10 Days in Finland: The East African Gospel Ministry Tour 2026 A Journey of Gospel Music, Worship, Outreach, Cultural Exchange and Christian Fellowship
Western Uusimaa, Finland — August 3–12, 2026
For ten days, East African Gospel had the opportunity to take East African gospel music and worship to Finland, sharing the hope of Christ while building relationships with churches, ministry leaders and communities.
The ministry tour was hosted by the Free Church of Vihti and ViaDia Länsi-Uusimaa ry, with the main purpose of sharing Christ through gospel music, strengthening international Christian fellowship and participating in the Valofestarit Gospel Festival.
From the team's arrival in Helsinki to the final departure, each day brought a different experience. The tour combined ministry with cultural learning, fellowship, outreach and opportunities to introduce Finnish audiences to the rich musical expressions of East African worship.
Here is a look at the journey day by day.
DAY 1 — MONDAY, AUGUST 3
Arrival in Finland and a Warm Welcome
The mission began with the team's arrival at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in the afternoon.
The team was welcomed by Pastor Timo and Mrs. Satu Kulta, who received them with warm Finnish hospitality before accompanying them to Vihti.
After the journey, the team settled into the Kulta family home and shared an informal dinner together.
The evening provided the first opportunity for the visiting team and their hosts to relax, get acquainted and begin building the relationships that would become an important part of the mission.
After dinner, the team rested and recovered from the long journey, preparing for the activities ahead.
DAY 2 — TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 :Discovering Finland and Its Culture
The second day began with a cultural briefing led by Pastor Timo and Satu Kulta.
The team learned about Finnish history, traditions, culture and everyday life. This helped the visitors understand more about the community they were preparing to serve.
In the afternoon, the team travelled into Helsinki for a city tour.
One of the major highlights was a visit to Suomenlinna Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The team explored the historic sea fortress, walked along the Baltic Sea and enjoyed the scenery.
The tour continued through Helsinki, where the team visited a historic Lutheran church/cathedral and saw important national landmarks, including the Parliament of Finland and the President's State House.
The team also encountered visitors from different parts of the world and enjoyed some Finnish ice cream while walking through the city.
The day ended with a return to Vihti, followed by dinner and more fellowship with the hosts.
The experience gave the team a deeper appreciation of Finnish culture and created a valuable foundation for the cross-cultural mission.
DAY 3 — WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 : East African Gospel Music Comes to ViaDia Wednesday marked the team's first major public musical engagement. A Cultural Event Concert was held at the premises of ViaDia Länsi-Uusimaa ry in Nummela.
The team was encouraged by the turnout as members of the local community gathered to experience East African gospel music.
The concert became a celebration of cultural exchange. Finnish guests were introduced to the vibrant worship traditions of East Africa, while the visiting team experienced Finnish culture and fellowship.
Peter opened the musical presentation with Luganda music, creating an energetic and worshipful atmosphere.
Alinda followed with music reflecting the sounds of Western Uganda, highlighting the diversity of musical traditions within Uganda.
Eric also contributed to the musical programme, helping build an atmosphere of celebration and participation.
Despite differences in language, the audience connected with the music through clapping, movement and participation. The evening demonstrated how gospel music can build bridges between people from different cultures.
After the concert, the team spent time with attendees, exchanging stories, sharing refreshments and enjoying fellowship.
It was a night of music, worship, friendship and cultural connection.
DAY 4 — THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 : A Day of Finnish Family Hospitality
Thursday provided the team with an opportunity to experience another side of Finnish life.
Pastor Timo and Satu Kulta took the team to their country cottage, located about an hour from Vihti.
The cottage was situated beside a peaceful Finnish lake, surrounded by forests and nature. The traditional wooden setting gave the team an opportunity to experience Finnish family life and hospitality in a very personal way.
The day included swimming in the lake, experiencing a traditional Finnish sauna and playing games together.
The team also met two of the Kulta family's grandsons and enjoyed seeing them swim and ride a boat on the lake. Lunch was shared together with the family, creating time for conversations, stories and laughter.
Rather than simply being a sightseeing experience, the day became an important moment of fellowship and relationship building.
The hosts opened their family environment to the visiting team, giving them an opportunity to experience Finnish hospitality beyond the public ministry events.
The team returned to Vihti in the evening refreshed and ready for the major ministry activities ahead.
DAY 5 — FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
Evangelism, Fellowship and Preparing for the Main Festival
Friday was a day of outreach, ministry connections and preparation.
The team visited Evangelist Ali, a respected servant of God with experience in evangelism and ministry across Africa.
The visit included lunch, fellowship, testimonies and conversations about Christian ministry. The meeting gave the team an opportunity to connect with another ministry worker and share experiences from different parts of the African Christian community.
Later, the team went into the community with Pastor Timo for evangelism and distributed flyers inviting people to the upcoming Valofestarit Gospel Festival.
This gave the team an opportunity to engage with local people personally and invite them to an event where they could experience gospel
music and the message of Christ.
The afternoon then shifted towards preparation.
The team returned to the Free Church of Vihti for rehearsal, fine-tuning the musical programme for the following day's festival.
After rehearsal, they travelled to Nummela Town Square, where the main festival would take place. The team checked the stage, worked through technical requirements and finalised preparations.
Different churches, pastors, leaders and volunteers were also involved in preparing for the festival.
By Friday evening, the technical arrangements, programme preparations and other logistics were ready for the following day's major event.
DAY 6 — SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 East African Gospel Ministers at Valofestarit Gospel Festival
Saturday was the main public event of the Finland mission.
The Valofestarit Gospel Festival was held at Nummela Town Square, beginning at 5:00 PM and running until 8:00 PM.
The festival brought together people from different churches and Christian traditions, including Lutheran, Pentecostal and Free Church communities. The report also notes that people who were not yet part of the Christian faith attended, drawn by the music, atmosphere and community gathering.
Three musical teams ministered during the festival:
Jipii Youth opened the event with energy and passion.
Eve and Ossi followed with music and testimonies.
East African Gospel had the honour of closing the festival during the final hour, bringing the sound of East African worship to Finland.
The technical production was also handled professionally, with the sound team carefully programming microphones and equipment for each performer.
East African Gospel's Musical Presentation East African Gospel's set began with Peter, who opened with powerful music. Eric then brought a message from the Word before leading the audience back into music.
Alinda led a worship song, creating a more reflective and intimate moment. The programme then moved back into praise, with Peter leading the audience in an energetic celebration.
At one point, Peter and the backup singers came down from the stage and moved among the people, creating an even greater sense of participation and joy.
Two songs were performed in East African local languages, yet the Finnish audience responded enthusiastically, clapping and dancing even without understanding the words.
The instrumentalists also played a significant role.
Esther played drums while Cissy played keyboard, contributing to the musical presentation and creating a strong East African worship sound.
The festival followed a unique format combining music and the Word of God. Each musical team had approximately one hour to minister, with preaching incorporated into the musical programme.
The festival also had a lively community atmosphere, with food, drinks, crafts, books and other vendors around the square.
The report describes the gathering as a celebration where people from different churches, generations and backgrounds came together to lift up the name of Jesus and share His love with the community.
DAY 7 — SUNDAY, AUGUST 9
Worship and Fellowship with Finnish Churches
The ministry continued on Sunday with a church service at the Free Church of Vihti.
The East African Gospel team led worship and shared musical testimonies with the congregation, giving the team another opportunity to minister through music in a local church setting.
The congregation also shared a community potluck lunch with the visiting team.
The meal provided another opportunity for fellowship and cultural exchange, allowing the East African visitors and Finnish congregation members to spend time together outside the formal worship service.
Later in the evening, from approximately 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the team joined the Jipii Youth Band for another worship evening at a different church.
Sunday therefore became another full day of worship, music, fellowship and connection with the Finnish Christian community.
DAY 8 — MONDAY, AUGUST 10 Estonia Visit — Exploring Tallinn
The East African Gospel team travelled to Tallinn, Estonia, for a day of sightseeing and cultural exploration. The team toured the historic city, enjoyed its beautiful architecture and surroundings, and shared fellowship while experiencing a new culture. It was a memorable day of travel, discovery and team fellowship during the Finland mission.
DAY 9 — TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 : Reflection, Fellowship and Preparing for the Journey Home
The ninth day was set aside for personal time, rest and final preparations.
The team had time for last-minute shopping, rest and personal activities before completing their packing for the journey home.
In the evening, the team gathered with the host family for prayer and reflection on the tour.
It was an opportunity to look back at the experiences of the previous nine days — the concerts, worship services, outreach, cultural experiences, fellowship and relationships that had developed during the mission.
DAY 10 — WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 : Departure from Finland
The final day marked the end of the 10-day mission. In the morning, the team travelled to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
After completing the airport and departure arrangements, the team began its journey home in the afternoon.
The mission had come to an end, but the friendships, ministry connections and cross-cultural relationships developed during the visit remained an important part of the experience.
More Than a Music Tour The ten-day Finland mission was more than a series of concerts.
It was a journey that brought together gospel music, worship, evangelism, cultural exchange, Christian fellowship and international ministry.
The team shared East African music with Finnish audiences, worshipped alongside local churches, engaged communities, met ministry leaders, experienced Finnish culture and participated in a major gospel festival.
The mission's core purpose was fulfilled: sharing the hope of Christ through gospel music, strengthening international Christian fellowship and participating in the Valofestarit Gospel Festival.
Special Appreciation to Our Hosts and Mission Coordinator
East African Gospel extends heartfelt appreciation to Pastor Timo and Mrs. Satu Kulta for the exceptional hospitality, love and support they gave the team throughout the Finland mission. From the moment the team arrived, they welcomed us with warmth and treated us as family. They provided accommodation, meals, transportation, cultural guidance and countless moments of fellowship. Their generosity and willingness to open their home and family to the team made the mission a memorable experience. We are deeply grateful for the way they served, supported and stood with us throughout the entire tour.
We also give special appreciation to Eric Testimony, the Mission Coordinator, whose commitment and initiative played an important role in making the Finland mission possible. Through his coordination and dedication, the door was opened for East African Gospel to participate in ministry activities in Finland and to bring East African gospel music to a new audience. We thank God for this and for the opportunity to work together in advancing the Gospel through music.
Taking East African Gospel to the Nations
The Finland mission reflects East African Gospel's wider vision of using music as a vehicle for worship, ministry, evangelism and international connection. The experience showed that music can cross cultural and linguistic boundaries and bring people together around the Gospel.
From the streets and communities of Western Uusimaa to the stage at Nummela Town Square, East African Gospel had the opportunity to share its sound, its faith and its passion for Christ. The Finland mission was a celebration of what can happen when gospel music becomes a bridge between nations.
East African Gospel — taking the Gospel through music to East Africa and the nations.
