In a café in Helsinki, Finland, a young man discovers the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He has visited this place several times and, after talking with the people there, indicates that he wants to become a Christian.
In a café in Helsinki, Finland, a young man discovers the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He has visited this place several times and, after talking with the people there, indicates that he wants to become a Christian.
The Café-Seed is an example of a growing network of church-planting projects across the Trans-European region of the Adventist Church. This Christian meeting place, the first for the church in Finland, provides programs targeted for unchurched youth and young adults. There are also similar cafes in Copenhagen, Denmark.
A team of young Adventist lay people brings to Café-Seed gospel bands, music programs and concerts, seed forums, spiritual programs, art exhibits, international programs with worship services in English and Russian, an Internet-Café and reading corner, and invites those present to attend small group meetings. They also hold discussions on cultural and religious issues. Everyday programming is coordinated by youth worker Jani Virolainen.
The live concerts include contemporary gospel music in a variety of musical styles, instrumental and vocal soloists, troubadours and African music. “The artists are not paid,” says Sibrina Kalliokoski, secretary of the Adventist Church in Finland. “They come because they want to perform in Café-Seed.
“The aim is to [become] friends with them and then lead them into the Café-Seed Church, which is in the process [of developing],” Kalliokoski says. “The Wednesday and Saturday night programs are SeedLive programs and can be seen live on the Internet at www.café-seed.net. It is network evangelism, get-connected evangelism, small group evangelism. It makes it easier for a secular person to cross the line of religion. It gives young people a possibility to witness in a way they feel at home.”
Café-Seed is one of five church-planting projects in Helsinki that has, so far, established a network of 15 small home groups with more than 40 attending, according to Peter Roennfeldt, church-planting coordinator for the region.
“The small groups are doing well,” says Atte Helminen, a Helsinki pastor who is coaching and directing the Café-Seed team. “They are all building up their identity as evangelistic small groups.”
Helminen adds that regular training for leaders, coaches and coordinators is vital for the effective small group network developing throughout the city.
According to Roennfeldt, pastors and church planters in Helsinki are planning to hold an evangelistic worship service for all of the groups. “The idea is that a carefully planned service will provide a setting to invite café contacts, small group members and friends,” he says.
“We have a long way to go, a lot to learn, and only God knows what will happen,” Helminen says.