Exciting Times

Pastor Timo Keskitalo © Risto Kurppa

Even if you find security, some change tends to bring joy and new strength. In IEC we are constantly surrounded by changes. People are coming and going. New babies are being born. People are coming to faith. There joy of salvation. There is also some kind of crisis ever so
often.

We are often reaching the limits of the premises in our morning service. People are left standing as there are not enough seats, until the children leave for the Sunday school. It is not easy to find bigger space for the Sunday morning. One option would be to start another morning service in another location. This is a possibility we should pray about and seek God's will in this matter. It has been suggested to start a service in Espoo. If we would go for this, we would need many new volunteers in running the services, Sunday school, musicians, ushering and so forth. On the other hand this would provide an opportunity to reach out to new people. Is this the direction we should go for?

Starting a new service would also put quite a lot of pressure on the staff. I am increasingly learning about my limits. In past year we have discussed in the board about the needs of employing more staff. About seven years ago our staff grew from two to six very quickly. We have stayed with that level of staffing now for many years. The needs are obvious, and we even have some surplus to justify the increase. But it is difficult to set the priorities right. In addition the funding for our diakonia work is in danger of being discontinued. Continuing this testimony of serving people in need is highly important. We can not afford to lose the diakonia ministry.

Would we dare move ahead in uncertain times?
To help us walking through these decisions, we have discussed about vision of our church. The vision is drafted in these four lines:
-The vision of IEC is to glorify God and to grow in fellowship with Christ and with one another through the Holy Spirit.
-We want to be used by God to proclaim the Gospel to the international population of the capital region through the Word, community, and loving service.
-We want to be used by God to bring about eternal salvation, making disciples here and in all the earth/to the ends of the earth.
-In this we see ourselves as one in the Body of Christ.
Your prayers are needed.

Pastor Timo Keskitalo