A Finnish free church women's mission association has taken on a new missionary after a pause of several years, and introduced her to the wider movement at its national Women's Days gathering. Tienaukaisijat, the women's mission association within the Finnish Free Church, had gone several years without a worker of its own; its members decided to support one again. The new missionary will serve in Israel. She spent time during the conference getting to know the group, and those present joined in blessing her for the work ahead.
The commissioning came during Naistenpäivät, the annual women's days of the Finnish Free Church, which draws women from congregations across the country for teaching, worship and fellowship. The gathering's main speaker was Maarit Eronen, an author, former missionary and journalist, whose sessions took the theme "I lift my eyes to Jesus" and addressed carrying burdens, suffering, relationships and fear. Organisers said her direct, hope-directed teaching, and her readiness to draw on lived experience, left a strong impression on those attending.
The programme also looked back over the movement's own history: Salme Annala, the association's chair, gave an overview of the pioneering women of the Finnish free church revival — material that organisers said was entirely new to many present and offered a sense of where the movement's roots lie. A Saturday evening of testimonies, in which women spoke openly about what they had come through, was described as a particularly significant moment, and the weekend closed with a communion address by Helena Penttilä. The conference report was published by Suomen Viikkolehti, the Finnish Free Church weekly.
(Originally published in Finnish. Summary translated by CC / Connexion.)
Source: Suomen Vapaakirkko / Suomen Viikkolehti — https://svl.fi/nostan-katseeni-jeesukseen-naistenpaivilla-koettiin-rohkaisua-ja-kiitollisuutta/
