living in cities. The lessons explore the same gospel message and biblical prophecies found in traditional Adventist Bible studies, but approach them through the realities and questions of urban life. “The intention is more than gaining biblical knowledge. The hope is that every encounter with Scripture will lead to a deeper relationship with the God who is love,” explained Manny Arteaga, director of the Global Mission Center for Urban Ministry. “At its heart is a simple yet transformative invitation: to fall in love with a God who knows us fully and loves us deeply.” Making the resources available The new Bible studies will be distributed to division leaders and mission directors, who will work with the Global Mission Centers to adapt the materials for their respective communities. Chung emphasized that the initial printed copies are intended for review and discussion rather than immediate public distribution, allowing local leaders to recommend changes before the studies are shared more broadly. Beyond the printed guides, the Global Bible School will make the studies available. Video versions are being developed to accommodate different learning preferences, allowing individuals to watch or listen to the lessons. To help members use these resources, the Global Mission Centers are preparing online training courses through the Adventist Learning Community . Chung also highlighted existing courses on the platform that help Adventists build friendships with people of other faiths. Following the presentation, church leaders joined in prayer to dedicate the new resources to God. The studies are expected to give Adventist members additional tools to share Jesus with people in their communities. This article was provided by the ANN . Get to know the region More Stories Topics

Six new Bible study guides designed to share faith across cultures and religions.

Global Mission Centers introduce new Bible studies for diverse communities

Related topics ‘Mission Refocus’ stories challenge Adventist leaders to go where the need Is greatest Annual Council program highlights the need for more missionaries in underserved communities.
Seventh-day Adventist leaders on the second day of Annual Council set aside votes, reports and other agenda items Friday evening, October 9, for worship and reflection on what it means to answer God’s call to mission. More than 440 church leaders from around the world, gathered at the General Conference (GC) headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, heard firsthand accounts of faith, sacrifice, and service from missionaries serving in communities where sharing the gospel often begins with building trust, forming friendships, and finding new ways to connect with people. Their experiences, woven throughout the evening with music, Scripture readings, and interactive moments, offered a glimpse into Mission Refocus, the church’s effort to send more missionaries and resources to places where the Adventist presence is limited or nonexistent. The initiative emphasizes the 10/40 Window, major urban areas, and secular and post-Christian societies. The testimonies also reflected this year’s Annual Council theme, “Called for Mission,” through the experiences of missionaries serving across cultures and far from familiar surroundings. “Tonight is a special program centered on the stories and lives of those who have been sent through Mission Refocus,” said Rick McEdward, executive secretary of the GC, as he welcomed leaders. A mission that changed her Among the missionaries featured was Katie Davis, who spent nine months as a student missionary in Cambodia through the Andrews University student mission program. Davis served at an Adventist center of influence where language and music classes, a vegetarian restaurant, and other activities are designed to build relationships within the community. She said she quickly discovered that sharing her faith in Cambodia required a different approach. “My mission changed to be representing Jesus through my actions, my words, and my daily behavior, and completely relying on the Holy Spirit every single day,” Davis said. During her nine months there, Davis said she used her social work training to conduct mental health workshops in villages, help children develop social-emotional skills, form friendships that led to Bible studies, and help a Cambodian teenager prepare for studies abroad. But Davis told leaders that one of the greatest transformations took place in her own life. “My mission experience wasn't about what I wanted to give to my people, but it was the very tool that God used to disciple me, to break my assumptions, and to build my faith,” she said. Now pursuing a master’s degree in community and international development, Davis challenged church leaders to give young people opportunities to serve now. “When you give us, young people, the trust, the opportunity, and the space to go serve, whether that’s across the world in Cambodia or right here locally in our communities, God does incredible things in our hearts.” Building relationships in a post-Christian community For one missionary family serving in a highly secular, post-Christian setting, church planting has centered on building friendships and trust. By creating opportunities for meaningful connections, they have opened the way for people who might not initially connect with a traditional church to explore questions about life and faith. Those connections have gradually opened the way for deeper spiritual conversations. One participant who identified as an atheist began studying the Bible and attending Sabbath worship, while another who had described himself as agnostic expressed a desire to give God another chance. A Bible study group has since taken shape and is being developed as the foundation for a new congregation and a model for reaching other post-Christian communities. That experience reflects a broader challenge across the Trans-European Division (TED). Robert Csizmadia, the division’s executive secretary, pointed to its largest mission field, home to some 65 million people and nearly one-third of the division’s population, where there is roughly one Adventist for every 82,000 non-Adventists. In a region increasingly shaped by secular and post-Christian cultures, Csizmadia said reaching people requires new approaches to mission, describing TED as a “mission lab” for finding new ways to connect with those communities. “We want to be partners in mission,” he said. “We would like to accept you into our mission field. And we would like to support you in your mission field.” An alarm clock for mission Throughout the evening, the sound and image of an alarm clock reinforced a sense of urgency. Bible passages including Romans 13:11-12, John 9:4, Luke 10:2, Matthew 25:13, and Matthew 28:19-20 were used to point leaders toward the urgency of reaching people who have yet to hear the gospel. “These Bible verses are meant to be alarm clocks to awaken us in mission,” said Justin Kim, editor of Adventist Review . Kim then turned that reflection toward the audience, inviting leaders to use their phones for an interactive word cloud. They responded to questions about where they had served, where mission workers are most needed, and what mission needs most. Countries and regions from around the world appeared on the screen, while “workers,” “Holy Spirit,” “love,” and “prayer” emerged among the needs identified for mission. Kim also challenged leaders to consider what they were willing to surrender for mission, calling them to “reconsecrate” and “recalibrate” their lives with a greater burden for other cultures, countries, and peoples. Crossing the barriers McEdward returned to that urgency in his closing appeal, tracing the biblical call to take God's blessings to the nations and challenging leaders not to allow geographic, ethnic, linguistic, or religious barriers to limit the church's mission. “God's people are called to cross barriers for the gospel,” he said. “It's not for adventure that we go. It's not for some kind of extra stamp on our passport that we go.” He also pointed to the relationship between Mission Refocus and OneVoice27 , the church’s worldwide digital evangelism initiative. Digital tools can carry the gospel into new places, he said, but the church also needs people on the ground who can build relationships with those reached through technology. The connection reflected the church’s broader emphasis on being “Integrated for Mission,” bringing missionaries, members, leaders, and initiatives together in a shared effort to reach people beyond the church’s current presence. McEdward challenged leaders to ensure that OneVoice27 extends to languages and populations where the Adventist Church has little or no representation. “Make sure we're doing something for the groups, ethnic groups, and languages which we have no representation in the church,” he said. Pointing to missionaries who had left familiar surroundings and, in some cases, significant security to serve elsewhere, McEdward stressed the need for more workers. “Can we have more? Can we send more like them?” he asked. “Can we see this world have more shining lights like them?” But he emphasized that the responsibility extends beyond those who are sent. Drawing from God's call to Abraham to bless the nations, McEdward reminded leaders of their own place in that mission: “You also are part of the solution to bring God's blessings to the nations The evening closed with a prayer by GC president Erton Köhler, who thanked missionaries for their service and called leaders to renewed commitment. “Keep the mission alive through us,” he prayed. “Help us to be always focused on the mission in everything we do to prepare this world for the second coming of Jesus.” This article was provided by the ANN . Get to know the region More Stories Topics

Annual Council program highlights the need for more missionaries in underserved communities.

‘Mission Refocus’ stories challenge Adventist leaders to go where the need Is greatest

Related topics General Conference staff give funds during Mission Week During Mission Week, General Conference staff donated more than US$19,000 to a mission project in a sensitive region, contributing to over US$130,000 in employee-supported mission projects worldwide since 2015.
Staff at the General Conference (GC) located in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, recently gave more than US$19,000 to a mission project in a sensitive region during this year’s Mission Week. GC staff have personally given more than US$130,000 to mission projects since 2015, supporting work from the Canadian Arctic to West Africa and from the Middle East to northern Asia. There was no Mission Week in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which closed the office. Past projects have included sending church planters to an unreached city, purchasing a brick-making machine for use on a hospital construction site in Southeast Asia, and helping refugee children access education in the Middle East. “You know that the workers of the General Conference are committed to mission when they consistently, year by year, support local mission projects personally,” said Rick McEdward, GC secretary. Mission Week is an annual event that began in September 2011, featuring internationally themed meals in the cafeteria, a silent auction, a Skype call with a missionary, and mission videos in the auditorium during the noon hour. Later, a specific mission project was adopted, and the Mission Bazaar was introduced. While the bazaar helps make the week memorable and adds some excitement to a typical week in the office, the majority of the funds raised from the project come from personal employee donations. Mission Week projects are often located in sensitive regions, and having a project shared only with employees inside the building means more information can be shared openly. The bazaar features international items donated by GC staff and collected during their travels. Many staff have served as international missionaries and donate items accumulated during their service. Mission Week is not the only time employees are invited to support a mission project. Every spring, during the GC week of prayer, employees are invited to support a special project. Last spring, employees contributed more than US$13,000 to help launch a community project in a center of influence in Southeast Asia. "Mission week is one of my favorite times of the year, but we know mission isn't a once-a-year event—it's global and ongoing,” said Rick Kajiura, Communication director for the Office of Adventist Mission , whose team plans the programs and events for the week. “My heart is touched by the support from this building because I know that what they are giving here for the special project is that extra they are finding after the regular support they give through their local churches.” Get to know the region More Stories Topics

During Mission Week, General Conference staff donated more than US$19,000 to a mission project in a sensitive region, contributing to over US$130,000 in employee-supported mission projects worldwide since 2015.

General Conference staff give funds during Mission Week

Related topics Every Step a Battle Joe’s journey from grief, anxiety, and spiritual emptiness leads him back to God and to OIKOS House in Helsinki, where he finds healing, belonging, and a calling to pastoral ministry.
Joe almost turned back more than once. The Sabbath morning he first came to OIKOS House in Helsinki, everything inside him resisted going. Though he had recently begun his journey of faith, anxiety pressed hard as he left his home, walked to the train station, boarded the train, and then walked again toward an unfamiliar house. “It felt like every step was a battle,” Joe recalled. “I didn’t know about spiritual warfare then—but I know now that something didn’t want me to come.” The final walk from the station should have taken five minutes. Instead, it took fifteen—and three prayers. Standing outside the door, Joe hesitated. What if this is the wrong place? What if they don’t accept me? he thought. He pressed the doorbell, telling himself that if no one answered within five seconds, he would run home. The door opened almost immediately. With warm smiles and a genuine welcome, the fear that had followed Joe all morning vanished. “It was like crossing a barrier,” he said. “The anxiety disappeared the moment I stepped inside.” For the first time, church felt different. Joe’s journey to that doorstep began long before Finland. Born in Thailand to a Finnish father and a Thai mother, Joe spent much of his childhood attending Adventist schools. He learned Bible stories, sang hymns, and prayed before meals—but faith felt distant. “I believed God existed,” he said. “But I didn’t know Him personally.” When Joe was 13, his mother passed away. Though she had found Christian faith shortly before her death, the loss left Joe deeply confused and bitter. A youth group that had once felt like a refuge dissolved soon after, and his questions about God went unanswered. “I didn’t understand why a loving God would take my mother, and then the youth group,” Joe said. “So, I walked away.” For years, he searched elsewhere for belonging through parties, alcohol, and later alternative spiritual paths. Nothing lasted. What once numbed the pain eventually deepened it. By his late twenties, Joe felt empty and exhausted. Depression and anxiety weighed heavily, and a painful breakup only intensified his despair. “One night, I felt like the world had nothing left to offer me,” he said. As Joe reached the lowest point of his life, a single word impressed itself on his heart: Pray. “I knew exactly who that prayer was meant for—the God I had learned about as a child,” Joe said. That night, Joe prayed honestly and desperately, asking God to take away his pain and give him life. Exhausted from months of sleeplessness, he fell asleep. When he woke, something was different. “The depression was gone,” he said simply. “I knew it wasn’t me. It had to be God.” Days later, biking to work in the cold winter darkness, Joe felt joy rising in his heart. “It felt like the sun was shining just for me,” he said. With a grateful heart, he committed his life fully to God. Not long afterward, Joe followed an invitation to OIKOS House. “I had never experienced church like that,” he said. “People listened. They wanted to know my story. There was no judgment—only belonging.” Joe stayed late that first Sabbath, sharing his testimony again and again with people who genuinely cared. From that day on, he knew he had found a spiritual family. “What struck me most,” Joe said, “was that OIKOS doesn’t just talk about Jesus’ teachings—it tries to live them.” Encouraged by the community that believed in him, Joe began to sense a new calling. Today, he is studying theology, preparing for pastoral ministry. His dream is to serve at OIKOS House and help plant new churches—places where others searching for belonging can encounter God just as he did. “This house is just a tool,” Joe reflected. “What matters is God’s kingdom—and helping others discover the love that changed my life.” Looking back, Joe sees God’s hand in every step, from seeds planted in childhood to a long, difficult walk toward a house where he finally found home. Joe’s journey reminds us that finding faith often begins with finding community. Through ministries like OIKOS House, God is creating spaces where people burdened by loneliness, doubt, or fear can encounter genuine belonging and the healing love of Christ. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will support OIKOS as it expands its outreach and prepares to plant new churches for the next generation. Thank you for your faithful giving.  Story Tips · Show the location of Helsinki, Finland on a map. · Download photos for this story from Facebook: bit.ly/fb-mq. · Share facts related to Finland (see below) Fast Facts · The official name of Finland is the Republic of Finland. · The capital and largest city of Finland is Helsinki. · The Finnish name for Finland is Suomi . · Finland’s currency is the Euro. · The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish, although national languages like Sámi, Karelian, and Finnish Kalo are also recognized. · The national anthem of Finland (“Our Land”) can be sung in Finnish (“ Maamme ”) and Swedish (“ Vårt land ”). Get to know the region Related publications More Youth & Adult Mission Stories Topics

Joe’s journey from grief, anxiety, and spiritual emptiness leads him back to God and to OIKOS House in Helsinki, where he finds healing, belonging, and a calling to pastoral ministry.

Every Step a Battle

Related topics “Just One Friend” Stranded in Finland during the pandemic, Kathy finds friendship, faith, and a new spiritual family at OIKOS House, where a simple prayer for one true friend leads her to baptism and a life of welcoming others.
When Kathy stepped off the airplane in Finland, she carried two suitcases, and a very lonely heart. Kathy had grown up in Slovakia, a country far to the south of Finland. She had come to the city of Helsinki for an internship connected to her university studies. She was excited—but also nervous. She didn’t know anyone. She didn’t even know much about Finland before she arrived. Then something unexpected happened. Because of COVID restrictions, the borders closed, and Kathy couldn’t go back home. Suddenly, the adventure didn’t feel exciting anymore. It felt scary. The winter days in Finland were long and dark. Snow covered the streets. The sun seemed to disappear. Kathy missed her family. She missed hearing her own language. Most of all, she missed having someone to talk to. “I just wanted one true friend,” she said later. One day, someone told her about a small church group that met in a house in Helsinki. It wasn’t a big church building with stained-glass windows. It was simply a home where young adults gathered to read the Bible, sing, pray, and eat together. The group was called OIKOS House. Kathy wasn’t sure what to expect. But she decided to go. When she rang the doorbell, she wondered, What if I don’t belong here? The door opened, and smiling faces welcomed her inside. That evening, people talked with her. They listened carefully. They asked about her life. They didn’t rush her or pressure her. They simply cared. Kathy kept coming back. Sometimes they played board games. Sometimes they cooked meals together. Sometimes they studied the Bible. No one forced her to believe anything. But Kathy began to notice something different about these young people. They were kind. They were patient. They seemed to truly love one another. “They loved me even when I felt broken,” she said. As winter continued, Kathy felt both lonely and hopeful at the same time. One night, she decided to try something she hadn’t done seriously before. She prayed. “God,” she whispered, “please give me one true friend.” She didn’t ask for ten friends. She didn’t ask for a big group. Just one. But God had a bigger plan. Little by little, Kathy realized something amazing. The people at OIKOS House were becoming more than friends. They were becoming family. When she felt like crying, someone sat beside her. When she felt homesick, someone invited her for dinner. When she had questions about the Bible, someone opened Scripture with her and read patiently. One evening, she read a Bible promise that said, “When you walk through deep waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2). It felt as if God was speaking directly to her heart. “For the first time,” Kathy said, “I felt loved by God.” Her simple prayer for one friend had been answered in a surprising way. God had given her a whole church family. In May 2021, as the weather grew warmer and the ice melted, Kathy made an important decision. She chose to be baptized. In a beautiful Finnish lake, surrounded by her new church family, she gave her life to Jesus. It was one of the happiest days of her life. Today, Kathy still lives in Helsinki. She helps welcome other young people who come through the doors of OIKOS House. She knows what it feels like to be new. She knows what it feels like to be lonely. And she wants others to find the same love she found. “I prayed for one true friend,” she says with a smile. “God gave me a family.” Across Finland, many young people are searching for friendship and hope—just like Kathy was. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help OIKOS House grow and start new home church groups, so even more people can find a place where they belong. Your offering can help someone far away discover that they are never alone, because God is always listening to even the simplest prayer.  Story Tips · Show the continent of Europe on a map, and then the countries of Slovakia and Finland. · Watch a short video of the OIKOS House and download photos at facebook.com/missionquarterlies · Visit the OIKOS House on Instagram at instagram.com/the.oikoshouse/ MISSION RECORD The very first Seventh-day Adventist in Finland was a sea captain named A. F. Lundqvist. In 1885, while his ship was docked in Liverpool, England, Captain Lundqvist bought two books from a colporteur: Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith and The Great Controversy by Ellen White. As he read these books, he became convinced of the Bible truths they shared. Soon he was baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist. Captain Lundqvist remained a faithful church member until his death in 1955 at the age of 97. Today in Finland there are 58 Seventh-day Adventist churches, 9 companies, and 4,063 members. Finland has a population of 5,624,000 people—that means there is one Adventist for every 1,384 people in the country. AMAZING COUNTRY The Finnish name for Finland is Suomi . Finland’s national animal is the brown bear. Its national bird is the swan. The national flower is the lily-of-the-valley, and the national tree is the beautiful silver birch. Reindeer roam freely across the northern countryside, especially in a region called Lapland. In fact, Finland is known as “the land of a thousand lakes”—but there are more than 168,000 lakes and about 179,000 islands throughout the country. Get to know the region More Children Mission Stories Topics

Stranded in Finland during the pandemic, Kathy finds friendship, faith, and a new spiritual family at OIKOS House, where a simple prayer for one true friend leads her to baptism and a life of welcoming others.

“Just One Friend”

Related topics A Miracle of Mercy A dying young woman encountered Jesus through the prayers and care of Global Mission pioneers, gaining precious months of life and the hope of salvation.
When we entered the patient’s room, we found a small, weak 19-year-old girl lying in bed. From her mother, we learned that her name was Lina* and that she had thalassemia, an inherited blood disease. There was no cure, and her treatment offered little relief. She seemed to be waiting in the hospital to die. We were friends with several Christians living in the area, and one day we learned they were going to visit a patient at the hospital. We asked whether we could accompany them, and they welcomed us. This is how we met Lina. After everyone in the group prayed for Lina, my husband and I had an idea. We had come to this city as Global Mission pioneers—sent to share the gospel in a place where few had ever heard it. Because hospitals in our country don’t provide food for patients, we wondered whether we could prepare healthy vegetarian meals for Lina to help her feel better. We shared the idea with her mom, and she eagerly agreed. The next morning, we brought Lina breakfast. Before we ate, we introduced her and her mother to Jesus. “He is our marvelous Creator, a loving and merciful God who can sustain us in this life and grant us eternal life,” we told them. Then we asked them to join us in prayer as we pleaded with God for Lina’s healing. When we finished, Lina said, “Amen!” Each day that we visited Lina, we saw small improvements. Then, a week later, we heard the incredible news. Her body functions had essentially returned to normal, and she was discharged from the hospital. The attending physician was astonished. “What kind of miracle cure did you give this young lady?” he asked. “You must tell me so I can help more patients.” We explained that we had simply prepared healthy vegetarian meals and prayed for her, but we made it clear that Jesus alone had brought about her improvement. A few days later, our Christian friends heard about Lina’s recovery and asked us to teach them how to prepare the “miraculous” meals. Again, we explained that the meals weren’t the source of healing. We had prayed to the Lord in heaven, and He had answered. We began studying the Bible with Lina and her mother, telling them about God’s incomparable love. Both wanted to learn more about Jesus. For six months, Lina’s health was relatively good. Then she was readmitted to the hospital. She died shortly after. As we looked back on those six months, we realized how wonderfully God had provided. When we first met Lina, her condition was considered a death sentence. Yet, the Lord had given her precious additional time—and during those months, she came to know and accept Jesus as her Savior. God had transformed her life. He had given her peace in this life and the promise of eternal life free from sickness and pain. We were grateful for His miracle of mercy and for using us to share His love with Lina and her mother. Marvelous things continued to unfold after Lina’s death. We were worried that her mother might lose all interest in Jesus, so we constantly prayed for her. Instead, she not only continued studying the Bible with us, but she also chose to be baptized. She introduced us to her relatives, and we were able to tell them about God’s love. This gospel work began with a girl on the brink of death. Though she now rests in the Lord, the seed of the gospel has taken root in her extended family. God was true to His promise: although we had sown in tears, we would indeed reap “with shouts of joy!” This is what Global Mission pioneers do. And it’s what your support makes possible. * Name has been changed † Global Mission pioneers start new groups of believers in unreached areas or among unreached people groups. They’re paid a small stipend and, where possible, work among their own culture.  Help Reach the Unreached Lina’s mother is worshiping Jesus today because a pioneer couple was there. Somewhere right now, there’s another Lina living in a city where no one has ever told her that God loves her. A Global Mission pioneer is ready to go. Your support helps send them. Give today at gmSDA.org/Give1 or call 800-648-5824. Ways to Give ONLINE Scan this code or visit gmSDA.org/Give1 to help Global Mission pioneers bring the hope of Jesus to unreached communities. PHONE Call 800-648-5824 MAIL In the United States: Global Mission, General Conference 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 In Canada: Global Mission SDA Church in Canada 1148 King Street East Oshawa, ON L1H 1H8 Transform lives, one month at a time; join our recurring donor family! Please remember Global Mission in your will and trusts. Visit gmSDA.org/PG or call 800.648.5824. More Stories Topics

A dying young woman encountered Jesus through the prayers and care of Global Mission pioneers, gaining precious months of life and the hope of salvation.

A Miracle of Mercy

Related topics Celebrating Hussein’s Birthday A simple act of generosity opened the door to sharing God’s Word with a sincere seeker in the Middle East. Through prayer, friendship, and a gifted Bible, Hussein began discovering Jesus for himself.
I wish you could meet Hussein,* the security guard at the building where my wife and I live in the Middle East. From the moment we met him, we could tell that he was sincere in his faith and committed to living according to his beliefs. We liked him immediately. Over time, Hussein visited our home many times, and he invited us to his as well. We shared conversations about everyday life and, occasionally, spiritual matters. Whenever we invited him to join us in prayer, he graciously accepted. As our friendship with Hussein deepened by God’s grace, my wife and I sensed God leading us to take another step. We began praying for the right opportunity to give Hussein a Bible. One day, I noticed that Hussein seemed upset. He explained that his bicycle—his only means of transportation to work—had been stolen. He was anxious about finding a bicycle to borrow. That day, I began praying that God would provide a bicycle for my friend. Several months later, we unexpectedly received a gift of US$40. I was puzzled. It felt as though God had sent the money directly from heaven. As I prayed shortly afterward, a clear impression came to mind: Show Jesus to your friend. Buy a bicycle for Hussein. I set aside the money and began saving. But the country’s economy was worsening by the day. No matter how much money I saved, it was never enough to purchase a bicycle. I continued praying and saving and began visiting secondhand bicycle shops. I often imagined the joy of giving Hussein a bicycle for his birthday. When Hussein’s birthday arrived, my wife baked a cake, I prepared a special meal, and we invited him to our home for supper at 5:30 PM. Confident that God could still perform a miracle, I spent the afternoon searching for the bicycle we had prayed about for so long. At 5:00 PM, I returned home discouraged and empty-handed. My wife gently reminded me that God knew how much we wanted to help Hussein and how faithfully we had prayed. “He’s taking care of the situation,” she assured me. The evening was a wonderful surprise for Hussein. He was delighted and told us how grateful he was to have us in his life. We enjoyed the meal together, presented him with the birthday cake, and prayed a special blessing over him, thanking God for his life. But we still had no bicycle. The next day, while continuing my search online, I came across an advertisement for a bicycle in excellent condition at an unusually low price. The listing had been posted only 10 minutes earlier. I immediately called the owner and even gathered the courage to ask for a small discount. I was thrilled when he agreed. When I lifted the bicycle into the back of my car, I knew God had answered our prayers. With the discount, the bicycle cost exactly the amount I had saved over many months. As my wife and I admired this answer to prayer, we asked each other, “What if we give Hussein a Bible along with the bicycle?” We wrapped the Bible we had purchased months earlier, wrote a card, and prayed for the right moment to present both gifts. I carefully planned what to say. I knew Hussein would appreciate the bicycle. I hoped he would receive the Bible with the same enthusiasm. Indescribable Joy When we arrived at Hussein’s door with the bicycle, he was overwhelmed with emotion. But nothing prepared me for the expression on his face when he gently held the Bible and carefully turned its pages. He was amazed. He was delighted. And I’m not sure who was happier—Hussein or me. After two years of friendship, I was finally able to give my friend the gift I had prayed about the most. My joy was indescribable. A few days later, Hussein invited me to his home for tea. When I arrived, I found him reading the book of Genesis. His eyes sparkled as he told me that he had never read the Creation story before. I knew we had much to discuss, and I prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide our conversation. That evening, we talked about heaven, death, and God’s promises. I shared several meaningful Bible verses with him. As we spoke, Hussein continued turning the pages of his Bible. He seemed completely absorbed in God’s Word. Sensing God’s prompting, I asked whether he would like to study the Bible together. My heart leapt when Hussein eagerly accepted. That very week, we began studying Scripture together. God has been working in both our lives as we grow closer to Him and to each other. My heart is filled with gratitude. I stand in awe of the privilege of sharing God’s love with Hussein. I’m thankful for my wife’s faith-filled support and for the friends who prayed with us throughout this journey. Most of all, I thank God for providing the money for the bicycle, for giving us the courage to share His Word, and for leading a sincere seeker to discover the joy of learning about Him for the very first time. * Name has been changed  Every dollar given to Global Mission goes directly to frontline mission work, reaching remote villages and overflowing cities where millions of people are waiting to hear about Jesus. Three Ways to Give Mail — In the US: Global Mission, General Conference 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 In Canada: Global Mission, SDA Church in Canada 1148 King Street East, Oshawa, ON L1H 1H8 Online — GMsda.org/Give4 Phone — 800-648-5824 Transform Lives, One Month at a Time: Join Our Recurring Donor Family! Please remember Global Mission in your will and trusts. Visit Global-Mission.org/PlannedGiving or call 800-648-5824.  More Stories Topics

A simple act of generosity opened the door to sharing God’s Word with a sincere seeker in the Middle East. Through prayer, friendship, and a gifted Bible, Hussein began discovering Jesus for himself.

Celebrating Hussein’s Birthday

Related topics Two Among Millions Through service and relationships, a Global Mission pioneer couple is leading people to Christ in a city with no Adventist presence. One woman’s transformed life and baptism is a testament to God’s work.
We’re a married Global Mission pioneer couple working in a veiled territory, an area where sharing our faith can be dangerous for us and the people around us. Our city has a population of more than 3 million people, with no Seventh-day Adventist Church presence. Because we’re limited in how we can share Jesus, we concentrate our main efforts on community service. We reach out to impoverished families, providing them with rice, noodles, oil, and other essentials. Sometimes, we visit parents with children with special needs. Recently, we visited the family of a child with autism. We prayed with them and offered some practical support. Building relationships is integral to our ministry. So, we visit parks and public squares to meet new people. We share meaningful insights from the Word of God on topics that affect their everyday lives, such as family matters. The Holy Spirit has guided us as we’ve shared God’s goodness with people and led them to Christ. One woman’s life has been completely transformed. After dedicated Bible study, she chose to be baptized and is now excitedly involved in our outreach ministry. Witnessing these changed lives has brought us overwhelming joy. Please pray that God will continue to guide us to those with open hearts.  Every dollar given to Global Mission goes directly to frontline mission work, reaching remote villages and overflowing cities where millions of people are waiting to hear about Jesus. Three Ways to Give Mail — In the US: Global Mission, General Conference 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 In Canada: Global Mission, SDA Church in Canada 1148 King Street East, Oshawa, ON L1H 1H8 Online — GMsda.org/Give4 Phone — 800-648-5824 Transform Lives, One Month at a Time: Join Our Recurring Donor Family! Please remember Global Mission in your will and trusts. Visit Global-Mission.org/PlannedGiving or call 800-648-5824.  More Stories Topics

Through service and relationships, a Global Mission pioneer couple is leading people to Christ in a city with no Adventist presence. One woman’s transformed life and baptism is a testament to God’s work.

Two Among Millions

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