Timo and Laura

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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

7 February 2025

Praise the Lord for the following encouragement for some of our diaspora workers. A lovely letter was received from the Headmistress of the school attended by the children whose mums have come to the ‘Kids Matter’ parenting course. The aim of the course is to help the mums (nearly all of whom come from North Africa) work through the challenges of parenting kids who are being schooled in a completely different cultural setting to that of the family home. The Headmistress said: ‘It means so much to all of us at the school that you have given your time and energy to help make a real difference to these families. We believe that all these initiatives are strengthening the parents and children to live their family life with more love and understanding for one another.’

6 February 2025

Praise the Lord for His continued provision of volunteers and students for the Women’s English and Sewing classes amongst the African Diaspora in Cardiff. Please pray for additional volunteers in order to restart the childcare program for pre-school aged children of ladies who attend the English classes. Last month they started a new coffee/tea time following the English Classes to deepen a sense of community, enabling ladies to meet other teachers and students while using English. Pray for wisdom as they continue to develop a suitable curriculum for both English and Sewing classes, incorporating opportunities for spiritual discussion. Pray for spiritual fruit among those who attend the English and Sewing classes.

25 January 2025

Pray for the African Diaspora, the estimated nearly 19 million Africans living off the continent of Africa – about 11 million live in Europe, some of whom maybe your near neighbours. Many of the African Diaspora come from nations that are closed to missionary outreach, so their presence in Europe, Australia, and the Americas presents a unique opportunity to share the Good News with men and women who may have never heard it in their homelands, and who may one day return to their nation of origin transformed by Christ and eager to share their new hope with their friends and family. Pray for your African neighbours and for our teams working among the African Diaspora.

15 January 2025

In partnership with the local church, Sandrine shares the love of Jesus with North African immigrants in Montréal, Canada. Praise the Lord for the 80 people they welcomed to the Children’s Club family Christmas Party. All clearly heard the gospel and more than half were of Muslim origin. Three families came to the Christmas party and meal organized by the church. Pray the Lord will draw these dear ones to himself in the coming year.

2 December 2024

Give thanks with one of AIM Europe’s Borderless workers for a small church group who go door to door in a multi-cultural area in London, offering prayer and sharing the gospel. Ask God to continue giving them boldness though the Holy SpirIt and that those opening their doors would be touched by the love of Christ shown to them, would receive prayer and be happy to hear more about the gospel. Pray for protection over this group and that God will sow seeds in many hearts through this ministry.

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

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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.

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