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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

4 September 2026

Timo and Laura serve in Finland among the refugee population, sharing Jesus with them and equipping Christian refugees to reach out to fellow internationals and the Finns they live among. It can be very difficult walking alongside those whose situation is so uncertain; some are waiting to be sent back to their home countries, and multiple families are on visas that will soon run out if they don’t find work. Finland has the worst unemployment in Europe right now. Please pray that the Lord may miraculously provide work for those who long to stay, but that, regardless of where they end up, they will find Christ and take refuge under his wings.

28 August 2026

Timo and Laura serve in Finland among the refugee population, sharing Jesus with them and equipping Christian refugees to reach out to fellow internationals and the Finns they live among. Over the summer, they have been very aware of the spiritual battle they are in.“It is beginning to feel like the enemy is coming after us this year.  We have had one crazy thing after another these last few weeks involving people within the community.  It is starting to be too much too fast to feel like just coincidence anymore.  So please really cover us and our community in prayer.  We need it!”  As church resumes this Sunday after a summer break, they will begin going through Colossians slowly and clearly so that those who don’t know Jesus yet will be able to follow along. Please pray that through the proclamation of the gospel, the church will be emboldened and comforted as they behold the glory of Christ, and that those seeking will be able to understand and engage.

13 July 2026

Timo and Laura serve in Finland among the refugee population, sharing Jesus with them and equipping Christian refugees to reach out to fellow internationals and the Finns they live among. Recently, a family in their community from South American country got very negative news. They weren’t given asylum and this family with a young daughter will be sent to their home country in the next 1-2 months. They have not lived there in 9 years and are quite afraid of what will happen due to the corruption and insecurity. This family has been part of Timo and Laura’s community for 1.5 years. A recent encouragement was that in small group they were looking at John 15 and what it means to abide in the Lord. The husband asked many good questions, and they were able to explain what walking with Jesus is really about. He shared then how they had not seen real followers of Jesus before becoming part of their community. Please pray for this family, that the seeds sown by Timo and Laura will bear the fruit of repentance and faith and that they may be able to entrust them into the Lord’s hands.

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.

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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.

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