British evangelical leader and author Krish Kandiah brought a challenging message to the Evangelical Free Church of Finland's (SVK) summer festival, urging believers to take radical action on behalf of vulnerable children. Speaking as the international guest at the annual Kesäjuhlat gathering, Kandiah drew from his own family's experience of more than twenty years in foster care to ground his appeal in lived practice rather than abstract concern.
Kandiah, founder of the Sanctuary Foundation and a prominent voice on refugee resettlement and child welfare in the United Kingdom, called the Finnish free church community to see care for the disadvantaged not as an optional ministry activity but as central to authentic Christian witness. His message resonated with the summer festival's long-standing emphasis on both spiritual renewal and practical discipleship, a hallmark of SVK's largest annual gathering.
The summer festival (Kesäjuhlat) is the premier event in the Finnish free church calendar, drawing participants from across SVK's congregations for worship, teaching, and fellowship. International guest speakers have been a regular feature over the years, reflecting the movement's ties to the broader global free evangelical family. SVK, with approximately 15,000 members in around 100 congregations across Finland, maintains partnerships with theological education institutions including Teopolis Seminary in Keuruu and mission relationships spanning several continents.
(Originally published in Finnish. Summary translated by CC / Connexion.)
Source: Suomen Vapaakirkko / Suomen Viikkolehti — svl.fi
