[Finland] A December Christmas Tour in Finland

Before the IYF Finland had the December Christmas Tour, first they held a mini camp under the name Happy Together. After attending several camps, the students were fascinated by the IYF Finland Camp and invited new friends. As its name, Happy Together, we made programs that could be enjoyed together and time to gather in groups after the mind lecture and share their hearts. On the last day of the camp, all the participants’ faces were bright and we had time for feedback on IYF Finland as an expression of gratitude.

Among them, a student named Ona who was a very shy person thanked the IYF for having been able to overcome her burdens through the acapella performance.

Following the camp, from the 17th to the 20th of December, the Good News Finland Church held a Christmas Tour at the four cities of Vantaam, Espoo, Forssa, and Hameenlinna. We delivered a message of the preciousness of spending time with family through Christmas dances, mixed chorus, and a lip sync of the Christmas play that the Gracias Choir had performed. Although the performance we prepared was lacking, the audience expressed that their hearts had been warmed by the performance.

On the first day, the performance was held by renting a high school nearby the Finland Church. The students connected by attending the camp and their families, about 70 audience along with 30 Finland Church members spent a meaningful time together. Students studying music in Russia specially visited and performed. Also, Pastor Eui Gyu Ryu of St. Petersburg, Russia preached the Words saying that Jesus was born in our hearts and changed our lives by overcoming our sins that we could not overcome. Moreover, the true gift of Christmas is Jesus being born in our hearts and leading our lives towards the light.

On the second day, Pastor Chang Lim Han of Hameenlinna preached the Words of Hebrews 10:14 at a facility for the disabled in Espoo; “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. “ Despite their disability, they have been made perfected when looking through the eyes of the Words.

On the third day, a church pastor in Forssa invited us to their Christmas event. Pastor Jin Soo Kim preached the Words saying that our life that is like the bitter waters of Marah was made sweet by the cross of Jesus. We agreed to hold meetings at that church once a month from now onward and they opened their hearts towards us.

On the last day, the church members of Hameenlinna invited their acquaintances and filled the seats. With the same performances from the first day, the people of Hameenlinna opened their hearts as they watched the Christmas play and Pastor Jin Soo Kim preached the gospel saying that true Christmas is the day that Jesus was born in my heart. The 4 days of Christmas tour performance ended beautifully.

When looking back on the year 2015, we could see that the scriptures of Hebrews 11:12; “[t]herefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore” was fulfilled. We look forward to the works God will perform in the year 2016 in Finland.