Sweden in a Quickly Changing World

Nordic Light

The Nordic Project for Church Multiplication

Jim and Lynn Jarman

Nordic Project Leaders & Church Multiplication Catalysts

Serving Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Norway,

Finland, Russia, Latvia, Estonia & Beyond

Based in Stockholm, Sweden

Newsletter #31 - January to April, 2022

War in Europe

Greetings!

When we wrote our last newsletter, we never expected that in such a short time Europe would be the center of a war with strategic, long lasting consequences. As we mourn for the loss of life and devastation in Ukraine, we wonder what the future holds for the Nordic Baltic. Recent headlines in the Swedish news have included: "Russia Warns of Nuclear Escalation if Sweden and Finland Join NATO" and "Everything You Need to Know About Swedish Bomb Shelters". This is our daily life.

As church planting catalysts who have taught in Russia for several years, we wonder too what the future holds for both the Ukrainian and Russian churches. How long will it take to heal the wounds? How will God move to bridge the division found not only among nations, but also within church congregations? At the same time, the refugees now in the EU present one of the greatest opportunities for the Gospel we have seen in our lifetime. How will we reach them and how can they help bring revival to Europe?

The last few years have taught all of us that God is still in control when the world is in chaos. God will always have the final word and he has this amazing way of redeeming all situations. We are blessed to be where we are for such a time as this - and to have you stand with us.

Thank You for being our faithful partners!

Jim and Lynn

Jesus - The Prince of Peace

"They have healed the wound of my people lightly saying, 'Peace, peace,'

when there is no peace."

Jeremiah 6:14

"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one

and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility...."

Ephesians 2:14

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When we rang in the new year in our Stockholm neighborhood of Liljeholmskajen - never did we think that within two months real bombs would rain down on a peaceful nation and cause havoc all across Europe.

In January, we were able to spend time with our Converge colleagues - Crick and Mindy Porier - who live in Tartu, Estonia. They are doing an amazing job leading the South Estonia Outreach Project and we hope to assist in future church planting training.

This Spring, many of our supporting churches have given us a spotlight in their Sunday services. Here, our friends at Oakwood Church, Waconia, MN watch our video and learn about the need in the Nordic Baltic. We are so grateful for all of our partners - including YOU! If you are not a financial partner - now is a great time to begin. We need extra monthly supporters to meet our budget.

In our ministry with the Swedish organization, Mission International, God has blessed our social media outreach beyond our wildest expectations. In the 22 months since the salvation prayer was posted on the Junia Magazine Facebook page - over 11,000 women from 50 nations have accepted Christ and said "Amen" to Jesus! Lynn's daily posts connect with 50K people monthly.

In February we met with Kenno and Jana Leier from Helsinki, Finland. Kenno is the Chief Networking Officer for M4 Europe, a partner organization. Together, they run a church planting ministry in Finland. Kenno and Jana are fine Nordic leaders.

Penao is one of two regional leaders that we coach in northeast India. We meet online with Penao several times each month. Here Penao is teaching church planting in Arunachal, a region of India that borders China. The two women in the bottom left photograph we personally sponsored to attend. They traveled two days each way by bus on Himalayan mountain roads to learn church planting strategies.

Our friend, Anatoly Kaluzhny, is pastor of New Life Church, Kiev, Ukraine. With his family, he remained in Kiev during these difficult days of fighting to care for his congregation and help the people of his city. Here he prays online for his nation - that God will be merciful and give his people courage. Anatoly has been to Stockholm on numerous occasions.

While war is raging in Ukraine, Lynn received an invitation from the Russian Foreign Ministry to apply for a one year multiple entry religious worker visa. Jim already has his. While this does not guarantee Lynn a visa nor do we know when it will be safe to travel again to Russia - we did find it interesting that Russia sent an invitation to an American at this time. Please pray for both the Russian and Ukrainian churches - that God will bring peace in the midst of division.

In our work as strategic consultants for M4 Latvia, we attended a church planting conference in Roja where over 50 gathered to learn CP strategies. From top left, we are with Kaspers Sterns, Bishop and General Director of the Latvia Baptists. Top right, we are with Nauris and Sanita Graudins, M4 Latvia National Leaders. Lower right, Tomix Shultx is the head of the Baltic Pastoral Institute in Riga. Lower left, Lynn is with Līva Fokrote, COO of M4 Europe. M4 = Master, Mission, Multiplication, Movement.