I was born in Finland in 1976. I am the eldest of three children and born into a nominal Lutheran (non-Christian) family. When I was a child, we would go to church at Christmas, funerals, weddings, and to the services organized by the Lutheran church in the village hall twice a year. In Finland, the Lutheran church and the state are one. We even pay taxes to the church through the state. Most people are members of “the church,” and therefore, they believe that they are “Christians.”

As a child, I went to Sunday school in the village hall, to children’s clubs, camps, and confirmation class. I do not think I even knew of any other denomination until I was in my teens. The first group I learned of were the Baptist, but they were considered to be a strange sect. As a young child in Sunday school, I remember being told about missionaries in Africa and I thought that it was very interesting. I also used to pray to God when walking home in the dark winter nights. I did know that God existed, but I did not have a saving faith in Christ. I grew up as a normal teenager, rebelling against my parents, hanging with my friends, and dating boys. I was a total and complete sinner bound for hell.

When I was fourteen years old, I went to confirmation class and summer camp. We were taught about the Bible and about the Christian faith, the Lutheran church, and its beliefs. It was all very interesting, but in no way life-changing. Fortunately, there were a few leaders who were true Christians and they shared their testimonies at evening prayer every night. It was through them that the Lord stirred my heart. I realized that my childish faith was not enough, and that Christ demanded more of my life; more commitment.

While I still lived at home I attended the Lutheran church and its youth meetings. In hindsight I can see that it lacked a lot, and it saddens me that there was so little Gospel or biblical instruction given to the young people. After about two years, and without proper teaching, accountability, or mature spiritual leadership, I began to move backwards in my faith.

When I was sixteen years old, I moved away from home to study. There, things got even worse. I was the only Christian student at the school. I came home for the weekends and went to my usual youth group, but without strong teaching I still did not grow. It was a very lonely time.

In 1994, at the age of eighteen, I moved to Kilkeel, Northern Ireland to work as a nanny for the family of a pastor. I was to look after their daughter for eight months. I thank God for taking me out of Finland, because this was the start of my new walk with God. There, I learned that true Christians go to church regularly, and that it is important to have fellowship with Christians of all ages. There, I was able to go to a Bible study and meet other young people who were equally interested in growing in Christ. It wasn’t just a social event.

While in Kilkeel, I met a woman who had recently graduated from Belfast Bible College. She told me all about it and I decided that I wanted to go there. I applied and was accepted to a three-year course in Theology. There, I found many Christians from many denominations and countries. Many were very devoted to learning more so that they could go out and serve God in their own countries and abroad.

In my second year, I met the man who was to become my husband – Kyle.
During this time I mainly went to a charismatic house church; but I never really felt comfortable with the signs, wonders and speaking in tongues. For a long time, I thought that there was something wrong with me because I could not embrace this kind of Christianity. I was convinced that I was not as dedicated a Christian as the people around me who seemingly had a much greater relationship with God.

After my husband and I were led by God into a more biblical understanding of the Bible, I realized that so much of what I learned during my years in the liberal Lutheran church and in the charismatic Word of Faith movement was wrong. It was very much against what the Word of God actually teaches about who we are as Christians, and how we are to express our faith.

There has been a gradual growth in my walk with Christ during the years. God has had to take away parts of my life only to add what is pleasing to Him. It still is a “day to day” walk of learning new things and growing in Him. I am grateful for His protection and His care of me.