Sweden December 2005

This trip to Sweden was undramatic yet worthwhile. Great to meet up with so many good friends. I hope that I encouraged!

Disappointing to sense that Boiler Rooms in both Orebro and Stockholm feel as far away as ever and perhaps suffering team fatigue. However there is no sense of disappointment in God. Maybe it is simply wrong to assume that God wants to replicate all over the world.

However I was hugely encouraged by Christer & Kattis Aadland. Some 3 or 4 years ago when I first met Christer he was involved in 24-7 in Stockholm and became part of the Re:Aktor team. But he and his wife also had a vision to move to and take responsibility for a Salvation Army (Fralsingsarmen) centre 45 mins outside the city centre. It is right out in the sticks on a small peninsula called Dragudden. There is accommodation for 70, dining space for even more. So as a retreat or activity centre it is ideal. They need a major input of finance to repair.and develop, but I was impressed by a number of things. 1) They are now living there! 2) They have persisted and gone from vision to potential reality. 3) They are firmly rooted in Jesus, Spirit-filled and seeking direction, open to God speaking in prophetic ways.

Saw Patrik. He gave me a big long hug. He told Kattis that I was 'modelling something in travelling for the sake of relationships'. I was quite touched. He says that the English are ten years ahead in their attitude to ministry. He had met Roger Mitchell in Gothenburg and was impressed that a man of such authority should introduce himself with "Hi, I'm Roger and these are my friends".