Saturday, May 23, 2009

MORE BLOGS AND PICTURES TO COME...STAY TUNED

Onward

So my season here in Finland has come to an end. What amazing memories. What amazing people. What an amazing God. It has been a trip like none other here and it's tough to leave a place like this. Souls have been saved, bible studies started, prayers answered...God has truly done amazing things during this time in my life and here in Finland. Finland is in my heart for good. It will be amazing to see what God does here in these last days through this ministry and others alike. The Word of God runneth very swiftly (Ps. 147:15) and, as it has free course in us and through us (II Thess. 3:1), it will change many. 

These last few weeks have been amazing. Our student outreach team (Kati, Jouni, Lauri, Miia, Johanna, Kirsi, Elvis (not Presley), Saija, Hanna, Me, and many more), had a great time Thursday and Friday night. On Thursday we passed out these Gospel CDs (containing Pastor Schaller's message, "What is Man?", a gospel message in Finnish by Pastor Juha, and Matt Roberge's song, "Is it True?") to about one hundred students in a student housing complex in the center of town, with tracks and invitations as well. The response was unbelievable. People loved it and it sparked great conversation amongst the curious students. Then, on Friday, we had our very first "Vertical Link Helsinki" meeting in the Helsinki University. We had an amazing time there with about twenty of us just praying, preaching, fellowshipping together and with some students afterward. We met one girl who had received a cd from us the night before. She said that she had listened to it and called her mother, who is a believer, to talk about the message. The Word truly does run very swiftly. Who knows whose lives are affected and how many prayers are answered when we go forth, not knowing what we're doing, and preach the gospel. Only God knows where His Word runs to. All I know is that it has run into my heart and is making it's way to many more through the breaking of the vessel. 

For you in Helsinki, me, on my way to Stockholm, Sweden and Berlin, Germany, and all those reading this: ONWARD. DON'T LOOK BACK. DON'T BE SENTIMENTAL ABOUT YOUR NATURAL LIFE. MOVE FORWARD IN FAITH. 

"And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."   Joshua 3:5  

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Turkey: Istanbul


Suddenly I found myself strolling down Istiklal street, gazing at a crowd of thousands of Turks. The cloud of black coats and unknown faces passing by so quickly that I barely had a moment to notice individual people. As we were walking, I was reminded of Christ walking the streets of Jerusalem. Thousands of people were passing him by, groping him, bumping him, but one lady really touched him and was delivered. I felt we have the same mission here on these streets. No matter the size of the crowd, I really believe God has those people there, just waiting for us to walk by and reveal Christ to them. As we were walking through the endless sea of people, we came to an old Catholic church. It was this church where we met an amazing girl last year who has been in our church ever since. It was just one of those times. We happened to be in a certain place, walking in faith, and the Lord brought someone to us. It's so easy to be overwhelmed by the masses of people in Turkey, or depressed by the lack of them in Finland, but no matter the place God has these precious people there, waiting. We spent some time there soulwinning and then headed off to eat with the Pastor Matti and the team.

It was such a great trip to be there in Turkey again. I took with me Jope (or Tekno as we know him) from Helsinki. It was his first time in Turkey and I believe he had an awesome time there. I had so much fun with Roger and Lizzy Robbins and to see them in action as missionaries in Turkey was really refreshing. They have a great ministry and I believe the church will really grow because of having them there. It was so great to see my friends again; Umid, Ilhan, Faruk, Kemal, Clifford, Alp, and all the amazing people there. The church there is really a light shining in a dark place. They have the life, the message, and the vision that people need there in Istanbul. Keep Pastor Matti and the team there in prayer as they move into the summer months. Pray that the Turkish people in the church can get visas and come to Baltimore for convention as well. God Bless Turkey.



Thursday, April 30, 2009

Trust God and Do the Next Thing



I've been back in Finland now a few days after traveling to Turkey, and I've been thinking about our lives as believers. What do we do with our past, our present, and our future? I think what we need as disciples, is to live the "tight rope" life of faith. It seems that our life is kind of like that. Just think about someone who learns to walk the tight rope. He has to start small, with tiny steps, and very small risk. At the beginning, the trainer is there, walking with him, holding his hand, and instructing him in each step. This is a very important time in the trainee's life because he's learning to trust his trainer. That trainer is building in that person an amazing capacity: the capacity to go across that tight rope at high speed, with no fear, and with a 50 foot drop below. In everything the trainer does, his goal is to safely bring the trainee to that point. In a way, I think this is what God is trying to do with our life. At first maybe we walk very slowly, maybe we don't really make any radical decisions, and just getting to church can be a challenge. But as we walk with the Master we start to realize the potential He has put in us to live radically. He is always there, loving the fear right out of us as we grow. We begin to move, faster and with more risk. I begin to realize as I look at the 50 foot drop below me that, "Hey, what's the big deal anyways? I have been given all grace, all wisdom, all power, and all ability in Him! My life is not my own, I've been bought with a price! If I fall, I fall in Grace, and God is able to make me stand! Who cares about the risk of humiliation, ridicule, disdain, or even death? I have God!"
When that person is on the rope he really only has two things in his mind: The next step, and the finish line. We are trusting that God is real, He is in us, dwelling richly, and He has given us what it takes for the next step. So what if I've messed up in the past? Now, I'm just trusting God and doing the next thing. I'm not worried about 5 days from now, I'm occupied with Christ in the Eternal Is of RIGHT NOW! Like Paul, I have my goal, my "mark", which I am pressing towards. I have my Promised Land set before me, but right now I'm occupied with each step I take as I cross the Jordan River with the Ark on my shoulders. God is parting the waters, God has possessed the Land for me, God has given me His presence and His power; I am just trusting Him and moving forward.
We need this kind of life. The world is too evil, too crazy, and too small minded. Thank God He has given us all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Let's utilize them right now in a radical way! Let's forget the past, rifle our worries for the future at the cross, and run across that rope believing God for every step.

Pray for us this week for these amazing upcoming events:
- Concert in Metro Tunnel 4/30, Jesus March 5/1, Trip to Porvoo 5/2, Finland Tour with Roger, Lizzie, Miia 5/3-5/8, and also upcoming trips to Estonia, Sicily, Germany, Czech, and possibly even Sweden.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Eurocon: Drinking from the Brook in the Way


"He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head" Psalm 110:7

Whether you're playing backyard football at Honeygo Park on a Sunday night at 12 o'clock or a quick game of sähly with the Finns after church, you always need a solid time of refreshment.  As Soldiers of the Call, it can be so easy to plow through our life without stopping and drinking from the brook in the way. It's so easy for ministry to become routine when we're not being refreshed. We pour out, pour out, pour out, but sometimes forget to just sit and receive. We have been called, equipped, and trained to go out and work the fields. However, in that call, God has put provisions of Grace where we can receive refreshment from the Throne of God. Think about Abraham's servant in Genesis 24 who was "in the way and the Lord led him". Where did the Lord lead him to? He led him to a well. It was at that well that Rebekah gave him a drink to refresh him on his journey. 
To me, Eurocon was really a time of refreshment for me in the midst of the Work. I felt like I was just sitting at the well and God was drawing out Living Water for me to drink. Seeing all the servants who are daily laying down their lives on the field: refreshing. Hearing the anointed messages from true men of God: refreshing. Late night raps at the Turkish Restaurant with Pastor Schaller: refreshing. Times like those will be lasting refreshment for months to come. While at Eurocon, my vision was refreshed. My love for the Bible was refreshed. My fire for the lost was refreshed. The importance of intercessory prayer in my heart was refreshed. It is so good to be in a ministry where this need for refreshment is so well understood. 
God is so faithful to lead us to those wells of refreshment and say "Just sit. Relax. Drink." Stop worrying about the details, cast your cares upon me, and just relax. Let's look for the wells of refreshment that God puts in our way daily. It could be a time of fervent prayer. Or maybe just a solid conversation with someone. It might even just be a ridiculously good döner kebab on the streets of Berlin: REFRESHING!  God has a well of deliverance in every situation, from which, with joy, we draw waters of refreshment for our souls. (Is. 12:3)  Let's be fresh, alert, and focused as we live this life of faith in the reality of the Kingdom of God. How? Just stop and drink.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Back

Just got back from my trip to Budapest, Berlin, and Brasov. The triple B trip. It was amazing. Stay posted for a more detailed blog about the trip. Just letting everyone know I'm still alive and going forward!

God Bless!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Henceforth Expecting

Pastor Scibelli arrives Thursday (Tomorrow), here in Helsinki. He'll be with us all weekend preaching and teaching on Missions and I believe God's heart will be revealed for sure. I fly with him on Monday to Budapest for the conference. It will be so great to spend the week with the family that we have all over the world. There will people coming from America, Europe, Russia, and Central Asia to join in the fellowship. After this, I'll be flying to Berlin, Germany for a few days and then to Romania. After that trip I'll be headed back here for more! It should be a great time and anointed for sure. Keep us in your prayers and maybe I'll even see you at Budapest. God Bless. 

Report from the Field: Jyväskylä


  What an awesome time we had in Jyväskylä this past weekend. Our hearts were stirred to see young people come from 5 cities (Jyväskylä, Hämeenlina, Helsinki, Vaasa, and another city, which I can't remember the name of) to gather together in joy and listen to God speak to us. 
Matti Kraama and I landed at Jyväskylä's TINY airport Saturday night and headed straight for the meeting place. I was blessed to see the room filled with about 30, or so, young joyful Finns, Filipinos, American's, and Africans gathered together to worship Christ. We had songs, food, and a message on having changed lives. As the rap ended, we realized we had been there for about 5 hours, and we still were standing around wanting more. 
Here in Finland, the hunger for the Word is so great among many young people and definitely growing among others. My prayer is too see many of these young people be raised up as missionaries, preachers, counselors, teachers, Bible students, prayer warriors, and most importantly manifesters of the Life of Christ everywhere they go. If they keep living through the cross, drawing near, delighting in God and His word, and receiving from Christ, their source, than I believe this will most definitely be the case. These young Finns will go all over the world, bringing this most amazing gospel to lost souls, just like P. Matti Sirvio, Heidi and Arto Niukkanen,  P. Ben Turkia, and many other amazing servants of God.  For I believe it will be even as God has said it. 
He is for us... so tell me... who exactly can be against us? (Rom. 8.31, I John 5.18b, Ps. 124, Acts 5:39) 

" Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies." 
Psalm 108:13

Friday, March 6, 2009

On the Road Again

It seems like we just got back from Sweden, but here we go again! On our way to Jyväskylä this weekend to have like a mini youth conference with about 30 people. Praying for an awesome time, anointed by God, and moving forward in oneness here as a ministry in Finland. Thanks for your prayers and your lives. Two words: Eternal Is ... think about it.

Other Upcoming Events: 
 - Pastor Scibelli and the Missions Conference here next weekend
 - EUROCON (with trips to Berlin and Romania following)
 - Easter Conference in Vaasa in April
 - Weekly outreach to student housing on Thursdays 
 - Youth meetings on Saturdays
 - Young Men's Bible Studies on Mondays
 - Other Meetings, trips, and events as God leads

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Changed

"... nor turn again by the same way that thou camest ..." I Kings 13:9b

I was thinking today while strolling the sunny streets of Helsinki, people need change. We saw in our last election in the States that the people of this world seeking the reality of the word that graced almost every billboard and newspaper in the country for months: CHANGE. I think everyone in the world is searching for it in some way. Why do you think women worry so much about their hair, or businessmen about their new car and new suit? It always has to be different and better. I believe there's some real truth to that search. 
It says in the Bible that we're created in God's image, but because of sin we've been changed. We've fallen from that image. Now it's God's mission to take us by Grace and to conform us into a new image: His Son. Our entire being is yearning for that change. God has a certain individual design for each one of us and He is in the process of transforming us into it. Every single situation that we go through is an opportunity for God to transform us, whether by sight it seems good or bad. How does He do it? "How is this change possible?" you might ask. I'll tell you, it's by going through the cross, losing all consciousness of self, through death, entering into resurrection life and seeing the glorified face of Jesus Christ. When we see that face, then we are like Him. We don't realize as we look at Christ, the Holy Spirit is within us, changing us from the inside-out. He's changing us into His image. We look into the mirror of Divine Perspective and we see our face, but at the same time it's His.  This is what Paul says in II Corinthians 3:18 and I John 3:2. This is the amazing paradox of the kingdom of heaven: we are 100% ourselves in our individuality, yet 100% Christ's very image. AMAZING! 
I feel, as many of us are preparing to go to Eurocon and many other trips, that God is saying a similar instruction to us like the one he gave the man of God in I Kings 13:9: "you shall not return again the same way that you came." I stumbled upon this part of this verse and I thought about how true this is for us. God is sending us out, whether it's Eurocon, Africa, Asia, Baltimore, work, school, whatever it is, and is saying, "don't come back the same way that you came, but let me take you a new way, just trust me." God want's to refresh us, change us, because He doesn't want us to live in a mechanical routine, but in the newness of His Life. Even if I've done something before or read something before, it's not the same, because I have changed. I see it differently because I'm walking in the newness of life. 
People in the world are looking for change but are only finding themselves becoming conformed to a system. What they really need is not a new car, or a new suit, or a new hair color, but it's a new heart and a new reality. They need a transformed life from the inside-out. Let's walk in new paths, fresh ways to look at the things we do and and know, let's be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Copenhagen

There's something about the streets of Copenhagen that didn't seem right to me. It may have just been the fact that we had gotten up at 5:00 a.m. after a long night, flown to Copenhagen airport, and it was still only nine in the morning. But in any case it was dark. I've been to many "dark" cities like Berlin, Dublin, Istanbul, but this place was different, at least I thought so. While we wandered about looking for a place to sit and eat I felt like the atmosphere was pressing down on us. The atmosphere continued to press as we quickly got lost in the all so similar looking streets of this famous Danish city. As we tried to find our way I was quietly praying, "God, you've got to do something. There are so many people, so many cities like this one who seem to lack any kind of spiritual light. God, use us...use our ministry and others alike to reach these people and these cities while we are still here on this earth." I was imagining what the world will be like after the rapture, after the only light on earth is taken away. For some time there will be no more joyous assemblies. No more true gospel messages. No more street preachers. No more gospel tracks being handed out. No more believers going door to door bringing the light of the gospel.  No more sketchboard. No more words of faith.  How important is it that we use our time wisely and bring the light to this dark world while we are still here? The world needs what we have. They need the fullness, the joy, the intimacy, the security, and the consistency that the Life of Christ brings into our lives when we believe. If only they would receive, these streets of Copenhagen would be full of laughter and singing. People would be excited about living each day and they would love with all of their hearts. This is our burden and our desire, that God would give us these cities and fill the churches with hungry believers who have tasted and seen that Lord is good. Praise God that we have this life and that we can give it to others as we preach, evangelize, and reveal Christ everywhere we go in every area of our lives.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Upcoming Events to Pray for

Here's some of the things coming up in the near future here on the field:

- Trip to Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden.  2/20-23
- Pastor's meeting in Tampere, Finland (Discussing many things including new church plants in Finland).  2/28
- Trips to Vaasa, Finland in April and May including Easter Seminar.
- Pastor Scibelli and the Missions Conference here in Helsinki before Eurocon. 3/13-15
- EUROCON 
- Trips after Eurocon (Berlin, Prague, possibly Romania)
- Trip to Turkey hopefully in May
- Trip to Palermo, Italy in April or May
- Starting trips to Porvoo, Finland in March and April. 
- Trip to Yvaskyla, Finland in April or May.
- Trip to St. Petersburg, Russia in Spring.
- Continuing Young Men's Bible Studies on Mondays, Student Outreach on Thursdays, Teen Evangelism and Youth Meetings on Saturdays. 

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

"Jesus Only, Jesus Ever"

A phrase that Oswald Chambers had said once really hit me today while on a train coming back from the small nearby city of Hämeenlina: "Jesus Only, Jesus Ever." I was thinking, "What am I doing here? What's the most important thing in my life? Is it my work here on the mission field? Is it preaching? Is it soulwinning? Is it Bible College? Is it studying, prayer, church... What is it?" And then it hit me... Jesus... Jesus only... Jesus Christ is why I am here.  I didn't get here on my own. I got here by following him in faith. My life is not my own, but it's his. Have I forgotten Jesus? Has he gotten lost in the midst of the details of life? Maybe for a moment, but thank God the Holy Spirit will never fail to bring me back to the reality of the living Christ. Look again at him on his throne. Is there anything that can compare to his majesty? Is there anywhere else where you can find and experience the very FULLNESS of God that is in him? Who was it that shed his perfect, precious blood on the cross? Who else can plead my case before the throne of God in heaven? Who has the right? Who is qualified? ... Jesus... Jesus Only. It is he that died in my place. It is he that nailed all the documents and records of sin to that cross. It is he that chose to lay down his own life so that I, through death, could experience true life in him. That same life that can give sinners the assurance of eternal life, alcoholics victory over their addiction, drug addicts a clean and pure life, depressed people unspeakable joy and clarity of thought... Who else has this life? Who else can even come close in comparison? Who else would we preach? Who else would we give our lives to? Jesus Only. It's only him and forever him. Only his sacrifice was ONCE and for ALL. Only he has sat down at the right hand of the Father to give us a place of rest in him eternally. Only he has the power to be our advocate forever in the courtroom of God. Only the stains of his blood will forever be so fresh upon the Mercy Seat in the Temple of Heaven. Jesus Ever... He will never leave us and never forsake us... He has overcome the grave and the fear of death... He ... He is MY Savior, MY King, and MY friend. Will I fail him at times? Most definitely. But will he see it? Never. Will he love me at all times? Yes. Now? Yes. Forever? Forever. In HIM we live, move, and have our being. JESUS ONLY... JESUS EVER.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The Words of the Wise

The words of the wise are as goads, nails fastened by the masters of assemblies which are given from one shepherd. Words. The words of the wise. Where can you find these words? As you walk the snowy streets of Helsinki these words can be hard to find. We stop people out in front of the mall in Kamppi we ask, "Have you heard these words?" You can go into the bars or the night clubs, which are so well attended on a saturday night, and ask, "Have you heard these words?" Usually no will be the response to this all important question. Why is it that so many have not heard? It seems to me that truth, the words of truth, are truly "fallen in the street."  
"I have loved you with an everlasting love and with lovingkindness I will draw you."
"We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."
"Therefore there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Precious words. These words should fill our minds and overflow into our conversation.  
We finished our informal young men's Bible study tonight with a good season of fervent prayer. What a blessing it is to find an apartment in Helsinki, Finland that is full of the Spirit and full of young men ready to hear from God. As the Word was being spoken, each phrase seemed to cut through the air, whose "prince" seemed to lose his power in this apartment. Words of faith filled the room. Young men getting their hands on the book, their fingers on the pages, and their minds wrapped around each thought. We are so privileged to have these words fastened into our hearts in such a way. Each one cutting, making it's corrections, and then heading for our hearts to be stored for later use. Can we measure what each word from God does when it has free course in the heart of a man? "The word runneth very swiftly" (Ps. 147:15) and "it will not return unto God void, but it shall accomplish that which He pleases and it shall prosper in the thing whereto He sent it." (Is. 55:11) It's effects are eternal and exponential.  
I love Christ's charge to Peter in Acts 5:20, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." This is our life, our vocation (Eph. 4:1). There's nothing like seeing someone receive words of life into their heart for the first time. We are praying that God would give us boldness in preaching like He gave to the apostles in that day. A radical faith and a radical message that goes hard against today's society, that's what this world needs to hear.  
Keep us in prayer here, that the word of God would increase and the number of the disciples would multiply greatly. (Acts 6:7)  

Mathew Laflamme

VISION

Here's some things to keep in prayer:

- Youth Trips to Yvaskyla, Kuopio, Stockholm, Sweden...maybe others as well.
- Mission trips to Ukraine, Russia, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Germany, Palermo, Sicily, Turkey...and more.
- Eurocon
- We are looking to start something in a nearby city of Porvoo in March.
- Monthly trips to Vaasa.
- Growth in Youth Ministry and Young Adults Ministry here in Helsinki and all of our churches in Finland. 
- Power, boldness, and wisdom in our evangelism and new people in the church from the streets.
- The Grace of God would really be revealed to people in each of it's many facets. 
- Disciples
- more to come...

Mat Laflamme