Building fellowship in Finland

One of the greatest joys of belonging to the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) is the fellowship we share with believers around the world. For the Europe Team, this fellowship is not an abstract idea—it is real and personal. When we pursue Christ-centered relationships, God is present to encourage us and open doors for gospel partnership.

Greg, Luke, and the Åkerlund Family from the congregation at St. Johannes

From our base in Leipzig, Germany, Jennifer and I often travel to visit believers across continental Europe. But our Europe Team also builds fellowship through “ET Reps.” ET Reps generally live in the United States but are focused on one or two sister churches in Europe. They write, they pray, they encourage, and they develop lasting friendships with pastors, leaders, and church members. Through their work, our Christian unity grows warmer and stronger.

Let me share a recent example.

Greg Schibbelhut teaches science at Luther High School in Onalaska, Wis. Recently he has also begun serving as ET Rep for our two sister churches in Finland. In July, Greg joined Jennifer and me for his first chance to meet our Finnish brothers and sisters face to face.

Our travels first took us to St. Johannes on the western edge of Finland, where people generally speak Swedish. Pastor David Åkerlund and his wife, Marika, hosted us and arranged outings with other church families. Summer is a happy time in Finland. The long, warm days and beautiful landscape provided a perfect setting for good food and relaxed conversation. Together we shared the joys and challenges of family life and our great Christian mission—including a new evangelism effort in Jakobstad. This is how the best friendships are built.

From there, we traveled south to a Bible camp hosted by the Lutheran Confessional Church—Finland (LBK-Finland), a Finnish-speaking church. Here Greg met Pastor Juhani Viitala, his wife, Virpi, and other leaders and laypeople. Greg taught a children’s lesson on Jesus’ death and resurrection, and he listened. Again, God provided encouraging conversations and new possibilities for working together.

We live in an age of screens. Video calls and e-mails are wonderful blessings, but there is something special—necessary—about face-to-face fellowship. Conversation across a kitchen table, joint worship, Bible study, and good food foster openness, understanding, and trust. Greg carried home not only knowledge of these churches’ blessings, challenges, and opportunities but also real friendships.

Fellowship doesn’t end when the plane touches down back in the United States. Greg continues to pray for our Finnish brothers and sisters. He stays in touch online and looks for ways to support their gospel outreach. Greg shared, “What an exciting, wonderful, and humbling opportunity it has been learning about our synod’s work in Europe. The pastors and members of our sister churches in Finland graciously welcomed me into their homes and churches. Their deep love for their Savior Jesus and desire to share that love is very evident. I look forward to continuing to foster this relationship with our brothers and sisters in Finland as we encourage their work with prayer, communication, and in-person visits.”

We thank God for all our ET Reps and their growing connections with believers across the ocean. Please pray that God would strengthen our fellowship and open new doors for sharing his good news.

Written by Luke Wolfgramm, world missionary for the Europe Team.