The Vision 

The Church is God's way of mission.
Jesus has sent us into the world in the same way as he was sent into the world by the Father. This is God's purpose for the whole Christian church in this world. Church has a mission in this world. We are sent.

There is a specific mission for the International Evangelical Church (IEC). I see the calling for IEC as threefold:
1) Reaching the international people in Helsinki region.
2) Reviving the church in Finland and blessing the Finnish people.
3) Taking Gospel to unreached people in the countries of our origin.

The nations of the world are here

It is God's special plan to stir the nations and make people move beyond their boundaries. Many people groups are for the first time in the history of the church open to missionary activity. There are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Sikhs - people of all religions and people with no religion living in the capital region of Finland. This is our immediate mission field. God has been calling missionaries from Finland to far away places. As people have grown slow to go, God has sent people here. As people are still slow to tell the Gospel to their new neighbours, God has called the international Christians to do the work. Who would be a better person to speak to a newcomer into this country than another person who has also come here from abroad. Even when the new person is from a country we know nothing about, we can almost always say: "...but I know somebody from your country in our church!" Among the over 50 000 foreigners living in the capital region there are also thousands of international students. Coming to a new place for study provides an opportunity to evaluate life, values and faith. It is our duty to tell these people about Christian faith. For those coming from secular cultures in Europe this may be the only time in their life to consider God.

Who will bring Gospel to Finland again?

Our mission is also to the people of this country. This is beautifully expressed in the prayer service at the Cathedral on the day of Independence on 6.12. as the international Christians are blessing Finland and Finnish people. It is a biblical calling to work for the wellbeing of the city where you are placed, even if you sometimes may feel ill treated by the host culture. God's people need to find the identity of being sent with a purpose. You are a missionary in Finland. Despite a glorious history of revivals, scholarly work and great Christian institutions, Finland is a country where church is weak in commitment and shaky in following Biblical doctrine and values. The church in Finland needs those with a firm faith in the authority of the Bible in matters of faith and life and those who understand prayer and spirituality. There is a need of leaders who do not fear men but God. Not only does the church need you, but the whole society needs those who are not shy to speak out their faith in God in the public arena. This is your mission field.

Reaching the ends of the earth

There are people in IEC from places where missionaries do not go. This means that there are family members and neighbours left behind in the country of origin with a unique opportunity of hearing the Gospel about Jesus through somebody they know. Many people send a little money to family back home. The best you can send your family is salvation in Jesus. For some there is the risk of being disowned or attacked with magic. This is a sign powerful your testimony is to them. There are some wonderful testimonies in our midst of families turning to Christ in far away countries. As a church we own together is very special global network with nerves everywhere. Your walk in faith today is connected with the rest. You are not an isolated individual but part of the missionary body of Christ acting in the whole world. In IEC you can see this reality.

Timo Keskitalo