God Is Doing a New Thing in Finland

For many years, Alexander* sensed God calling him to plant a new church for Russian speakers. Now, in recent months, that vision is taking shape in new and exciting ways in Finland.

A Russian national himself, Alexander joined a group of other leaders from the region for a leadership training event led by a missionary from Resonate Global Mission. Many in the group were interested in planting churches for Russian speakers outside of Russia.

“We met almost every month, and Alexander’s strategies for church planting grew over the course of the year,” said the missionary, whose name is being withheld for security purposes.

Through the process, Alexander felt he now had the skills he needed to take a next step. He answered a call from his sending church in Russia to plant a new church in Helsinki, Finland, a part of Europe with a quickly growing Russian population.

Over the next months, Alexander secured a job in Helsinki and started getting to know the city, connecting with other Christians as well as Russian speakers. One of the most important connections he made was with Saalem Church, which has a unique ministry of reaching out to the needs of the various ethnic groups represented in the city.

“Saalem Church seems to do a great job embracing the immigrant population of Helsinki,” added the missionary. “We attended [a worship] service there on a Sunday, and there were groups of people from all backgrounds.”

As Alexander’s relationship with this Finnish church grew, he shared his vision with members there, and they too supported his desire to share the gospel with Russian speakers. Saalem offered Alexander a space to worship and spiritual oversight, as well as visa support.

A few months ago, the Resonate missionary celebrated with Alexander and his family over the launch of the new church he is leading.

Today about 20 people are involved in this new church for Russian speakers. What’s more, many of them are integrated with the local Finnish congregation as well, worshiping along with other language groups that meet at the Saalem Church building.

God is at work in a new way in Finland. He’s worked through a Finnish church, a Russian church planter, and supporters of Resonate to make this growing ministry possible. That’s the beauty of partnership among churches and denominations across the globe.

“One more faith community is reaching out to a hurting world and sharing the hope found in our Lord Jesus Christ to the Russian diaspora,” said the Resonate missionary. “We praise God that we can be a part of it.”

*Last name withheld for privacy and security reasons.