Pentecostal World Conference in Helsinki stirred the Church awake

Pentecost Week brought together Christians from nearly 100 nationalities in Helsinki. The message of the Go&Make -conference was a strong call to return to the early roots and mission of the global Church.

The 27th Pentecostal World Conference gathered hundreds of leaders and influencers from churches around the world. The event had around 6,000 registered participants. The final evening session was open to the public, and the week culminated in The Send Finland youth event. Altogether, the events brought together more than 9,000 people.

Conference coordinator Merja Hakala shared in a press briefing that the event had been in preparation for four years.

– This week is a path to deeper connection among Pentecostal and charismatic communities. It is also a journey back to the movement’s early roots, she stated.

A Generational Shift

The Pentecostal World Conference is held every three years in different countries. The last time it was hosted in Finland was in 1964. One defining feature of this year’s conference was the active participation of young people.

– A new generation is stepping into its place, both globally and here in Finland. It is, in many ways, a time to pass the baton, Hakala summarised.

Dr. Billy Wilson, leader of the Pentecostal World Fellowship (PWF), shared in his opening message that Pentecostalism is currently the fastest growing spiritual movement in the world. Many churches have committed to fulfilling the Great Commission by 2033.

– Pentecostalism is a vibrant, diverse, and deeply connected movement. Jesus has called His followers to carry out the Great Commission, and where believers live in unity, there is blessing, Wilson said.

The Church Must Raise Its Voice

One of the most anticipated speakers of the event, Dr Denis Mukwege From Congo DR, stated that the world has not faced such turmoil since World War II.

– The UN is being challenged, respect for human rights is diminishing, and—as is often the case in crises—women and children suffer the most. Democracy is weakening, and over seven million people live in extreme poverty.

– As Christians, we cannot stand idly by while justice collapses before our eyes. Responsibility does not lie with political leaders alone—it belongs to the Church. We must fight inequality, and the Church’s prophetic voice must lead the way, he urged.

Only the Cross Has Power

Christine Caine reminded the audience that the first Pentecost was a profound moment of equality – when the Spirit filled men and women, slaves and free, people of different cultures.

– Our time is full of division and pain. This is the moment for the Church to rise. The message of hope, forgiveness, and peace is what our world needs more than anything.

In her keynote message, Caine challenged the Church to remember the core of the Gospel.

– The message of the cross may not be popular in today’s culture, and it shouldn’t be. Every one of us needs redemption, and only the Gospel carries the power of God.

Hope Amid Gang Violence

Former gang leader Sebastian Stakset from Sweden shared how Jesus freed him from a life of violence and addiction. Today, Stockholm is a city marked by daily explosions and has the highest murder rate in Europe.

Stakset warned that without the Church rising up, this reality will spread to other Nordic countries. At the centre of the crisis is a deep sense of hopelessness among youth.

– How do you tell a 14-year-old girl who cuts herself that she is valuable? Or a 13-year-old boy who just fled a foster home and is about to commit his first paid murder, that he doesn’t need to do it to earn respect?

– Only Jesus can break the power of darkness and bring hope to the hopeless, said Stakset, whose bold proclamation of the Gospel has transformed many gang members’ lives in Sweden.

A Bold Faith Rising Among Youth

Henri Hermunen, leader of the mission movement The Send Finland, shared that a strong spiritual awakening is taking place among Finnish youth.

– According to studies, boys’ faith began to increase in 2021, and last year, girls’ faith also began to rise. Young people believe more than their parents, boys more than girls, and those in cities more than in rural areas.

– Young people no longer believe that removing faith from society leads to a better future. They are tired of a world full of opinions but void of meaning. They are searching for direction, purpose, and hope. They are searching for God.

The Send has travelled across Finland for over a year. The events have reached over 20,000 people, and at least 1,000 youth have made decisions to follow Christ.

During conference week in Helsinki, hundreds of volunteers took to the streets, organising 26 outreach events around the city.

During the last conference day, Saturday, thousands of young people gathered at Helsinki Ice Hall to respond to God’s call.

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The 27th Pentecostal World Conference was held in Helsinki Ice Hall and organized by The Pentecostal World Fellowship (PWF), The Pentecostal Church of Finland, Fida International and the Saalem Church in Helsinki..

The next Pentecostal Work Conference will be held in Manila, Philippines in 2028.

Article: Kirsi Koski-Kujala Photos: PWC communications team