from the swedish bible belt to a famed biologist's former stomping grounds

(jönköping is a pleasant city on a lake)

Monday night, the 23rd of February, Koala and I arrived in Jönköping, Sweden.

First of all, I must clarify the pronunciation of this city. I think the most accurate way I can describe this with American English spelling is to say: Yonshepping.

After the difficulties we had in Stockholm with trying to make connections, it was such a relief to arrive in a place where we already had previous friendship established. Our friend Bella, who we knew previously from YWAM in Kona, Hawaii, has been studying in Jönköping for the last couple years. We were excited to find that she had been able to set up quite a few different events with both public high schools, and some of the churches in the area. For our week spent in Jönköping, we were able to share in three public high schools, and four churches.

(sofia kyrkjan, where we shared with a small discussion group)

Public High schools always prove to be a good challenge. In these places, we were certainly given restrictions on how much we can actually talk about our faith, but it challenges us to translate the gospel into more common forms of speech. Every time we share in one of these settings, it becomes clear how practical the gospel of Jesus can be. For example: we were able to talk with a Media focus high school (most of the high schools in Scandinavia seem to have some sort of focus.)

One of the things God put on my heart to discuss was truth. I believe with my whole heart that if people in the media (whether it be news television, newspapers, radio, design, etc.) were to be searching for the ultimate truth in any topic or issue, they would be brought face to face with a need for solutions, and these solutions ultimately will be found in the infinite wisdom and knowledge that is found in Christ (Colossians 2:3). We discussed a bit how if they are willing to portray the truth of an issue, even if it is hard for people to hear, even if it makes some people uncomfortable, the whole-truth they communicate will stand out, even when it is compared with a host of well-prepared half-truths.

(ali-john, who we met at the local train station. he's originally from gambia.)

Whether we’re sharing in churches or schools, often people will ask us, “What can I do to help these people (those affected by the abuse of sex and/or money)” It’s a good question.

I am challenged because I can’t give people a direct plan to end human trafficking in the next five years (or some other concrete date.) This becomes an interesting issue in that we see it is something that we have to be willing to engage with in the way we live life. It is not just something we can donate money to, and it is not just something for which we can boycott a product or a company. It seems like this issue requires a bit more of an engaged response. And for myself this is a challenge.

We’ve talked to churches that are concerned about human trafficking and prostitution. Many churches want to establish ministries to deal with these problems, and to bring the women, children and men who have been affected into places of healing from the abuse that they have endured/given. This, however, is not so easy as just walking out to the streets and beginning “ministry.” If people are to leave lives of prostitution behind to build fresh, healthy lives, they are going to need new places – havens - where they begin something new. It would be hard for change to take root if we only love people for a couple hours only to let them return to their “night jobs” – but change can begin to take root when we see that life and ministry aren’t two different things.

And I hope this is not taken as a hypercritical diatribe. It is something I struggle with myself. How to I prevent my life and my faith from being two separate things? I’m learning to become convinced that being a follower of Christ must induce a tangible difference in the state of our world.

(johannes, johan, and koala on what is arguably the longest bench in all of europe.)

(some photos on display at pingst kyrkjan)

(uppsala is a university town, with a lot of bicycles)

(there are also a lot of canals in uppsala)

(dom kyrkjan)

Tuesday, March third, Koala and I waved goodbye to Jönköping and traveled by train to the city of Uppsala, which is a bit less than an hour north of Stockholm. Uppsala is also the hometown of the founder of binomial nomenclature, Carolus Linnaeus. Here, Bella also helped to arrange for us to share in three high schools, and a young adult group in a church. It felt to be a very productive time, and we received positive feedback from many of the students – it is evident that many young people are concerned for the state of our world, and this to me is an encouragement.

As we shared Wednesday evening with the college aged group in a church, God directed me to a verse, which I found to be edifying as we continue on the journey of learning to walk out the practicalities of Jesus –following. I Peter 1:3 says,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

In accepting forgiveness of our sins through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the God who created the planet earth (and all of it’s surrounding accessories) gathers us towards His hope that is a moving reality. This hope to me lies partly in knowing that a hope in Christ is not one that is static or stationary, but rather one that is kinetic and transportable, jumping up and down.

We often feel dry, but it is refreshment, rehydration even, to come across scripture that speaks so directly to what we’ve been in need of. So, we continue to share about need in the world, and we continue to share about hope – though now we are pleased to keep in mind that the hope is moving.

Huskvarna/Jönköping: February 23 - March 1

tall spires, tall deeds.

Stockholm is beautiful. As we de-boarded the bus from Helsingborg, and began to transport our mass amounts of luggage up to our hostel, we were sweating and tired and frustrated with unruly baggage, but we were also struck by the peace of large, slowly falling snowflakes.

For the first few days, we were able to meet up with our school leader, Paul Childers, for a sort of pastoral visit. Paul was on his way through Europe as part of an around the world trip for photogenX and some of the other ministry work He is a part of, so he was able to make a quick stop to connect with us. We were able to discuss the tour thus far, as well as discuss the logistics of what is to come. It was refreshing to do business in person, as well as watch CNN, discuss world politics, and visit the Nobel Museum, amongst other things.

(santa klara kyrkjan: certainly not our normal venue)

During our time in Sweden’s big city, Koala and I were able to connect with one of the state churches in downtown Stockholm, Santa Klara Kyrkan. It is not uncommon in Sweden to see massive, beautiful churches, but it is quite unique to work with a church whose action can back up such tall spires. It was always a surprise to consider the variety of walks of life that the people were coming from: within a matter of an hour, I talked to a Romanian Gypsy (we spoke in Spanish), a Pakistani, a Chilean, and a Frenchman from Algeria – and these were just a few of our acquaintances. The church has a large influence in the community of downtown Stockholm, as they minister to the homeless, immigrants, and prostitutes on a regular basis. I was taken aback at all the activity and people that come through the building on a daily basis: this is certainly not a church that is sleeping.

They allowed us to share a small bit as part of their prayer meeting, and they also had us pray for a couple of the women in the church who are committed to working with local prostitutes on a regular basis. It was evident that we weren’t necessarily telling this group something new; more so, I think, or at least my prayer is that we may have been an encouragement for them to continue in a direction in which they are already moving.












Later in the week we were able to connect with a couple of other churches, New Life - an international church which includes upwards of 45 nationalities - as well as Tomas Kyrkjan – a smaller church with a beautiful mix of traditional liturgy and more “modern” forms of worship. We stayed around after these services to introduce our project to those who were interested. This always provides for great conversations and new connections.

One of my favorite quotes from the week came from the pastor of Tomas Kyrkjan, an American citizen who has become the pastor of a Swedish congregation. In trying to describe the origins of the Swedish language, he stated:

"If German and English had a baby, it would be Swedish."

This was certainly a statement for the ages, but Koala and I were thoroughly impressed as we eventually heard him give a sermon entirely in Swedish. Impressive I must say.


The time in Stockholm was a challenge in that we had not been able to pre-arrange any sort of events with the churches. The ways in which we were able to share were blessings considering the short notice with which they were planned, but we sometimes found ourselves frustrated, wondering how the project was really going anywhere. This was a good time to keep in mind the deeper goals behind this project, knowing that this is information that must come into the light, whether we are able to share in huge church settings, or just single conversations, one by one.

a quick dip in skåne.

Last Monday evening, we arrived into Oslo on a train. It was apparent to Koala and I that we have more luggage than ever. You would be surprised how much luggage you can actually carry if you put your mind, and biceps to the task. In our estimations, we are each carrying upwards of 55 kilos in personal belongings, camera gear, photo exhibition materials, and most of all, multiple copies of our color photography publication.

We were greeted by an acquaintance (who would that evening become more of a friend) who guided us back to an apartment he shared with a few others. It was quite a journey, but we made it in time for dinner, before we met with their Norwegian “Media Village,” – basically a group of Christians who are working in various areas of the media, who gather each week to discuss and consider how they can be bringing the mind of Christ to the media. It was a privilege to meet with such a group of people, who are being intentional to use their abilities and knowledge to speak the truth to their society.

As we shared our project, we in turn had a very in depth discussion on many different aspects of media, communication, photography and the like. As we were talking about our project, God brought me a bit of a revelation about the importance of an individual, something we’ve been talking a lot about in all the places we go. Just as we were traveling the world, in many developing nations, we saw that there was so much that could come of individual encounters. We would always be surprised to see the stories God brought us into contact with as we did our best to be sensitive to the individual people God brought us into contact with. Now, as we share about how we can be a part of bringing hope to the needs of the world, we are also being reminded to see the importance of individual people. I saw that maybe one individual would see our project, and be prompted to go give a cup of coffee to a homeless person on the street, while another could be prompted to go and work with abused women and children in the brothels of southeast Asia. Not that one of these is better, but we can never be entirely aware of the works God could be bringing about in the hearts of people as we do our best to communicate what we have seen of a needy humanity.

(oslo, with the media village)

The next morning, one of the friends we made in this group was kind enough to drive us (and all of our luggage) to the Oslo bus station, where we caught our bus to the south of Sweden, where we would eventually arrive in our next destination of Ängelholm. One of the friends we made during our time in Hawaii, Frida, was kind enough to host Koala and I at her family’s home. They gave us a location to settle that was warm in both temperature and friendship.

Thursday, we spent the day in Café Engel, which is a youth café run by one of the local churches. A lot of youth and young adults come to the café during the week, and are able to have a healthy place to spend their time, with very affordable brownies and coffee. We set up some of our photos, and had a small table for our books, and shared very briefly about our project. The afternoon provided us with some opportunities to connect with a few people on a more personal basis.

Friday night, Koala and I were able to share more in depth with the youth group at Frida’s church. It was a fairly normal evening, as we shared our project and stories like we normally do. It is always a good experience to share these types of things with the youth in the places we go, as it maybe can help them to see that they do have so many opportunities to be a part of ministering hope to the world. It was a nice evening, of sharing the general information about human trafficking, but also sharing on a more personal basis of what God has been teaching us as we’ve been moving around.

(helsingborg)

(lennart, a kind host to pancake night)

After the youth meeting on Friday night, we were introduced to something new: Pancake Church, or Pankaka Kirkjan as they call it in these parts. Our new friend, Lennart, along with others from the church, have begun to cook pancakes on the main street of Ängelholm, to give out to whoever may pass by on a Friday night. Going out to take part in pancake church, I did experience the cold soaking up from the ground, through my shoes, and into my feet, but even more so, I experienced a group of people who are effectively changing the atmosphere of a place that would normally be filled with emptiness, bits of chaos, or plain drunkenness on any other night. People understand cold, people understand love, and people understand pancakes.

(a man decided he would build some structures out of driftwood)

(i spy a koala bear)

Sunday morning, we shared briefly with the main service of Frida’s church. It was just a quick introduction to the issue, but I’m confident that it was effective for the audience. We stayed around for a nice time of coffee, cakes, and good conversation afterwards (this seems to be the norm in Scandinavian churches, a custom I very much enjoy.)

Yesterday evening, Koala and I arrived to our current location, Stockholm. We have spent much of today (Tuesday) with our school leader, Paul Childers, discussing the last couple months, and also discussing details for the months to come. In a city with which we are unfamiliar, it has been nice to be in touch with someone familiar. Today, we were able to get in touch with a local church her in downtown Stockholm, and they have allowed Koala and I to come share at their missions prayer meeting this Thursday afternoon. We are hoping that we will also be able to get in touch with a couple of the other churches in the area as well. I believe God will continue to open the doors in the places He wants us to be. If you think of it, pray that we will be sensitive to where He is leading us.

internet on the bus

Beings as the bus on which I'm currently riding has free internet, I figured I should make use of the bandwidth to post a small video. This is my view as we move down the western edge of Sweden, to our temporarily-final destination of Angelholm.

The Looming Distribution

*Click on the pages to grow them into something more viewable.