Lähetysnuoret – Missionuoret
Youth With A Mission Finland 1972-2012

YWAM ministry in Finland began in 1972 when a team of Finnish and Finnish-Australian youth participated in a YWAM outreach to the Münich Olympic Games.

YWAM history in Finland in a nutshell

YWAM ministry in Finland began in 1972 when a team of Finnish and Finnish-Australian youth participated in a YWAM outreach to the Münich Olympic Games. The movement grew fast and Loren Cunningham visited Finland already the following year. The first summer service in 1973 gathered over 150 young people to serve around the country. The school of evangelism (DTS predecessor) in Denmark was attended by 20 Finns.

The movement was named Lähetysnuoret. Since the beginning, evangelism, helping troubled youth, and training have been at the core. In 1974, a villa by Töölönlahti in Helsinki was rented for work space and reaching out to the troubled youth got started. Schools of Evangelism were organised also in Finland.

In 1976, a small team of Swedish Finns moved to Sweden and founded YWAM Sweden together with a few Finns living in Sweden. The purpose was to recruit youth to an outreach to the Montreal Olympic Games. About 120 people from Finland joined the outreach in Montreal. The Finnish-Swedish team traveled on a private charter flight. There were several outreach teams sent to the world already in the 1970’s, for instance, to participate in an outreach at the 200 year celebrations of the USA. 

The work spread across Finland, and e.g. Christian bookstores were operated at the centers. In 1977 a global staff conference was organised in Kustavi. Reaching out to youth involved in intoxicants, or otherwise troubled youth, became more active in Helsinki region.

Syvempi elämä (Deeper life) conferences were organised in the summers of 1977 and 1978, and they later developed into an annual summer event Karismakonferenssi (Charisma conference).

The first ministry center, Syväpuro in Siuntio, was started in 1978. More and more troubled youth came to Syväpuro for help. A men’s rehabilitation centre Karismakoti was later founded and operated there for years.

Tyyskylä centre started in August 1980. At most about 200 people lived in the community. Karismaviesti (Charisma Message) magazine was published from Tyyskylä. Also books and records were published. Some of the bands that were Natanael, Alabasteri and Konnakuoro. These recordings by Lähetysnuoret played a role in bringing worship music to Finland.

There was regular activity in Siuntio, the capital region, Kouvola, Hamina and Iisalmi. There were at most about 20 missionaries sent to serve abroad.

Teams participated Perjantai Kristukselle (Friday for Christ) work in Helsinki. The work was started based on Tapani Suonto’s vision. He was in charge of evangelism work at Lähetysnuoret. At one time over 200 people were involved the first year.

A Christian daycare was opened in the beginning of the 1980’s. In 1985 Paul Hawkins challenged Finnish teachers to start a Christian school. Over 150 teachers attended a Christian school seminar that year. Lähetysnuoret also helped to run an underground DTS in Estonia in the 1980’s. This lead to founding of YWAM Estonia.

King’s Kids started in Finland in 1987 in Tyyskylä, and the first King’s Kids outreach was arranged that spring. Many local King’s Kids groups were started in the following years. Christian school started in Helsinki with volunteers. Christian schools have now spread to over 10 cities throughout Finland and also several daycares have been opened.

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In 1994 YWAM’s ministries were reorganised under the name Missionuoret – Youth with a Mission Finland ry. In the 1990’s and 2000’s DTSs were arranged e.g. in Porvoo. King’d Kids ministry took over most of Finland. KK groups have existed in over 50 towns in Finland. In the 1990’s KK was active also in Lapland, and big international events were organised there e.g. Impact Tour and Arctic Explosion. Finns were also part of founding and leading YWAM in St. Petersburg. Ilonpäivät, which gathers King’s Kids groups together, were first organised in 1992. Ilonpäivät is King’s Kids’ main event starting a new year.

 

After the mid 2000’s , YWAM’s trainings restarted spreading around Finland: to Rovaniemi, Siilinjärvi, Evijärvi, and Iitti. The first own centre in 15 years, Koivumäki, started in Siilinjärvi in 2004. Ruurikkala in Evijärvi started in 2008. Cooperation with Perheniemi evangelical institute was also started in arranging the trainings. In 2010 U of N second level courses were organised in Finland again after a long while.

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The influence of Youth With A Mission on Finland has never been thoroughly studied. Nevertheless, the movement has touched thousands of Finns. Sense of community and actively reaching out, are important elements in YWAM.  Many people who were involved already in the 1970’s, 80’s or 90’s are still involved in a way or another in missions or serving in different spheres of the society.

During the 30 years, well over 1000 men have been through Karismakoti’s rehab program. There’s about 10 Christian schools at the moment and also several daycares. There’s about 1000 people involved in the 40 King’s Kids groups today. In addition many Finns have been part of YWAM staff or trainings abroad.

But many visions are still waiting to be fulfilled. Would you be a part of this story? It’s not about YWAM but God and His Kingdom – and you!