How did it all begin?

Our family returned to Finland, confirmed by many prophecies. God spoke to us in various ways, indicating that He might give us a center in Finland. After traveling through Finland, searching for a location to establish the Mission Youth Center, it became clear that the Lord had chosen the Kuopio area.

It was in 2004 when we arrived in Kuopio for two days to find a rental apartment for our family. However, we didn’t find anything suitable. There were many apartments available, but they were all for sale. Our son found an old school building in Koivumäki listed for sale online. We didn’t have any money, but we felt that we needed to go see it. As soon as we arrived, I knew it was meant for Mission Youth. Later, we learned that God had spoken to a businessman from Kuopio, asking him to support us financially in purchasing the school. He came and paid the down payment, and so the center became ours. It is truly miraculous how God arranged everything, because the school was the very first place we visited, and GOD gave it to us.

We later learned that many of the school’s teachers were people of prayer, and we also heard about a great revival that had impacted the area years earlier. God hears the prayers of His people. They had been praying for this school, that it would be used for God’s purposes. They also told us that they had received a prophecy stating that there would be a church in Koivumäki. At the first Christmas celebration organized for the center’s neighbors, a guest stood up and said, “Now this prophecy has been fulfilled! His church is His, and it is for those who work and live in this old school.”

Mark Erickson

In 2024, the leadership of the center was transferred in agreement from Mark Erickson to the leadership team, which includes the Kotinurmi and Korhonen families. God spoke to these families in many ways, confirming that now is the time for us to move to Koivumäki and restart the work that had nearly ceased. Our vision is to continue the work under God’s guidance!