Timo and Laura

Having previously worked for Mission Aviation Fellowship in Bunia and Nyankunde, DR Congo, Timo (from Finland) and Laura (from the USA) are now serving in Finland among the Congolese refugee population, sharing Jesus with them, and equipping Christian refugees to reach out to the Finns they live among.

In DR Congo God showed Timo the enormous need for solid, thorough, biblical teaching. Timo enjoyed teaching in a rural Bible school, and by the time God moved Timo and Laura out from northeastern DR Congo, a learning centre was being constructed where pastors could be given additional training.

As often with God’s timing, it was a surprise when God brought them back to the USA to work at MAF headquarters. Then, when Laura left full time ministry to raise their family, a switch to AIM whose ministry in DR Congo matched Timo’s interests was natural.

Planning to return to Africa, it was yet another surprise when in 2020 God suddenly routed them back to Timo’s home country, Finland. Thinking it would be temporary, Timo and Laura were again surprised when God showed an enormous need in Finland, for which they were uniquely suited.

One of the main refugee populations in Finland is Congolese, and they were desperately in need of help in many ways. Because of their time in Congo, and Timo being Finnish, they can come alongside the Congolese and bridge the two cultures. Finland is only about 2% Christian. The other refugees are largely of Muslim background. This makes the Congolese one of the main Christian people groups in Finland. However, they bring with them many of the same needs there are in Congo – for discipleship and solid Bible training.

With this in mind, Timo and Laura are seeking to equip the Congolese (and others) to reach Finns and Muslims with the gospels. The language and cultural barriers are immense. The Congolese and Finns couldn’t be more different! Timo can help the two groups start to work together. When serving in DR Congo, Timo loved to come alongside the Congolese pastors, seeing where they felt their needs were, offering them a listening ear and support, and teaching. In Finland, Timo plans to teach, encourage, and equip future pastors, missionaries, and church leaders primarily among African people. Timo desires to equip, encourage and disciple African Christian churches and groups to reach out to their unreached diaspora neighbours.

Laura is able to connect with the Congolese and other diaspora as she too is a foreigner, seeking to learn Finnish. As well as focussing on their family, Laura plans to focus on relationship building with African women and other women’s groups.

Could you partner with them in this work?

Latest Prayer News

13 november 2020

In October Annemarie returned to DR Congo after several months in the Netherlands: “I stayed in Bunia for a bit more than a week and talked with several people, including the current church president of CECA and his predecessor… In Bunia I stayed with Tom and Abbie… They are now the Unit Leaders for DR Congo, and I talked with Abbie about my next term. At the end of October rebels entered Nyankunde and Bunia and fighting took place. Please pray for security to be established and for the protection of God’s people in both places. And for wisdom whether to stay, or leave temporarily and find a place of rest elsewhere… Please pray for protection for Bunia and Nyankunde, and for wisdom for the missionaries.”

9 oktober 2020

Annemarie has just returned to DR Congo, after having been in the Netherlands for several months. “The hospital in Adi has received a financial gift twice through the aid program of the Evangelical Broadcasting company in the Netherlands for prevention against Coronavirus in Adi Health Zone. The gifts have been used in teaching through radio, on the markets, in the churches and through leaflets and have also bought disinfection materials, masks and aprons for the health centers… Pray for God’s protection against Covid-19 in Adi, for preparations to be ready for it at Adi Hospital and all the prevention activities against the Coronavirus.”

24 april 2020

Annemarie is currently in the Netherlands because of the Covid-19 pandemic and will return to DR Congo when possible. “I received a voicemail from Ayila, one of my colleagues in Adi. Ayila is a nurse working in Adi Hospital in the treatment program for people living with HIV. Furthermore, he is helping me as a facilitator in the workshops of ‘Channels of Hope’. In this mail he expressed his concerns about the people living with HIV who have to go to Uganda for their Antiretroviral drugs (ARV). Now with the Coronavirus the borders have been closed, and both Uganda and Congo are pretty much in a lockdown. Many cannot cross the border and without ARV their health will deteriorate. Also food is becoming a problem, people living with HIV who are taking ARV have to eat well. Ayila is asking for prayer and practical help… Please pray that God will enable people living with HIV to get their ARVs, and that others can be assisted at Adi hospital, and that the supply of ARVs will not dry up. Pray also for good collaboration with the medical authorities in DR Congo.”

14 februari 2020

“On 7th May we will organise another ‘Channels of Hope’ workshop for the women’s section of the Adi Bible School. When they saw that we were teaching their husbands they asked or their own workshop, so we have planned one. We need to adapt the lessons for them and Ayila and Margaret will work on that. On 19th May we will have our second workshop, in Aru for the students of the French bible school. I’m looking forward to that, too.” Please pray for Ayila, Margaret and Annemarie as they plan and run these workshops, and pray that they will effectively equip those who come to minister to those with HIV/Aids.

20 december 2019

“In the last three months we have been busy with workshops. In October we held one for school chaplains and their directors in Adi, and in November we held two. The first was for the church district of Aru and the second for the Bible School students in Adi. And this one was straight away been followed by one for the pastors in the church section of Adi… For 2020 we already have planned several workshops, only the dates are not yet known. And between Christmas and the New Year a youth conference is organized, where we have been invited to speak and show films. Work continues.” Please pray that these workshops will equip more pastors to serve those living with HIV and AIDS; and please pray for Annemarie and others who are running them.

United Kingdom & Europe

Ministry in the United Kingdom & Europe ranges from being a part of mobilising offices, to teaching in Bible colleges to being involved in work among the African Diaspora across the continent. LEARN MORE

Diaspora

Taking the good news of Jesus to Africa’s hardest to reach people does not always mean a move to Africa. Today, millions of Africans live outside of Africa: in North America, Europe, and around the globe – the African diaspora. LEARN MORE

Please spread the word...

The deepest needs

“My heart hurts to see how people are suffering without Jesus.” Tom Desloges, AIM’s Unit Leader in DR Congo shares his conversation with Congolese missionaries Justin and Clement, who had just returned from a stint in one of Congo’s poorest and least developed regions.

> LEARN MORE