News Helsinki, Finland: To Reach Out, Members Sell Church

by Victor Hulbert, courtesy Adventist News Network

A Helsinki congregation recently took the brave decision to sell the church building they have owned for the past fifty years, purchase a shop in a needy part of town, and intentionally serve the community. It is the best decision they ever made.

The members of the Kallio (Rock) church, one of the two main churches near the centre of Helsinki, were inspired by hearing reports of the Happy Hand second hand clothes shop in Denmark. Run as a voluntary project by a local Copenhagen church, the shop sells high quality second hand clothes, books and other materials, provides a space for visitors to sit and chat, enjoy a hot drink, and on occasion, listen to the local pastor play his guitar. The Copenhagen shop has become so successful that another two shops are now in development in other parts of Denmark.

Could this congregation, mainly consisting of elderly members, do the same thing? Not exactly! They looked at the Danish model and adapted it to fit their situation in Finland. With the encouragement of the city authorities, they chose to locate in an area with needy communities, including refugees and migrants. They partnered with ADRA Finland who run the shop during the week. Every second Wednesday they take the shop out onto the wide pavement in front where volunteers and up to four pastors take time to talk with passers-by, give demonstrations, and share love in action.

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