Newsletter August 2024

A story of how “everything” ended and began anew:

In October 2023, it became clear for the Kotinurmi and Korhonen families that the move to Koivumäki was now timely. The previous leader, Mark, had seen a dream/vision in which he handed the keys to Miska. The Kotinurmi family had received several prophecies encouraging them to move to Koivumäki. The Koti congregation from Kuopio also organized a camp in the fall, where many prophecies were released and the vision became clearer.

For the Korhonen family, the pieces fell into place, although leaving their own home and moving from a large house with three children was very difficult. The idea of moving to Koivumäki had been in their minds for many years. However, there was joy and certainty in everything, knowing that God was behind it all and that it was the right time to move. According to YWAM’s principles, we work in teams, so team leadership was seen as very positive. In a team, responsibilities and duties are shared, and each member brings their own perspective. In January 2024, new leaders were blessed for the task.

The center had very little activity. Everything had ended. The previous residents had moved out a couple of years earlier. The COVID-19 pandemic had also disrupted activities. The large, old house stood empty. Around Christmas time, the Kotinurmi family moved to the center. The winter was spent cleaning and warming up the house. A lot of old items had accumulated in the center over the years. The Korhonen family helped at times, as their move was only possible in the summer due to their children’s kindergarten schedule. Money for the kitchen renovation came in miraculously, and the old, worn-out kitchen was dismantled and a new one was installed. Workers were also found to carry out the renovation. On the Korhonen side of the house, interior surfaces and walls were renovated. One of the eleven fireplaces in the house was broken on the Korhonen side, and it was also repaired. A lot of practical work was completed at the center over the winter.

In the spring, Mark Erickson, with his team Tapio and Sini, led an intercession school at the center. The school took place on Saturdays, and many people came from different congregations. Victories were experienced in intercession both on a personal level and on a larger scale! The intercession school will continue in September 2024. See the website for more details.

In August, the leaders of YWAM Finland’s centers gathered at Koivumäki. Jon and Margot Nairn from Australia also came to encourage the leaders with prophetic messages. Several events were planned for August.

The Open Evenings resumed on August 14, and the house at Koivumäki was full again. It was decided to continue the Open Evenings on Wednesdays during the odd-numbered weeks. The Koivumäki team served with the Nairns at the Coti congregation in Siilinjärvi. On August 24, the team will be serving at the Koti congregation in Kuopio, and on August 31, there will be a “Day of Encounter with God” at the Koivumäki center.

We need help at the center with tasks such as cleaning projects and assisting in the kitchen during events, translation, and childcare/education. Financial support is also needed, as the center still requires renovations and other improvements (laundry room, Eenok Hall, chimney caps, fireplaces, interior surfaces, electrical work, new refrigerators, mattresses, and bedding).

We are grateful to all the faithful donors who have supported the center’s work for many years.

If you would like to join the Koivumäki support team in partnership with us, please contact us via email or phone. Your support can be in the form of intercessory prayer, practical help, and/or financial support. Let’s plan more together.

Blessed continuation of the autumn to all our friends. Shalom!

The Center (the old school) is currently undergoing an ongoing renovation project. The goal is to transform the school into a functional center that can host courses, seminars, and camps, as well as accommodate guests, etc.

Here are some future projects:

• Full renovation of the center, room by room, including bathrooms, classrooms, dining room, etc.
• Renovation of the Enoch Prayer Hall so that it can be turned into a 24/7 prayer room.

Help is also needed during events, for example, in the kitchen, with children’s care/education, translation, etc.

If you have a day, week, month, or more of extra time and would like to help in a practical way, don’t hesitate to contact us! We are open to receiving volunteers (“mission builders”) who have not attended the OP school but are willing to come and help at the center for up to 3 months.

How Did It All Begin?

Our family returned to Finland, confirmed by many prophecies. God spoke to us in various ways, indicating that He might give us a center in Finland. After traveling through Finland, searching for a location to establish the Mission Youth Center, it became clear that the Lord had chosen the Kuopio area.

It was in 2004 when we arrived in Kuopio for two days to find a rental apartment for our family. However, we didn’t find anything suitable. There were many apartments available, but they were all for sale. Our son found an old school building in Koivumäki listed for sale online. We didn’t have any money, but we felt that we needed to go see it. As soon as we arrived, I knew it was meant for Mission Youth. Later, we learned that God had spoken to a businessman from Kuopio, asking him to support us financially in purchasing the school. He came and paid the down payment, and so the center became ours. It is truly miraculous how God arranged everything, because the school was the very first place we visited, and GOD gave it to us.

We later learned that many of the school’s teachers were people of prayer, and we also heard about a great revival that had impacted the area years earlier. God hears the prayers of His people. They had been praying for this school, that it would be used for God’s purposes. They also told us that they had received a prophecy stating that there would be a church in Koivumäki. At the first Christmas celebration organized for the center’s neighbors, a guest stood up and said, “Now this prophecy has been fulfilled! His church is His, and it is for those who work and live in this old school.”

Mark Erickson

In 2024, the leadership of the center was transferred in agreement from Mark Erickson to the leadership team, which includes the Kotinurmi and Korhonen families. God spoke to these families in many ways, confirming that now is the time for us to move to Koivumäki and restart the work that had nearly ceased. Our vision is to continue the work under God’s guidance!

Open Days of the Prophetic School:

Registration for the open days of the Prophetic School must be completed no later than one week before the event. Please register via WhatsApp/email or by sending a message including your name, the day you wish to attend, and any dietary restrictions for meals. The cost for the day is €20. Teaching takes place from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and the day includes coffee and lunch. We will accept 20 participants per day. The dates are as follows:

• April 30: Practical Prophecy

• May 8: Dreams and Visions

• May 28: What is My Place?, Prophetic Streams

Prophetic School Church Visits:

We will be at Coti in Siilinjärvi on May 30 at the Behold youth evening at 7:00 PM, at Kansan Raamattuseura in Kuopio on May 16 at 5:30 PM, and at Kuopio’s Home Church on May 3 at 4:00 PM.

The dates of the next school of the prophetic will be announced later.