Connecting with Churches
Preaching and sharing about Serve Globally at Immanuel International Fellowship, Stockholm
The last months have brought opportunity to preach and connect with local congregations in Stockholm. It was a joy to preach and share about my role with Serve Globally with the church that I served for over 17 years. This fellowship welcomes people from over 40 nations and worships with such joy. Our family enjoyed connecting with many friends we have known over the years and were so grateful to witness how God is at work through their desire to live out the unity and diversity of the body of Christ.
After preaching at the Korean Fellowship of Immanuel Church with long time member and friend Sun Ok
Preaching in Swedish at St. Peters church, a part the Uniting Church and one of our longest global mission partners
St. Peter’s was historically a Methodist church before it merged with the Mission Covenant and the Swedish Baptist Union in 2011 to form The Uniting Church of Sweden. It is a small congregation with a big heart for serving their neigbors living on the margins. Every Saturday a group from the church walks from the church to the central train and bus station to share sandwiches, fruit and coffee as well as information about where homeless neighbors can find lodging and medical care. The pastor of St. Peter’s, Jenny Arnerlöf shared with volunteers recently,
“The purpose of the walk is to be present to people living on the margins in the hope of building relationships that can empower them. It means a great deal to people to be seen and remembered.”
In order for the volunteers to be able to go out each week the church organizes “the sandwich factory” where volunteers come earlier in the day and make around 200 sandwiches. This has been an opportunity for the church to welcome people with no Christian background or church connection to meet and serve alongside Christians and build relationships.
Our family has participated monthly over the past year and half and I have had a chance to go on several “walks” through the station to share food and talk with people. An exciting development is that a number of the people that the church has been meeting at the station have now started coming to a weekly open evening at the church where a meal is served, people sit at table and share community and hear a short devotional.
As I think about this ministry something Mother Theresa said comes to mind, “Do little things with great love.” This is what I see happening in this ministry and it is touching lives with the love of Christ.
Will you join me in praying for pastor Jenny, and her leadership as they work hard to maintain this ministry and for the congregation as they learn to welcome and embrace people who God is bringing into their church. Pray also for the many people they meet each week who struggle each day with sickness, insecurity and feeling unseen in society.
The “sandwich factory” in action on a Saturday afternoon.