Our church, my church
The church is a family that consists of different kinds of people who are joined together by Christ.
Tampere Pentecostal Church turns one hundred years old this year. The church is an exceptional place in society. It is a place where people from different backgrounds, age groups, cultures, nationalities and social classes come together as one family that is united by God’s love. The church consists of ordinary people, of people like you and me. We are the church. You are most welcome to join us!
Photos Jonathan Carey
My faith is simultaneously supported by the thought that God, the Creator of the whole world, has created and planned everything and reigns over everything, and my personal life experiences of Him being a God who loves us and is near us.
-Ruut
–Eila
–Eila
-Joonas, Kirsi and Venla
Later I have learned how there are easier and harder times in life. And this applies to our spiritual life too. At times, my imperfections lay very heavy on me, and as a perfectionist, I tend to blame myself easily and often too harshly too. The most important thing for me has therefore been to learn to trust God and not to try and push forward in life in my own strength.
–Johannes
Later I have learned how there are easier and harder times in life. And this applies to our spiritual life too. At times, my imperfections lay very heavy on me, and as a perfectionist, I tend to blame myself easily and often too harshly too. The most important thing for me has therefore been to learn to trust God and not to try and push forward in life in my own strength.
–Johannes
Even in short encounters, my wish is that I could be a warm encounter.
For me, church is love and warmth; long and passing encounters that warm you. I get the feeling that I am together with all these other people in this life and that believing in Jesus connects us regardless of our social position, background or age – that these are my people! Nowhere else than in the church have I ever felt such togetherness with a bunch of people consisting of such different kinds of persons. I and everyone else have room to be exactly the kinds of persons we truly are.
-Anu
Something that happened years ago: It was almost Christmas, and I was very tired and ill. Lying there at home, I was thinking that this year we would just have to do without a proper Christmas clean. Suddenly my phone rang, and the bubbly voice of a fellow church member asked: “Could I come to your place to do your Christmas clean? I was on a walk and felt God urging me to call you”. When our home was sparkling clean, I felt deep gratitude towards God and that fellow church member. We are still in contact to this day, and that person’s whole family has become very dear to us.
-Eeva
-Juha
–Valentin
–Valentin
Above all, I wish to be on the side of those who cannot defend themselves. In Proverbs, we can read the following: “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?” (Proverbs 24:11–12)
-Ilona
I’m called to establish an emotional connection with Jesus. I share my daily feelings with Him. He is my source.
When we lived abroad, I had a quote by Thomas à Kempis hanging in front of my desk for a long time. This quote was an adaptation of Jesus’ words, and it said: “I am your salvation, peace and life.”
This relationship is a daily thing. I need life, peace and salvation every single day. Salvation from many things, like my selfishness.
I’m also called to call others to live in this relationship. My relationship with Jesus is my message. He is the source of my life.
–Asko
I’m called to establish an emotional connection with Jesus. I share my daily feelings with Him. He is my source.
When we lived abroad, I had a quote by Thomas à Kempis hanging in front of my desk for a long time. This quote was an adaptation of Jesus’ words, and it said: “I am your salvation, peace and life.”
This relationship is a daily thing. I need life, peace and salvation every single day. Salvation from many things, like my selfishness.
I’m also called to call others to live in this relationship. My relationship with Jesus is my message. He is the source of my life.
–Asko
-Sirkka
I have known the Golden Rule since I was a small child, and I was immediately fascinated by it. I thought that if I’m not mean to others, they won’t be mean to me. Other children probably also knew about this rule, but the rule didn’t work like I had anticipated. I wasn’t treated the way I wanted at school. It wasn’t until the end of comprehensive school (peruskoulu) and even more in general upper secondary school (lukio) that I understood what Jesus really meant in the Sermon on the Mount as He said:
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12)
Until then, I had avoided doing wrong to others only so that no one would do wrong to me. But now I understood that I should also treat others well. I wasn’t doing bad things to anyone, but I wasn’t doing anything particularly good either. I understood that if I wanted to be appreciated, listened to and treated well, I needed to appreciate others, listen to them and treat them well. And this is what I started to do. After this realisation I started getting many friends at school and my social skills improved. The Golden Rule still helps me today and it surely will in the future too.
-Leevi
Nothing that happens is a surprise for God: the storms, the miracles, our reactions and behaviour.
-Kathryn
I have always done a lot at church, but lately I have tried to pay more attention to how God’s love could shine through in everything I do. I don’t want to outsource serving God to only the things I do at church. My hope is that God’s kingdom can be seen in my life at church but also at my workplace and in my free time.
–Niko
–Niko
One spring evening in 1981, I felt a nudge to become a Christian. However, I had many friends, and I feared what they would think of it. I would have been ashamed if they knew I was a Christian. But a week later, I understood that there are only two roads. One road leads to condemnation and the other road to heaven, and I would be going to condemnation if my things were not in order with God. Without Jesus, I would be on the road to condemnation. I considered it a lot and finally decided to follow Jesus. I wanted to give my life to Jesus, and I asked my mother and my brother to pray for me.
We kneeled down next to my mother’s bed. My mother told me in sign language that I should confess my faith in Jesus. Jesus’s blood would cleanse me, and He would forgive all my sins. Then we prayed and I felt how all my burdens were taken away and I felt as light as a feather.
-Tellervo
–Sirkka-Liisa
We have found that the church is a home and a refuge – a place where we can run to and find shelter.
–Pertti
–Sirkka-Liisa
We have found that the church is a home and a refuge – a place where we can run to and find shelter.
–Pertti
Elämä on lahja – life is a gift!
Jesus died for me, and His love for me is perfect.
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend. The way Jesus is committed to me and His own is something so deep that we cannot even comprehend it. We have a union with Him – He doesn’t abandon or forsake me. And it is because of Him that I live, and get to live, too. He died for me, carried my sins and pain to the cross and disarmed the powers and authorities. But not only that; He also rose from the dead, conquered sin and death and opened the way to freedom and healing. He opened the way to the Father.
Jesus lives, and He has won!
-Anna
For me, it is good to be near God. I have made Jesus Christ my refuge. Our mission is to learn to know God and His will. We can know God by His face, and Jesus is God’s face. However, I can only see Jesus from my own point of view. That’s why I need other believers around me, the church. It is only together we can understand Christ’s love in all its fullness.
-Jarmo
Church is a home where I can go any time, no matter what the situation in my life. Home is a place where we can go without any hindrances or fear. Whenever I enter the church building, I feel the same way I do when coming home.
So, I encourage you all to come to the house of the Lord and to feel His presence and see how great His works are. No matter what situation you are living in, you can come as you are because Jesus loves you very much.
-Sunita
We serve God as a family among children. We are all involved in the church’s children’s ministry in Sunday schools, camps, Royal Rangers and different events, just to mention a few. We parents have been instructors since we were young. We have also had our children with us in the ministry since they were small, first as campers and Sunday school pupils, and later the older ones taking responsibility themselves. We love seeing how children, our own and others, grow and start to follow Jesus.
–Mari, Markus, Aino, Helvi and Cecilia
We serve God as a family among children. We are all involved in the church’s children’s ministry in Sunday schools, camps, Royal Rangers and different events, just to mention a few. We parents have been instructors since we were young. We have also had our children with us in the ministry since they were small, first as campers and Sunday school pupils, and later the older ones taking responsibility themselves. We love seeing how children, our own and others, grow and start to follow Jesus.
–Mari, Markus, Aino, Helvi and Cecilia
In the last few years, nature has become more and more meaningful to me. When I see the first mountain avens bloom in the flowerbed, or hear the beautiful singing of a blackbird, or see an exceptionally scintillating star in the sky I often feel they are personal gifts from our loving God, given just to me. And I receive them from the heavenly Prince…
I also often reflect on Jesus’ words about the birds of the air and the flowers of the field and feel once again that I’m safe. I know that I’m important and dear to God!
-Leena
I moved to Tampere in 2017. At the time, I didn’t know anybody here, and it was difficult not having any friends. I hadn’t gone to church in a long time, and life was hard. But then I got to know a person who invited me to come to Tampere Pentecostal Church. I started coming to church every Sunday, and I felt a peace inside of me. After a while, I also started going to the Lost&Found youth gatherings where I got a lot of friends. Getting to know people was a very big deal for me.
Attending church so often, I started to think a lot about how I could help people and the church. I often asked the pastors what I could do and how I could be of help. The youth pastor suggested I could for example help with running the projectors. I really enjoy being part of the church.
-Zabih
I moved to Tampere in 2017. At the time, I didn’t know anybody here, and it was difficult not having any friends. I hadn’t gone to church in a long time, and life was hard. But then I got to know a person who invited me to come to Tampere Pentecostal Church. I started coming to church every Sunday, and I felt a peace inside of me. After a while, I also started going to the Lost&Found youth gatherings where I got a lot of friends. Getting to know people was a very big deal for me.
Attending church so often, I started to think a lot about how I could help people and the church. I often asked the pastors what I could do and how I could be of help. The youth pastor suggested I could for example help with running the projectors. I really enjoy being part of the church.
-Zabih
I love being part of a church where people of all ages form one single family. Since I was a little girl, I have admired the older people in our church who have gained life experience and spiritual growth from several decades. I remember sitting in Sunday services with my grandparents when I was small, and even though I didn’t yet understand what the adults talked about and sometimes the long sermons felt tiring for my young and lively mind, I felt immensely safe and calm amongst people who served and loved God as one family.
We younger people can be renewing the church in a fresh way, but at the same time, we are thankful for the previous generations of believers for the work they have done to build the church. So today, I want to thank the older people who have served in the church, in missions and in their hometowns, bold in their faith. A big thank you to all of you who pray for the work that is being done amongst the youth and to whom we can look up to as role models in our spiritual lives. ❤
-Aada
Jesus is faithful, and He has been faithful to us in different stages and situations in our lives. The Lord is with us through His Holy Spirit in the good days and the bad.
When we have faced trials, He has been there; He has helped us and carried us.
When parenting has felt challenging and we haven’t had enough understanding, He has given us wisdom and love.
When our patience has fallen short, He has taught us about forbearance and forgiveness towards others.
When we have felt lonely, He has comforted us and encouraged us in His grace.
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
-Harri and Katja
Jesus is faithful, and He has been faithful to us in different stages and situations in our lives. The Lord is with us through His Holy Spirit in the good days and the bad.
When we have faced trials, He has been there; He has helped us and carried us.
When parenting has felt challenging and we haven’t had enough understanding, He has given us wisdom and love.
When our patience has fallen short, He has taught us about forbearance and forgiveness towards others.
When we have felt lonely, He has comforted us and encouraged us in His grace.
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
-Harri and Katja
My life is based on salvation that comes from the triune God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Everything is based on Him, on our God, who alone is good and almighty.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
-Kari
We live in a broken and unfair world, but we don’t live in it without Jesus! Love, forgiveness, mercy and acceptance are more valuable antidotes to hate, bitterness, condemnation and abandonment than ever.
-Johanna
We live in a broken and unfair world, but we don’t live in it without Jesus! Love, forgiveness, mercy and acceptance are more valuable antidotes to hate, bitterness, condemnation and abandonment than ever.
-Johanna
A few years back, I was quite lonely. I did have friends who I saw every once in a while, but I didn’t have any close friends. That’s when I started to go to church in the weekends and joined a cell group. At church, I started to get to know more and more people and experienced amazing fellowship. I got new friends and new activities for my free time and people with whom to do those new things. Attending church more actively helped me meet new people, and now I feel far less lonely than I used to.
-Niilo
God is good. This thought has carried us through different times. And even in hardships we have been comforted by the fact that God only wants good things for us. In many situations – whether it was in finding a spouse, seeking employment, getting a home, or starting a family – we have experienced God leading us and blessing us beyond our expectations, even though sometimes we have had to wait in agony. Trusting in God’s goodness is the cornerstone of our everyday life, and God’s timing is always better than our own.
-Petteri, Julia and Leo
God is good. This thought has carried us through different times. And even in hardships we have been comforted by the fact that God only wants good things for us. In many situations – whether it was in finding a spouse, seeking employment, getting a home, or starting a family – we have experienced God leading us and blessing us beyond our expectations, even though sometimes we have had to wait in agony. Trusting in God’s goodness is the cornerstone of our everyday life, and God’s timing is always better than our own.
-Petteri, Julia and Leo
When I did not yet know God, I only trusted in myself and in hard work. I thought that I can rely on my own abilities. I found out I was wrong. Now I know that God is my refuge. When I pray for things, my heart is filled with peace. Now that I know God, I have joy in my life.
当我还没有认识神的时候，我觉得人就得靠自己，努力付出就有收获，努力工作就有钱花，凡事靠自己。当我认识神之后，才发现自己是错的。神是我的依靠，凡事先祷告，心里就有了平安。认识神之后，心里就有了喜乐。
-Chao
I’m glad that I get versatile and profound teaching at my own church. I’m also happy about our pastors who each are wonderful and different personalities and filled with the Spirit of God. Lately, I have been thinking about last spring’s sermon series about the armour of God – how we get to dress in this armour every day in prayer. That’s how we are well-dressed, and we don’t have to think about what to wear.
One particular situation is also imprinted on my mind. Not many saw it, but it made a huge impact on me. I once went to the church and happened to open the door to Kellarisali. On the floor, there was a blanket and sitting on it in a circle mothers with their small children. It was our church’s perhepiiri. At one end of the blanket was our family pastor with a baby on each arm. The sight was so beautiful. It spoke to me about God’s unselfish love. How God’s love often manifests itself in situations that many do not necessarily see. God’s love brings about everything that is good and beautiful.
-Lea
Over the years, I have gotten to see how big a blessing it is to serve others. It is a great secret of the kingdom of God. I myself have experienced this especially at children’s camps where we, adults and young people together, have had the chance to pass on faith to the next generation. God’s presence has been very tangible in these ministries. And even though it might sometimes get tiring, God’s blessing helps us keep going and inspires us to serve again and again.
When you want to help others, serve them and be of use, God will make sure there’s a right place and way for you to serve.
-Jarkko
I got one important and faith-building guiding principle as inheritance from my dear grandma. Her advice was a small and simple but a very powerful one: be grateful every day.
This same advice can be found in the Bible too where my grandma had actually found it for herself. I learned that gratefulness doesn’t just belong in our lives when things are going well and life is easy, but also when not everything is going as we had hoped it would. The Bible tells us to be grateful in all circumstances.
Sometimes it may feel that this is easier said than done but I believe there’s great wisdom in this. I, for one, got to see from my grandma’s example how gratefulness can be evident and have an influence in our lives. That’s why I too want to try to find something to be grateful for in every single day.
-Venla
I got one important and faith-building guiding principle as inheritance from my dear grandma. Her advice was a small and simple but a very powerful one: be grateful every day.
This same advice can be found in the Bible too where my grandma had actually found it for herself. I learned that gratefulness doesn’t just belong in our lives when things are going well and life is easy, but also when not everything is going as we had hoped it would. The Bible tells us to be grateful in all circumstances.
Sometimes it may feel that this is easier said than done but I believe there’s great wisdom in this. I, for one, got to see from my grandma’s example how gratefulness can be evident and have an influence in our lives. That’s why I too want to try to find something to be grateful for in every single day.
-Venla
Church’s cell groups are always the highlight of the week – and even more so now, during these unprecedented times. We have had genuine encounters regardless of whether we have met remotely, in open air or in person. It has been great to get peer support and to share life’s ups and downs with friends.
-Teppo, Hanna and the boys
God hears even my smallest sighs. In the last couple of years, I have realised that no matter how tired or busy I am, God sees me.
God hears all my small prayers and all my thoughts. Even those that I’m only pondering in my own mind, trying to solve on my own.
In these small but big situations God has encountered me the most and shown me that He hears me, sees me and knows me, and that He knows better than I what I truly need.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
-Heidi
God hears even my smallest sighs. In the last couple of years, I have realised that no matter how tired or busy I am, God sees me.
God hears all my small prayers and all my thoughts. Even those that I’m only pondering in my own mind, trying to solve on my own.
In these small but big situations God has encountered me the most and shown me that He hears me, sees me and knows me, and that He knows better than I what I truly need.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
-Heidi
With my age and health issues increasing, fellowship with God has become more and more important for me. Every day I rejoice about the fact that I get to be a believer. At church, I get to experience fellowship with other believers. We are all very different from each other, but I am accepted as I am. There is no friction between us.
-Matti
Especially during challenging and difficult times, God’s gentle and all-loving presence is the best thing I know. The joy and peace that fellowship with God and knowing Him creates doesn’t compare to anything.
This is the thought that carries me through life and helps me put things in the right perspective: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
-Varpu
As a mathematician, I think that if there’s even a small change of life continuing in eternity, it’s worth living this life to the fullest for that. And as Romans 1:19–20 confirms that God’s power and nature have always been clearly seen, the best move for us is to just trust the Bible’s revelation.
I share what I have received from God. The gifts and skills that I’ve been blessed with, especially in film and photography, are used best in projects for the Kingdom of God. And the importance of relationships too is something that cannot be stressed enough, and we should always make time for our fellow human beings.
-Teemu
It would be difficult to live without the church. At church, we can enjoy fellowship which is like a safety net in different situations in life. There are people who we can rely on and from whom we can get comfort, guidance, and advice.
I can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort I myself receive from God (adapted from 2 Corinthians 1:4).
-Ritva
It would be difficult to live without the church. At church, we can enjoy fellowship which is like a safety net in different situations in life. There are people who we can rely on and from whom we can get comfort, guidance, and advice.
I can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort I myself receive from God (adapted from 2 Corinthians 1:4).
-Ritva
In recent years, I have learnt to accept God as a God of joy before anything. As a God who, as His Word states, rejoices over us, in whose presence I get to rejoice and with whom it is good to share not just the sorrows of life but the joys too. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
-Miika
My faith is held up by the disciples’ words to Jesus: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
I have hit rock bottom in my life just to discover that the bottom does not break either in my life nor anyone else’s, in no situation nor in any culture. Our final goal is to make it to our destination, together with others, by encouraging each other and helping each other find the way.
-Lea
My faith is held up by the disciples’ words to Jesus: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
I have hit rock bottom in my life just to discover that the bottom does not break either in my life nor anyone else’s, in no situation nor in any culture. Our final goal is to make it to our destination, together with others, by encouraging each other and helping each other find the way.
-Lea
We have been able to experience God’s goodness and grace amid different kinds of challenges.
We want to follow Jesus to the ends of the earth.
God has surprised us with His goodness many times during this past year. He has shown us that He can really do more than we even dare to dream.
-Gift and Ulla
I enjoy going to church – the church is like a second home to me. It feels good to come here and listen to God’s Word and hear songs about Him. I have had a chance to do many different things at church, for example to be an usher and previously also sing in choirs and work at camps. At church, I get to see other people and spend time with them. You can always find friends at church.
It creates a good basis for life if we have sorted things out with God.
-Pertti
In 2020, health was no longer something I could take for granted, and I had to go through entirely new and very exhausting phases in my life. However, when I was at my weakest, people from the church carried me, prayed for me, and loved me in a way I had never before experienced. I also got to experience personally what it means to have the prayers of others carry me when there was a 24-hour prayer chain organised on my behalf. There is no other place where I have felt the kind of love the church has shown to me.
-Veronica
”Let us not become weary in doing good.”
Galatians 6:9
-Daniel
”Let us not become weary in doing good.”
Galatians 6:9
-Daniel
I found Jesus in 2001 with the help of a high school friend. At the time, I was helping out as a young confirmed volunteer in the Lutheran Church and I believed that God existed, however that belief didn’t have much influence on my life. In high school I made a new friend who asked me if I wanted to come to Tampere Pentecostal Church with them and the youth service there. That’s how I found myself at Wake Up, as the youth services were called back then.
After the experience I spent a lot of time wondering about people speaking in tongues and everything else I had seen happening around me. I couldn’t come up with any reason why someone would pretend those things. Finally, I came to the conclusion that God is way more real than I had imagined. I decided that if God worked in such ways in other people’s lives and gave them spiritual gifts like that, I wanted to have the same. So, I made the decision to follow Christ, and I was baptised in the summer of 2002 at a youth camp in Kausjärvi.
-Annukka
God isn’t often in a hurry – even if we might be. It is important that we listen to God and maintain a right attitude in our hearts. We shouldn’t worry so much about what will happen next. This really is a continuous learning path.
-Vesa
God isn’t often in a hurry – even if we might be. It is important that we listen to God and maintain a right attitude in our hearts. We shouldn’t worry so much about what will happen next. This really is a continuous learning path.
-Vesa
You can never know what someone else is going or has gone through, so always remember to love and forgive in every situation.
In the past years, I have learnt how very important it is to connect with people and be present. Even though my own effort may, in some situations, seem small, for someone else even my smallest gesture of God’s love can be the thing that saves them. ❤️
-Emma
Unquestionably, the richness of church is that it contains lots of different kinds of people from different backgrounds.
One time when I was in church with a friend of mine, I had noticed something that needed to be taken care of. I can’t remember anymore what it was, so let’s say it was something big that was left in a wrong place.
Just a few moments earlier I had seen there a man I knew, and I decided to go and find him. I thought he might be able to do something about it or at least would know who to talk to about it.
At first I talked this and that with him and then I mentioned about this snag I had noticed. The man stated both frankly and wisely, “There are many things in the church that someone should take care of. Could that someone sometimes be you?” This was an unexpected answer. The thought that I myself could be the answer to a problem had not even crossed my mind. After this I have seen the different defects in church in a different light. As I observe them, I have always wondered first if this is one which I could solve.
.
-Mikko
“For the kingdom of God is (…) a matter (…) of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval” (Romans 14:17–18).
Serving is something I love to do, and I pray for wisdom, love and skilfulness from God for everything I do in church.
-Irja
“For the kingdom of God is (…) a matter (…) of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval” (Romans 14:17–18).
Serving is something I love to do, and I pray for wisdom, love and skilfulness from God for everything I do in church.
-Irja
I have attended Tampere Pentecostal Church since I was little. So, I have gained a lot of experience from Sunday school to the student group. One of my dearest memories involves a children’s camp held at the old Kausjärvi campsite. In the evenings we would gather to listen to teaching, pray and sing around a campfire or in the main building. At the end of one of these meetings we were told that we could go and prepare for bed, but we could also stay and pray. At that moment I felt inside me a longing to stay. I don’t remember if I actually stayed that day or if I left with my friends, but the calling of the Holy Spirit stayed inside me and left an impact. God wanted to spend time with me, a primary school age child, and He still does. He wants to speak to all of us. Do we have patience to stop and listen?
-Reko
I have truly fallen in love with the church in the past couple of years! I have always thought that fellowship of the church is an important thing but it has, in some way, only been head knowledge, not something I have really lived by.
For me, it was not easy to find my place in the church first. I moved here from elsewhere and I didn’t know anybody from the church when I came. I was almost about to give up but then I joined one of the Iltakirkko teams. And suddenly, things started to fall into place. I started getting friends and more responsibilities. Fellowship with other believers and serving are precisely what make us grow as believers as well as being the things that further God’s kingdom. And interestingly, the more you give them time, the more your love for the church, and for Christ, will grow.
