Allan Jones

 

REPORT ON VISIT TO FINLAND BY ALLAN JONES

FRIDAY 13th AUGUST 2010 to TUESDAY 24th AUGUST 2010

Friday 13th Aug.    Glen Rickard came for Norma and myself at 7.00am, and took us to Manchester Airport, for the flight to Helsinki.

The flight time to Helsinki was 2hr 30min.

We arrived in Helsinki at 3.15pm (local time) (1.15pm UK time).

We were met at the airport in Helsinki by Kari and Pirrko Repo, and  left the airport at 4.00pm to drive to Tampere. We had one short stop on the way, and arrived at the Cumulus Hotel in Tampere at 6.20pm.

After checking-in at the hotel, we had a quick wash, and then left at 7.20pm with Kari and Pirrko, to go to the home of Eero and Marja Haapalehto, where we had a meal with them, and Eero’s brother, Marko. We also met Eero and Marja’s daughter. Eero is a building contractor – he has restored some of the palaces in St. Petersburg.

After the meal we had a lovely time of fellowship, and prayed before leaving at 9.30pm to go back to the hotel. We arrived back at the hotel at 9.45pm.

Saturday 14th Aug.    Up at 6.30am (4.30am UK time). I had a cup of coffee at the hotel, and then at 7.45am, Eero and his bother, Marko, came for me, and we drove for about 10 minutes to Pirkkala, and went to the ABC Restaurant, for a Breakfast Meeting of the FGBMFI Pirkkala Chapter.

There were 15 men there. After breakfast, there was a Bible reading, and then they sang a hymn out of the FGBMFI “Hymn Book”. Each man introduced himself, they sang another hymn, after which they had a discussion about various issues.

Eventually they asked me to share. I shared with them how a Chapter should be run, if they wanted top reach unsaved men. I shared about salvation, baptism, and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and prayed for some of the men.

One man told me that I had prayed for him 20 years ago – he’d had a stomach problem, and was taking 8 tablets a day. God healed him that day, and he has had no problems with his stomach for 20 years. Praise God!

We left the restaurant at 10.10am, and I went with Kari to the summer-house of one of the men, Hans Cederqvist, about 18 miles from Pirkkala. The summer- house was in a forest, by a lake. We arrived there just before 11.00am. 7 other men also came, and later, one other man joined us.

Hans had built a platform that extended over the edge of the lake. We sat there and talked for a while, and then we sat on a veranda at the front of the house, and I shared the Gospel with them, especially what it meant to be born-again, I led them all in The Sinner’s Prayer, and 3 of them responded to the salvation appeal!

Two of the men then asked if I would baptise them in the lake – I readily agreed! – they were both Lutheran.

I prayed for one man to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Afterwards, some of the men went into the sauna, which I was able to avoid!

I talked more with some of the men.

Then they barbecued some chicken legs and sausages – I don’t think that the chicken was barbecued properly! I had some wild blueberries from some bushes – they were very good.

We left the summer-house at 4.00pm to drive back to Tampere.

Kari decided that we should have another meal, so he called at an American Diner, where we each had a beef-burger.

We got back to the hotel just before 6.00pm. Norma and Pirrko had arrived back at the hotel just before us. They had been out all day with Hans’ wife. They had just been in a park near the hotel. Norma said that it was full of young people who were drunk, and yet there is a law against drinking alcohol in public places. Kari said that it is as though the police turn a blind-eye to some of the things that are taking place.

We had a rest, and then Norma had something to eat at the hotel, and I just had a drink, before going to bed.

Sunday, 15th Aug.    We had breakfast at the hotel. At 10.45am, we walked to the main Pentecostal Church in Tampere, for the Morning Service, which started at 11.00am. It only took 2 minutes to walk to the church.

The service was in Finnish, but we had headphones for translation into English.

There was a dedication of a baby, and then a lady missionary spoke. She is from the church, but has been working for a number of years in Thailand. She is returning there at the end of the month.

After the service, we went downstairs at the church for a drink and a piece of cake. Then we walked back to the hotel.

Our room was being cleaned, so we had to wait in the hotel lobby for a short time. We got to our room for a short rest at 1.30pm.

At 2.10pm we got ready to go back to the Pentecostal Church for the 3.00pm English Service, at which I was speaking.

After some good praise and worship, there was another dedication. The mother was English, and was married to a Finn. We met the baby’s grandparents – they are from Essex – the grandmother is an Anglican Vicar.

I gave the message – 3 people responded to the call for salvation – 2 women, 1 man.

Most of the people there made a re-commitment of their lives to the Lord. I prayed a general prayer for healing – a number of people indicated that the Lord had touched them.

I prayed for some more people at the end of the meeting, for various needs.

We left the church at 5.00pm, with Kari and Pirrko, and walked to a Chinese Restaurant. The Pastor, who leads the English Service, Vesa Motto, joined us, with his wife, Ashley, who is from the USA.

After the meal, Norma and I walked back to the hotel.

We passed a shop where gravestones were on sale, and in the next window were shrouds. When we got round the corner, in the window was a display of designer coffins!

After walking to the hotel, we had a walk in the city. When we got back to the hotel, we had a coffee before going to bed.

Monday, 16th Aug.    We had breakfast at the hotel, and then we had a walk in the city, and by the river. We got back to the hotel at noon.

Kari phoned to say that he and Pirrko would come for us at 2.00pm, but it was just before 2.30pm when they arrived.

We drove a short distance to where Kari has his office, and he parked in his own private parking place. Then we walked round the corner, and had lunch at a Pizza Restaurant.

We left Tampere at 3.30pm to drive to Espoo, near Helsinki. We arrived at a hotel there at 5.30pm, and met some of the members of the FGBMFI Espoo Chapter, including Pentti Kautto (the Chairman), Aulis Pesonen and Jouko Salmela.

Pentti asked me to share about BMF.

Other people started arriving at 6.30pm, for the FGBMFI Espoo Chapter Meeting, which was supposed to start at 7.00pm.

There were 25 people there – men and women.

After an opening prayer, a man with an accordion led the praise and worship, using FGBMFI song-sheets.

There was coffee/tea, and one savoury, or sweet.

Norma was asked to give a short testimony, and then I shared some of my testimony. Pentti had asked me to share also about BMF.

No one responded for salvation. There were Words of Knowledge – people responded to them and received healing. I prayed for quite a number of the people for various needs.

We left there at 10.05pm to drive back to Tampere. We called at a motorway service station for something to eat and drink, and arrived back at the hotel in Tampere at 12.25am.

Tuesday, 17th Aug.    We had breakfast at the hotel. Kari and Pirrko said that they would come for us at 11.30am, but they actually came at noon. They took us to the Pyynikki Watchtower. It is noted for special doughnuts that are made on the premises, so Norma and I shared one, with a cup of tea. Then we went, by a lift, to the top of the watchtower, where there was a viewing balcony, to see the Tampere area.

From there we drove to a park, and had a walk to the shore of the lake, where we sat for a while.

Then we went into town, to the Sokos Store, where we had lunch.

We left there at 3.05pm to drive to Kangasala, about 15 miles from Tampere, to the summer-house of Pentti and Tarja Arvola, at the edge of a large lake, in the forest.

We had some fellowship together, and some coffee, with snacks.

Pentti and Tarja’s son, Sami, joined us.

Afterwards, I prayed for Pentti, Tarja and Sami.

Penttu told me that he got saved at a meeting in Tampere, when I spoke in 1989. He said that I gave him some words, which have been fulfilled in his life. He had planned to settle down for an easy life, but I had told him that God was going to use him in a powerful way, and that he was going to preach the Gospel in many places. He has preached the Gospel in Russia, Estonia, and all over Finland!

He attends a Lutheran church, but they won’t let him preach there!

We left there at 6.50pm, and arrived back at the hotel in Tampere at 7.20pm.

Wednesday, 18th Aug.  We had breakfast at the hotel, and then we had a walk in the city, and by the river.

Kari phoned and said that he wanted to take us for lunch. He picked us up by the harbour just before 12.20pm, and took us to the Tampere Finnish Club, where he is a member.

Lunch is served there each day. After lunch, Kari went back to his business, and we walked to a park, where there is a monument in memory of 138 people who were drowned when a ship hit rocks and capsized in 1929, in that area.

We sat in the park for a while, and then we walked back to the hotel, arriving there at 3.40pm.

We had a short rest, and then spent time in preparation for the evening meeting. Norma decided to miss the meeting, and to stay at the hotel to pray.

Kari and Pirrko came for me just after 6.00pm, and we drove a short distance, and went to a building called Kirkontupa, owned by the Lutheran Church, for a meeting organised by Pentti Arvola. It was supposed to be a meeting of Lutheran laymen, but there were people there from various churches. The room was full, and about 80% of the people were women.

The meeting started at 6.30pm with a time of praise and worship, and then a man sang a solo. Several people got up to give short testimonies, and then people wrote out prayer requests – these were prayed over by two ladies.

There were some more songs, and then I got up to speak just after 7.30pm.

Some people were healed whilst I was speaking.

One lady responded to the salvation appeal, and 2 young women received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

There were Words of Knowledge – people responded to them and received healing, including 8 people with knee problems, and several people who were deaf.

I prayed for many of the people who were there for various needs.

We left the meeting at 10.10pm, and got back to the hotel at 10.15pm.

I had something to eat at the hotel before going to bed.

Thursday, 19th Aug.  We had breakfast at the hotel, and then we had a walk to the Pyynikki Tower. We had a cup of tea there, and then sat overlooking the lake. Kari phoned, and said that he and Pirrko would come there to pick us up. They arrived just after 1.00pm, and took us to the old Finlayson factory. James Finlayson, a Scotsman, founded a cotton mill in Tampere in 1820, and the first electric light-bulb in Northern Europe was lit in the weaving shed. He also built a church.

There are now a number of restaurants, shops, museums, theatres etc., in the old factory. We had lunch in the old weaving shed, which is called the Plevna Restaurant.

After lunch, Kari took me to see the Spy Museum – the first spy museum in the world. Norma and Pirrko went for a walk by the river.

After we left the museum, I went with Kari, in his car, to the place where he parks for his business, and then walked to a café. Norma and Pirrko had just arrived there. We had a coffee and a cake, and then Norma and I walked back to the hotel.

We arrived at the hotel at 4.10pm.

We had a rest and then I prepared for the evening meeting. Norma stayed at the hotel to pray.

Kari came for me at 6.05pm, and took me to the farmhouse of Timo Hamlya, in Hameenkyro.

On the way, Kari told me that he’d had a phone call from Pentti Arvola. Pentti told him that they’d had many speakers at Kirkontupa, where I was on Wednesday evening, but they had never experienced the presence of God as they had this Wednesday. He said that he’s received phone calls from a number of people saying that they had received something from God. To Him be all the glory!

We arrived there at 6.40pm. There were 11 men there, including Kari and myself. One man left early, and then another man arrived. They were all Christians.

When we arrived we had a cup of coffee and a piece of cake, in the kitchen, and then we moved to another room.

They sang some songs from a songbook, and then I shared a word and some testimony. Tapio Parviainen interpreted for me.

I prayed for some of the men before leaving.

We left there at 10.10pm, and arrived back at the hotel in Tampere at 10.35pm.

Friday, 20th Aug.    We had breakfast at the hotel, and later we walked to the Tallipiha Stable Yards, where we had a cup of tea.

Then we walked back to the hotel. Kari came for me at 12.55pm, and took me to a motorway restaurant, just outside of Tampere, to have lunch with himself and Tarmo Mayranen, who is the Chairman of FGBMFI in Finland.

We had a good time of fellowship and sharing, and then Kari took me back to the hotel. We arrived there at 2.45pm. Norma had gone to do some shopping.

I had a short rest, and then spent time preparing for the evening meeting.

Kari and Pirrko came for us at 5.50pm, and took us into town. He parked his car in a multi-story car park, and we walked to the Tampere Finnish Club (Tampereen Suomalainen Klubi), for the Dinner Meeting of the FGBMFI Tampere Chapter.

There were 40 people there.

The meeting started at 7.00pm. A man led the worship from a grand piano – it was really anointed. Then we had a two-course meal. This was followed by more praise and worship, and then I gave my testimony. Tapio Parviainen interpreted for me again.

3 people responded to the call for salvation- a young man from Iran, his girlfriend, and another lady.

There were Words of Knowledge – people responded to them and received healing.

I had a Word that someone had pressure behind the eyes. Just before I said that, Esko Pusa said to himself, “If Allan says about pressure behind the eye, I will know that it is a sign from the Lord.” Also, the Iranian man told his girlfriend that he had pressure behind his eyes, just before I gave the Word.

I prayed for various needs afterwards. One lady’s ankle was healed.

One lady told me that as she was driving home from the meeting on Wednesday evening, she realized that she had been healed of several things, and when she got home, and looked in the mirror, she realized that her nose had been healed – she’d had an accident when she was a child, which had caused her nose to be crooked. I also prayed for her cat, which was blind. She said that when she got home, the cat was looking around everywhere, and that there was a wonderful sense of the presence of God in her home.

A number of people made a re-commitment of their lives to the Lord.

We left the meeting at 10.50pm, and Kari took us back, a short distance, to the hotel.

Saturday, 21st Aug. I had breakfast on my own at the hotel, and then Kari came for me at 8.25am, and took me a short distance to an office in an old factory, to meet with men from the FGBMFI Tampere Chapter.

There were 10 men there, including Kari and myself.

We discussed various things, and then I shared a word with them, and prayed for them.

We left there at 10.55am, and Kari took me to the hotel. Norma had been shopping.

We had a short walk, and did some more shopping.

Kari and Pirrko picked us up outside the Pentecostal Church just after 12.30pm, and took us to another old factory, where there is an exhibition centre, called Vapriiki.

We had lunch there – it was included in the entrance fee.

There was a special exhibition called “The Year of the Bear” – there was a lot of paganism associated with it!

There was also an exhibition of Old Tampere, an exhibition of Ice Hockey, an exhibition of Children’s Toys, an exhibition of Shoe Making, and an exhibition of some inventions.

We left there just after 4.00pm, and we went with Kari and Pirrko to their home at Lempāālā.

An old school friend of Kari, called Ristos, came to visit them.

We had a snack and coffee, and I attempted to share the Gospel with Ristos, but he did not respond.

Kari took us back to the hotel just after 7.00pm, so that I could prepare for the Sunday morning meeting.

Sunday, 22nd Aug. We had breakfast at the hotel. At 10.35am we walked across the road to the Tampere Pentecostal Church, where I spoke at the Morning Service, which started at 11.00am.

After a good time of praise and worship, Kari introduced me, and I shared a word, and some of my testimony.

At least 12 people responded to the call for salvation.

I prayed a general prayer for healing – many people acknowledged that the Lord had touched them.

The service ended at 12.35pm, and then I prayed for quite a number of people for various needs.

One young woman received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Afterwards, we walked to the Manhatten Restaurant with the Pastor, Usko Katto, his wife, Tina, and their eleven year-old son, and Kari and Pirrko. After lunch, we called at a coffee bar for coffee and a cake, and then we walked back to the hotel, arriving there at 3.00pm.

We had a very short rest, and then Kari and Pirrko came for us at 3.45pm, and took us to the Katukappeli Church in Hervanta, where Timo Penttilā is the Pastor.

The church is in a new shopping centre.

The service started at 4.00pm – we arrived at 4.10pm.

There was a long session of praise and worship, and then Kari introduced me.

I gave a word, and shared some testimonies.

4 people were healed whilst I was speaking.

3 people responded to the salvation appeal – 2 women, 1 man.

Quite a number of people made a re-commitment of their lives to the Lord.

I prayed a general prayer for healing – a number of people indicated that the Lord had touched them.

I also prayed for many people at the end of the meeting for various needs.

We left there at 6.45pm, and went with Kari and Pirrko to their home, arriving there at 7.00pm.

A lady called Ulla, from the Tampere Pentecostal Church, joined us for a cup of tea and a snack. She used to be a teacher in Kenya and Tanzania.

After supper we had a prayer time together, and just after 9.40pm, Kari and Pirrko took us back to the hotel in Tampere, arriving there at 10.00pm. I felt very tired!

Monday, 23rd Aug.  We had breakfast at the hotel, and then Kari and Pirrko came for us at 11.00am. We checked-out of the hotel, called at the Pentecostal Church, and then left Tampere at 11.30am. We dove to Outti, to the home of Jukka Koski, the Chairman of the FGBMFI Chapter in Lahti.

We arrived there at 12.45p.m. Kari and Pirrko left us there, and took our luggage to Lahti.

Norma and I had lunch with Jukka and his wife, Helena.

We left there just before 3.00pm, with Jukka and Helens, to drive to Lahti, and checked-in at the Cumulus Hotel at 3.45pm.

As we were checking-in, Kari and Pirrko arrived with our luggage. They also checked-in to the hotel.

We had a short rest, and the prepared for the evening meeting.

At 6.10pm, we left with Kari and Pirrko, to go a short distance to a restaurant inside an old factory, for the FGBMFI Lahti Chapter Meeting - the factory is owned by the Pentecostal Church.

There were 35 people there, including 2 young children.

It was almost a “one-man show” by Jukka. He opened the meeting in prayer at 7.00pm, and then there was one open sandwich and a cup of coffee. Then Jukka shared the Vision of FGBMFI, spoke about the things that were happening with FGBMFI, especially in Nigeria, he announced the offering, and then he gave a testimony.

Afterwards, Kari gave a short testimony, and I gave my testimony.

No one responded for salvation.

There were Words of Knowledge – people responded to them and received healing.

One young woman, who had tension in her neck and shoulder, said that she wouldn’t have come forward for prayer if a Word had not been given about that. God healed her, and she thanked me for being obedient to the Lord.

I prayed for a number of people for various needs – there was a lovely sense of the Lord’s presence, and people were healed of different things.

One young woman’s leg grew – she knew that it had changed!

A man with problems in his abdomen and back said that something had happened to him – all the pain had disappeared!

We left the meeting at 9.55pm and walked back to the hotel.

We didn’t have any supper, and I was feeling hungry, so I got a Snickers bar from a machine in the hotel.

Tuesday, 24th August  We had breakfast at the hotel, and then finished packing, before spending time in Bible reading and prayer.

We checked-out of the hotel at 12.15pm, and Kari and Pirrko took us to the Helsinki Airport. We arrived there just before 1.30pm.

After checking-in, we had lunch with Kari and Pirrko at the airport, and then at 2.15pm, we went through Customs.

The flight time to Manchester was 2hr 35min.

Our daughter, Andrea, and her husband, Phil, met us at Manchester.

 

At least 25 people made a commitment of their life to Christ, and many were healed and set free.

To God be all the glory!

 

Dear Mr. Jones

I want to thank you for praying for my husband in May 2009 after he was diagnosed with lung cancer.  I asked for prayer after your message last year at the Pleasanton, California--Marriott Hotel- meeting. I believe it was May 2, 2009.  He was not present, but on May 12 he stopped smoking at 6pm with no withdrawal symptoms.  This was truly a miracle-an answer to your prayer!  He had smoked for 50 years and at one time was up to 60 cigarettes a day and was still smoking even after he was diagnosed with lung cancer and in aggressive cancer treatment.

Thank you again for your dedication to God and your wonderful ministry.  He is 70 years old and in remission and there is no sign of cancer. Would you also pray that God will heal the neuropathy in his hands and feet?  He has no pain, but the neuropathy is limiting. 

Thank you once again for your prayers!

 

Elizabeth had been bed-ridden for 3 months, unable to walk or do anything for herself.  The Doctors did not know what was wrong with her. Others had to dress, bathe and cook for her, including Deborah Odong. She was in constant great pain in her legs and it seemed as if there was nothing the Doctors could do.  But when she heard there was a Healing Service last Sunday Evening, she decided to come, although she was not sure she could even make the walk from the car-park to the Hall.  When she came forward for prayer, the Power of God completely healed her legs and she walked and danced and with great excitement, she told us all what God had done for her.