The Mega Church Impresses!

Shreveport Louisiana...

I'm sitting the hot sun by the hotel pool in Louisiana...

I preached twice yesterday - many saved! The church (Shreveport Community Church) that I'm visiting has more than 5000 people that call it their home and more than 4000 that supports it financially... It's a mega church that own its own Country Club, golf course (18 holes), pool and restaurant... They have their own Starbucks café in the church's concourse and have a school with more than 700 students, their own gym, youth church and a fabulous kids ministry etc... The mission work is gigantic! I am enjoying their hospitality, excellens, learning a lot and taking many impressions with me home to Stockholm...

The American south is sooo wonderful! I ate alligator on Saturday :). They have a strong accent and a great way of dressing... They have class, are value conservative and polite... A wonderful place on earth! I'm gonna read "Seven Years in Tibet" now, a story about the Austrian adventurer and discoverer Heinrich Harrer... He's from the same town as my dad; Knappenberg in southern Austria...

Today I fly to Stockholm!

See ya!

On Our Way to Louisiana!

We have celebrated midsummer with pickled herring bought at IKEA here in the US... I have gotten a lot of paper work done this week here at the Pittsburgh US office together with my great Administrative Assistant Martina Almqvist!

Midsummer dinner in the Almqvist's yard...

Peter and I are now on our way to the American south and Pastor Denny Duron's church in Shreveport, Louisiana... I have a great expectancy of what the Holy Spirit will do! How will heaven surprise us?

We have prayed with about 300 to salvation during the three week long US-tour and about 130 have been baptized in fire and started to speak in tongues! Healing miracles, tears of deliverance and fun exciting meetings with new aquaintances - thank You God for the USA!

Great Grand Canyon...

I genuinly love this nation, with all my heart! Freedom in mind and thoughts, nothing is impossible, generous, hospitable, loving-life people and warm true friends! Thank You God for the sanctuary and oasis that you have given the Amritzer family in the US!

See ya!

One Year Anniversary with SOS Church at CCC!

Yes... it is soon time! Imagine that on August 29th we will already be celebrating one year as a down town church! In just under two months we will invade the streets of Stockholm, August 27-29! Can barely wait... We are noticing an interest from so many sides. An entire youth group from Norway will come and help us evangelize the streets and Americans are booking tickets in order to get good seats at the celebration. Relatives of our members in Stockholm are planning a weekend in the capital at the end of August – and then not to enjoy the late summer weather but instead to help evangelize the streets!

We will be at CCC in Stockholm...

We have booked schools to use as dorms We are applying for the necessary permits to evangelize strategic places in down town. We have just secured CCC (City Conference Center in Stockholm) on Barnhusgatan down town Stockholm, seating 1,400 people for our one year anniversary with Reinhard Bonnke on Sunday August 29th at 4 pm!

On Friday night (8/27) my good friend and the soo loving and radical evangelist Christian Hedegaard from Denmark will be preaching! He has an enormous heart for the broken and homeless and runs rehab centers for addicts as well as homes for mentally ill people. I am believing for both deliverances from demonic oppression and that God's love for people with broken souls is communicated that night. Later in the night we will head out on the streets as a church to fish and love people to heaven!

På fredagkväll (den 27/8) predikar min gode vän och den såå kärleksfulle och radikale evangelisten Christian Hedegaard från Danmark! Han har ett enormt hjärta för utslagna och hemlösa och driver rehab för missbrukare och hem för psykiskt sjuka människor i sitt hemland. Jag tror på både befrielser från demoniskt betryck och Guds hjärta kommunicerat för trasiga själar den kvällen. På natten ger vi oss ut på stan tillsammans som församling och fiskar och bara älskar människor in i himlen!

Christian Hedegaard and his wife Karen...

Jean-Luc and his wife Josiane...

On Saturday we will again be out on the streets both at lunch time and later at night. We will meet the people of Stockholm and their needs and respond to their desperate SOS signals for help! At 3pm we will prayer together for two hours for our capital Stockholm. Then in the evening we will listen to the Swiss healing evangelist Jean-Luc Trachsel – expect direct and instantaneous physical miracles!

Oh how I long for this weekend!Evangelists from all over Europe will come to Stockholm – Danes, Swiss and Germans! It will be the sharpest European evangelist that our continent have seen that will come to out SOS Homecoming and our small jubilee – great fun!

I want to mention to you that many are applying to attend SOS Mission Bible College and SOS School of Leadership at the moment. You can apply here!

A European miracle bomb is set to detonate towards the end of August in central Stockholm and we feel like we are loaded with the Holy Spirit like Talibans with dynamite and C4 explosives :). Do not miss this! Former students at our schools and missionaries – welcome to Stockholm! Help us to fish men! All our friends, partners and curios onlookers are so welcome to celebrate Jesus, the Great Commission and the church of the Living God, with us!

See ya!

The Kids...

I've had a couple of days off between the different tasks... My kids, Alicia (11 years) and Adam (9 years) came this weekend... They woke me up early Monday morning and wanted me to be their personal trainer at the hotel gym :)... We snuck out without bothering Maria too much... Had breakfast outside in the grass in the morning sun - sooo good! Then at the gym I took the role as the kids personal trainer ;). Wow how we laughed, worked out and screamed as we played "body builders" - haven't had so much fun in a long time :)! Then we went in the pool and played more games like "throw with little Adam" and "stand on daddy's shoulders" and "wrestling with the water boa" etc... :) We were in play mode! We were all alone in both the gym and the pool and could be really "loose"...

Alicia on Mike Corcoran's HD...

After that Alicia and I found a little café out in the country, had ice cream and some exclusive daddy-daughter time in the shadow of a large maple tree... Then we had lunch with three families at Burger King and off to Pittsburgh again. Ended the day in the Almqvist's sofa watching a movie. Thank You God for the kids! Alicia already thinks like a teenager and Adam has such a great sense of humor and answers fast and fun - wonder where he got these talents - must come from his great mom!

See ya!

Strong Anointing!

Second evening at Harvest Cry in Gettysburg...

I am sooo thankful for the Holy Spirit and the power of the Gospel! Having Bible studies for leaders in the morning and preaching simple festival messages in the evening at Freedom Valley in Gettysburg PA, USA...

I am enjoying being used by God among such hungry and wonderful people - almost 90% of the 1800 members in Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos' church are first generation Christians...

So far about 85 people have given their lives to Jesus...

The church I'm visiting is extremly focused on the lost, evangelism, missions and is driven by a clear vision... Easy for SOS to connect to... It's more a partner church in heart than on paper really :). True and genuine unity, born of the Holy Spirit! We have already prayed with about 85 hungry Americans to salvation and about 40 have been baptized in the Holy Spirit! And sooo many healings! We still have six services to go this weekend! We will probably baptize more than 100 on Sunday night! Energy! Joy! Lots of passion!

See ya!

Harvest Cry in Gettysburg, PA

On Wednesday night 40-50 precious Americans responded to the altar call for salvation and between 25 and 30 were baptized in the Holy Spirit with the sign of speaking in tongues! Yes, Harvest Cry has started in Gettysburg :)!

In SOS we are raising up spiritual warriors and not pacifists! When I was in prayer at my hotel on Wednesday I meditated over Judges chapter 4 and 5. When the tribes of Israel were to go to battle against the armies of the Canaanite king Jabin, the tribes responded in very different ways to the calling-up orders... In the camps of Reuben there was much searching of heart and listening to the whistling for the flocks. One could say panel debates and concerts ;). The tribes of Dan and Asher stayed with their ships and on the beaches. Sailboats, surfing, water skiing, and sun beaches are more modern words. They were preoccupied with the wrong things in times of war. But;

The People of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the heights of the field.

Judg 5:18

SOS is sort of like the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. We do not like long board meetings, panel debates, conferences and concerts. We prefer pioneer unreached peoples festivals and church plants ahead of sailboats, surfing, water skiing and sun bathing... We are warriors! Thank you Jesus for another summer of salvations and miracles!

See ya!

SOS Homecoming and 1 Year Anniversary!

The last weekend of August, the 27th-29th will be so great! Awesome! We are charging like we've never done in the 14 year old history of SOS :). We have invited Evangelist Christian Hedegaard from Denmark to speak at a miracle service on Friday night. Evangelist Jean-Luc Trachsel from Switzerland is preaching in another miracle service on Saturday night! At the same time we will have outreaches day and night and are aiming to have several hundred street evangelists reaching the city! All former Bible School students, our friends and partners are so welcome to Stockholm - come with us out into the streets!

SOS Church Stockholm is celebrating its 1 year anniversary Sunday August 29th and dad Reinhard Bonnke will be preaching, harvesting and celebrating with us! We have booked the Globen Annex and are preparing for a grand feast at 4 pm!

If you want to be a part of blessing Reinhard Bonnke's missin work in Africa through SOS you can make your contribution here, make sure to mark your donation; Reinhard Bonnke. We are hoping to be able to bless his mission agency Christ for all Nations greatly!

See ya!

Feeling of well-being from Heaven!

About 90 precious people responded to my four salvation invitations this weekend! Further more about 50 happy people received a longed for baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues as sign!

Morningstar Fellowship Church are partners to SOS and Peter Almqvist and I have been spoiled and very appreciated! I feel the favor and feeling of well-being from heaven today after a good Holy Spirit weekend! :)

Dale Gaugler - disciple to Jesus and passionate hunter was a fun new aquaintance as well! We had lunch at his place yesterday and listened to wild hunter stories...

Dale Gaugler at his house that is filled with hunter trophies...

My books are selling well and I hope you have bought SOS festival CD God of Miracles?! Order here! It is sooo appriciated and popular!

See ya!

Church Growth and Festivals!

I'm praying with Americans to salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit in the outskirts of Philadelphia - awesome to do the ABC's of the gospel! I never grow tired of "salvation tears" and new tongues! :) Jesus-power!

I'm praying for SOS Church Stockholm a lot right now - i believe in and am looking forward to an aggressive church growth this fall after SOS Homecoming and our 1 Year Anniversary with dad Reinhard Bonnke in August 27-29.

Festival in October again! Port au Prince in Haiti October 6-10. We will leave around October 1st and arrive home again around the 14th. Sign up to go at usoffice@missionsos.org before July 15th!

After an earthquake that cannot compare to anything SOS will challenge both poverty and voodo from our now completed Portable Festival Equipment!!!

Yes! SOS is storming forward! Apply to our Bible School here! This fall will be great, wonderful and full of Holy Spirit!

See ya!

Reflections in the US

Last night we rode motor cycles all night, a whole gang crazy pastors, and ended the evening with hot wings at a biker night; a place where about 2500 bikers hang out outside of Pittsburgh, northern PA... I borrowed a great Harley Davidson :). Everything was perfect, the landscape, evening sun, wind in my face, the freedom and the guys - couldn't had been better!

Ignite Young Pastors Roundtable at Allison Park Church and Pastor Jeff Leake was amazing... About 150 pastors and leaders from all over the US gathered one day to do two things; get to know new people and talk and cast vision on church planting. The heroes gather. Pioneers of the best kind. Missionaries, church planters and people that make way for others that pray together and serve one another is a powerful thing and a very healthy invironment... Thank you Jeff and Melodie for the example you are, but also for being so excellent and great hosts for all of us!

Today I'm on my way to the Philadelphia area... Preaching at Morningstar Fellowship, Pastor Steve DeFrain's church four services this weekend... Fun! Wonderful church that also is planting many daughter churches...

Philadelphia- in my world it means the Rocky Balboa movies, cheese steak and the American Constitution...

I am right now reflecting on the word simpilicity... John the Baptist was a simple man that went before and made way, Jesus was a travelling teacher and miracle man, sometimes without a home, the Apostles and the first Christians had a simple lifestyle and shared everything...

Read: Mark 1:6, Luke 7:25, 9:57-62, Mark 8:34-37, 10:45...

Simplicity represents so much; freedom, for some finacial independence, flexibility, loss of prestige, happiness - everything at the same time... Simplicity is not to flee responsibility and become a vagrant or wanderer or a parasite that uses others, but instead live in contentedness and be a disciple of Jesus. Not poverty, but not luxury or a jetset lifestyle either... Disciplned, devoted, out giving and serving...

Simplicity.Simplicity.Simplicity.

See ya!

SOS Church Camp 2010

When you think about this summer, forget all about barbeques, soccer in the afternoon, swimming in too cold lakes, lazy mornings in the sun, the scent of grass and the sound of birds, long breakfasts with too much to choose from, frisbees, laughter, grass stains, the spontaneous climbing in trees, a good book above your face when you've fallen asleep in the heat… No, don't even think about doing any of that - alone!

Let us do it all together!

On July 23-25, which is the last weekend of the July, SOS Church Camp will take place! The entire church will get together to enjoy each other's company, enjoy the summer, enjoy listening to teaching from our pastors - and enjoy the wonderful presence of God!

Here is some information about the weekend. Read it, decide to come along, and buy a ticket!

SCHEDULE

Friday

14:00-16:00 - Check in

17:30 - Barbeque

19:00 - Meeting with Walter Zuniga

22:00 - SOS Youth

Saturday

08:00 - Workout with Walter Zuniga

09:00-10:00 - Breakfast

10:00-11:00 - Meeting

11:00 - Activities/Leisure

17:30 - Barbeque

19:00 - Meeting with Walter Zuniga

22:00 - SOS Youth

Sunday

08:00 - Workout with Walter Zuniga

09:00-10:00 - Breakfast

10:00-11:00 - Meeting

11:00 - Activities/Leisure/Cleaning

16:00 - Outdoor Sunday service with Johannes Amritzer

18:00 - Departure

Location: "Baset" in Järfälla, Stockholm.

Road Description: Mälarvägen towards Görvälnsbadet. After the slip road for "Brukets Skidbacke" and "Görvälns slott" on your right, keep your eyes open for a sign on your left that says "BASET". Follow the small road for some hundred meters, and you're there.

Here you'll find a map from Eniro.

Price: 250 SEK for breakfast, dinner and a place for your tent. There is a café where you will be able to buy lunch and coffee during the days if you wish.

Tickets for the weekend will be sold at SOS Church after every Sunday service, starting at 4 PM at Warfvinges väg 26, Stockholm.

Welcome!

Victory!

As a new believer I used to sing along to the Swedish worship song “We are Born for Victory!” When we launched Mission SOS we choose to call our newsletter Victory Report not because we never have any failures but because we have chosen to always report victories, just as we prefer to speak about these victories as well... We have been accused of being to positive through the years – I take it as a compliment :).
Yesterday I had a day off here in Pittsburgh and I managed to go to the gym and the dentist, had time for a motorcycle ride and a movie night – so nice... I work out and prepare for new victories when I am not working...

This weekend about 30 people were saved and about 30 were baptized in the Holy Spirit! We graduated 17 students from the MCM Ministry School in Pittsburgh! Victory!

This week I will teach pastors here in Pittsburgh together with my mentor since many years, Ron Johnson and one of my best friends, Jeff Leake! This weekend I will be preaching outside of Philadelphia at Morning Star Fellowship – yes!

Just received victory reports from Stockholm – they baptized two more yesterday and two more on Sunday! 48 baptized down town since we started up!... A soft start... But we will soon pick up speed and have some momentum in SOS Church ;).

Victory! Always victory!

See ya!

Desire for Freedom!

Sunday morning I woke up at 4:45... I am staying alone at the Allison Park Church guest house in Pittsburgh, PA. (I preached and ministered to people for a long time Saturday night and Sunday I was scheduled for another two services...) After making coffee I spent 50 minutes Bible meditating on Isaiah 60 before bursting into prayer...

There is a great desire for freedom in my chest.When I was 18 I rid myself of everything, that is all the unnecessary things, not sound loyalty bonds and bonds in general to people... I was bird free, newly saved and full with a desire for adventure... 19 years later (at 37) I am still free... I do however own a house, a car, a motorcycle, and a couple of hunting rifles but I can rid myself of it all any day and would love to share.

Freedom is defined: free to follow Jesus, or free to obey the Holy Spirit or why not simply to know your calling...

To cruise along in the sunset on a Harley is freedom that costs tax, insurance, gas, inspection, service, etc... To get a tattoo of an eagle on your arm is freedom that bleeds and fades in the sun... The hunting and fishing trips are over so fast...

To be called by Jesus and to obey the Holy Spirit is freedom for real – the Great Commission, unreached peoples and signs and wonders!

Mission SOS represents our desire for freedom – faith, people and adventure until all have heard the message about the forgiveness, the power, and the resurrection of Jesus!

Thank You Jesus for our freedom! Thank You Jesus for the call to down town, the people and the nations!

See ya!

The Good Shepherd

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve...

1 Peter 5:2

In the leadership team at SOS Church Stockholm we studied the ministry of the shepherd Tuesday night. Being a pastor/shepherd is wonderful and Jesus is our greatest role model. In the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John Jesus teaches us how the good shepherd acts...

1) The shepherd always enters through the gate. He brings security and is direct as well as a given.

2) The shepherd has a personal relationship with the sheep and knows their names and they recognize his voice.

3) The shepherd walks in front of the sheep and shows the way through his own life, which also is his leadership.

4) The shepherd leads the sheep to rich pastures and makes sure that they receive the food needed at every occasion.

5) The shepherd gives his life for the sheep and does not flee or abandon the flock when wolves attack.

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;

Prov 27:23

Thank you Jesus for SOS Church Stockholm! Thank you Jesus for the flock that you have entrusted us with down town Stockholm!

See ya!

Full Speed!

This time I was home in Sweden for six whole days... Preached at SOS Church once, had a leadership gathering, two Bible School graduations, had my car inspected, mowed the lawn, bought a Harley Davidson, counseled church members, been to an Arabic party, payed my bills, had my Iphone fixed, shopped, had Norwegian guests and worked out twice... Now I'm on my way to the US for a little preaching tour... :) My family will follow as soon as school's out for the summer.

My new HD...

Full speed! Happy, alive and in love with my wife, kids and coworkers! Summer! What will the Holy Spirit do?! Exciting!

See ya!

Just-from-the-oven Students and Dreams for the Future!

I just came home from an Arabic party in Södertälje, south of Stockholm - alot of good food but also so many heartbreaking refugee stories... I am so thankful that we can be here in Stockholm and build a spiritual home for all these rootless and humble cultures and people that have saught refuge in Sweden... The immigrants, many involuntary refugees, are treasures and gifts from God to our capital city and the doors of SOS Church Stockholm are wide open for all of them! Welcome! We have heard your SOS signals for help! We are here for you!

Tomorrow it's graduation-feast for both SOS Mission Bible College and the Leadership School. It will we awesome to hand out diplomas and lay hands on them all in wild prayer! Our students are right out-of-the-oven and full of conquering dreams for the future!

Alot of people are applying for SOS schools that will start at the end of August... Apply here!

I usually feel very tired and worn out at this time of year... But this summer is different... I feel very well-rested and charged to go... What will the Holy Spirit do this summer?! I am open for surprises and adventures!

See ya!

Arabic Party and Graduation

I just came home from a gathering with my Pastoral team and leaders at SOS Church - wow what great people! Earlier today I had lunch with some Norwegian friends at the restaurant at the Kaknäs Tower - nice!

Tomorrow morning I'm bringing my newly bought Harley Davidson home and then heading off to an Arabic party in Södertälje in the afternoon! Then we're getting ready for graduation for SOS Mission Bible College and The Leadership School on Thursday morning... Life is fabulous! We are baptisning again on Sunday! :) I'm flying to the US though...

See ya!