Ambassador, Friend and Mentor

Johan Candelin is one of the most interesting men I know. I would guess he has the world’s largest business card. Here’s a short list of his titles:

- Chaplain and Advisor to the Finnish Parliament

- World Evangelical Alliance Good Will Ambassador to the United Nations

- Executive director of WEA's Religious Liberty Commission

- Founder of the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

- Founder and Director of Friends of the Martyred Church

- Founder and Director of First Step Forum

- Vice-chairman of the City Council of Kokkola, Finland

- Husband, Dad and Grandpa

- Painter

Johan is also my friend. I first met him about five years ago when he organized an interesting international panel of Christian parliamentarians, ambassadors, and journalists to meet with the Latvian Parliament. Our ministry helped facilitate their meetings.

Over the years our friendship has grown. In fact, a couple of years ago, after my long-time friend and mentor, Ingemar Martinson, passed away, I asked Johan to serve in the special capacity of a mentor. He graciously agreed and since then he and his wife, Anna, and Nancy and I, have made sure to spend several days each year together.

We were together again in Finland the first week of August. The Lord gave us many hours to discuss life, family, vision, ministry, global trends, politics, and art. It was most encouraging. Johan also asked me to spend half a day as a special guest of the board of directors of Friends of the Martyred Church (www.martyredchurch.net). I described our ministry and philosophies of leadership and fund development. My, what a fine group of men and women serve with that ministry!

We also devoted a couple of beautiful afternoons to painting in the backyard of the Candelin’s Replot Island summer house, which is right on an inlet of the Baltic Sea.

I thank God for bringing men like Johan into my life. I am a much better person because of it.

14 September 2008