Finland: first missionaries from EMF
![Iain Taylor](/media/images/Mugshot_jpg.2e16d0ba.fill-32x32.format-webp.webp)
Iain Taylor
European Missionary Fellowship has appointed its first missionaries in Finland, Eelis and Manna Halmemies. Eelis is the pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church in Jyväskylä (about 170 miles north of Helsinki); he and his wife Manna have four children, with a fifth on the way.
Eelis was raised in a loving, conservative Pentecostal family in Finland. He encountered the gospel in his youth, but only came to a personal conviction of sin and understood the significance of the cross of Christ in High School, through studying the Living Waters material. He was then baptised and joined the local Pentecostal church aged 18.
‘Totally surprised’ Finn MP pledges fight
![Iain Taylor](/media/images/Mugshot_jpg.2e16d0ba.fill-32x32.format-webp.webp)
Iain Taylor
Finnish Christian Democratic MP Dr Päivi Räsänen has declared she is ‘ready to defend free speech and freedom of religion’.
Her statement comes as the Prosecutor General for Finland announced that she would – for the second time - appeal against Mrs Räsänen’s prior acquittals, and take the case before Finland’s Supreme Court. Both the District Court and the Court of Appeal had, in a series of court battles stretching back almost two years, earlier rejected all charges against her and Lutheran bishop Juhana Pohjola.
Finland: win for freedom of religion
![Iain Taylor](/media/images/Mugshot_jpg.2e16d0ba.fill-32x32.format-webp.webp)
Iain Taylor
Finnish MP Paivi Rasanen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola have been acquitted by the Finland Court of Appeal. They were accused of ‘hate speech’ and violating the nation’s statute against ‘War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity’ by sharing Bible verses and traditional Christian teaching about sexuality. Had they been found guilty they could have been sentenced to up to two years in prison.
Outside the Court Paivi said ‘I am relieved, happy and grateful to God and to all those who have supported me through this stage of my life. The decision was in line with my expectations – I never doubted for a moment that I committed any offence in my writings and statements.