The story of Ruurikkala
The story of YWAM Ruurikkala began in 2005 when God gave a vision of a training center where His presence is at the very heart of everything. The vision of young people who love Jesus and live in close relationship with Him has been a guiding theme throughout these years.
Our team is driven by a passionate desire to serve Jesus and live out His Word in every aspect of life. What propels us forward is the vision of God's transformative Word impacting lives and shaping society. From Revival to Reformation!
Watch one transformation journey
The journey here
How did it all start?
2005-2008
In September 2005, God placed a thought on my heart that seemed utterly incredible from a human perspective—a vision for this place and the plan He had for Ruurikkala. During my morning prayer time, I found myself thinking, “Ruurikkala will become a home for YWAM and a place where people are trained to serve the Church with their gifts.” I felt God strongly declaring in my heart, “Ruurikkala belongs to Me!” As a native of Evijärvi, I understood the value of Ruurikkala and smiled to myself at the impossibility of the idea. For over a year, the thought stayed in the background of my mind, but by the fall of 2006, I found myself praying more and more for Ruurikkala and dreaming of it being filled with young people eager to change the world. Eventually, I could no longer stay idle, and as a result, I began taking what I thought were very foolish steps of obedience. Before long, I found myself in the middle of a whirlwind where everything around me was moving with immense speed and power, yet I was completely unable to influence the course of events. It was incredible to see how God brought people together and spoke to them about this place. It began to seem as though God was truly planning to restore Ruurikkala to its original purpose. In the spring of 2007, we began negotiations to acquire Ruurikkala, but at that stage, we could not reach an agreement on the price. By the end of 2007, however, doors began to open once again. In the spring of 2008, we engaged in intense prayer battles for Ruurikkala. We were not the only prospective buyer, and our offer was significantly lower than our competitor’s. Yet we felt compelled to stick to the amount we believed God had revealed to us back in the fall of 2006. In April 2008, the situation changed unexpectedly when the other potential buyer withdrew their offer without explanation. Something had happened—something we never learned about—that led them to back away. As a result, we were able to purchase Ruurikkala in June 2008. The Bible says that God works in us both to will and to act, and through this process, we saw this promise come to life in our midst. Father, Ruurikkala belongs to You! Roope Laukkonen
Ruurikkala 1.0
2008-2019
For over a decade, YWAM Ruurikkala has been known throughout Finland as a Christian training center that upholds the Word of God, the fear of the Lord, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and provides solid teaching through various seminars, camps, and Discipleship Training Schools. Over the years, thousands of youth, young adults, and families have participated in Ruurikkala's events. Nearly 300 students from Finland and around the world have attended Discipleship Training Schools and other long-term courses. More than 200 students have been trained and sent on short-term mission trips. For all these years, the focus has been on Israel and the Jewish people as the target mission field. Nearly one hundred staff members have served at Ruurikkala throughout the years, contributing to its ministry and vision.
Check out the photo gallery from over the years
Pruning
2019
At the peak of our Ministry in 2015, God unexpectedly spoke about an upcoming "season of pruning." This was followed by a period during which both the operations and the staff and leadership of Ruurikkala were significantly reduced in various ways. We underwent a process that ultimately led to all activities at Ruurikkala being put on pause at the end of 2019. “We have gone through difficult and painful years, during which we have been pruned extensively, both personally and as a center. We have had to let go of much, but we could never have imagined where or how God intended to lead us into the next phase. We believe that only through death can life emerge. We have been purified, refined, pruned, and brought into weakness so that God might bring forth the fruit and fulfill the plans He has for the work at Ruurikkala. All of this has required immense faith and trust in God. But He IS faithful, His Word is our foundation, and His power is our strength in our weakness. With excitement and burning hearts, we continue to pray and walk with Jesus toward the new future of Ruurikkala.” – Roope and Sanna-Maria Laukkonen, Base Leaders
Ruurikkala 2.0
2020-
Ruurikkala 2.0 encompasses the development of new types of training programs and ministry models. It also includes influencing society through various forums, equipping, teaching, and training believers, as well as preparing for the future.