The date for IPC’s World Missions Conference has been set for March 11 - 14, 2010.  Even though the date may seem distant, it is never too early mark your calendars.  In anticipation of the conference, we will feature one of our speakers each month.  This month begins with the Johnsons from Sweden, followed in January by Jason Little, a church planter in Portland, OR.  Our keynote speaker, Alonzo Ramirez from Peru, will be featured in February.

Gary and Linda Johnson, MTW Sweden

Gary grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and came to know the Lord in high school.  Upon graduation from Belhaven College, Gary worked in Sweden with Athletes in Action Baseball as a player/coach.  He joined MTW in 1988 and developed a sports ministry in Sweden through 1992.  Linda, a native Swede, grew in her faith while an exchange student in Mississippi.  Gary met Linda in 1989 and the were married in 1992.

The Johnsons returned to the U.S. where Linda finished her degree in English/philosophy at Belhaven College while Gary received an M. Div. at Reformed Theological Seminary.  During seminary Gary also served with Reformed University Ministries and as director of international student affairs at Belhaven College.  Gary was ordained and served as assistant pastor of Westminster PCA in Atlanta until their return to Sweden in 1999. The Swedes that the Johnsons have discipled have now planted their first church and established the first Presbyterian denomination in Sweden’s history.  The team is promoting church planting in key cities, along with classical Christian education, a Reformed campus ministry, and pastoral/theological training.

Our second church planting effort in Stockholm is bearing fruit (and babies)! The Westminster Fellowship was originally mostly singles. Several married last year, and we are seeing the first wave of babies (3 in 2009). These transitions have led to a stronger conviction and desire to become the second Presbyterian Church in Sweden. This group meets weekly for bible study and fellowship, and has added a monthly worship service led by our Tranås pastor David Bergmark. Pray for their growth in grace! Linda and I are aiding a third church planting effort in Jönköping.  Matteus Özdemir is a Reformed Baptist of Turkish descent. He and his wife Johanna believe they are called to plant a church that focuses on those of Middle Eastern culture. We attend bi-weekly and pray for this young couple who wants to serve the Lord. Pray for them as well!

Home schooling problems (from their latest newsletter)
“We are daily reminded of the Swedish socialist system where the family is not considered the core unit of society. Naturally there remains the right for the family to exist in Sweden, but it is re-defined and scrutinized under the ever-watchful eye of “big brother”-the Swedish State. It is the state that decides what is best for the children, not the parents. It is the state that regulates what the children will learn, and not the parents.”

We are experiencing a real threat to our family in our current battle for the right to home school our older children. A Swedish family recently had their child removed as they planned to relocate outside Sweden.  The Swedish police stormed the plane to take the child as they were leaving the country.  You can get more details about this tragedy: http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/Sweden/default.asp. As we prepare to travel to the U.S. for 6 months (Nov.-April) we must be very careful not to demand our rights. We must ask permission to take our children and likely promise to put them in school. They will decide for us what is best for our children. If we fail to get their approval, the same type of confrontation with Swedish authorities could happen to us. Pray that we will be protected as we stand our ground."