Niklas Piensoho, senior pastor of Filadelfiakyrkan (Philadelphia Church), a Pentecostal church in Stockholm, Sweden, has seen his downtown church grow from a few people when he arrived in 2006 to more than 1,000 attendees today across four campuses. The average age of churchgoers has dropped from around 60 to about 40. This renewed spiritual interest is happening in a country where only 5% of the population attends church on a typical weekend.
Piensoho was recently hospitalized for back surgery. During his recovery, he encountered a nurse who provided him with exceptional care. Like most Swedes, she did not profess to be a Christian. As they talked, he could have asked about her lack of belief. Instead, he looked at her and said, “You were sent to me by God.”
She responded with curiosity, “Do you think so?”
“When you serve others, you are serving the Lord,” the pastor replied. “In fact, you’re like an angel.”
Rather than being angry, offended or uncomfortable, she was grateful. She was touched by his words, and the experience led to further spiritual conversations.
That’s typical of how Piensoho begins conversations about God. “My first step in talking with people here in one of the most secularized countries on earth,” he explains, “is not what most might expect.”
Having grown up in Sweden, he sees remnants of Christianity in the culture. “Among average people in Sweden, we still have strong connections to Christian ethics and values—such as providing for the poor, helping those in need and supporting people who are vulnerable,” he explains. “My first step is to look for what I can affirm.”
Piensoho draws inspiration for that approach from Acts 10:3–4 when God sends an angel to tell Cornelius—who had no idea at that point who Jesus was—that God has heard his prayers and sees his good works.
“While I’m no angel, I want to do like that angel,” he says. “I can affirm in almost every human’s life the footsteps and fingerprints of God. I can find them, identify them and cheer them.”
Piensoho’s efforts in new conversations to be more affirming rather than confrontational might draw attention not just to a person’s good works, but also to character qualities that come from God. “After all, in one of the apostle Paul’s sermons to unbelievers, he said that it is God who ‘fills your hearts with joy,’” he notes.
When Piensoho suggests this method to leaders from other secularized countries—including those in the United States—they report that rather than alienating those who are already skeptical of the church, it has opened the door to more meaningful and respectful dialogues about faith, allowing people to feel valued rather than attacked.
“If you confront, you come across as a teacher: I want to tell you the truth. Listen to me. I know and you don’t know. I have the light, and you’re in darkness. That may be true, but too often it ends the discussion. With post-Christian groups, you can often get further by highlighting what you can see that God is doing in their lives.”
Inviting the Community to Show God’s Love
Piensoho’s approach also scales into larger contexts. One of the most effective ways Philadelphia Church has reached out to its community is through social ministry, which involves meeting the practical needs of those who are marginalized or in distress. Such efforts are much in keeping with the church’s heritage, having been founded in 1910 and quickly following up in 1912 by establishing a men’s rescue mission.
One recent December, for example, Sweden experienced an influx of gypsies from Eastern Europe. “It happened almost overnight, like a flood of people,” Piensoho recalls. They were living on the streets and camping in front of grocery stores to beg. Then the temperature fell below zero. “The authorities started to call churches and others, asking ‘Can you open the building so these people can stay overnight?’ We said yes.”
As Philadelphia Church opened its doors to provide shelter, what followed was nothing short of remarkable. The church’s call for help went viral, and within days, hundreds of secular Swedes offered their assistance. These were individuals who did not identify as Christians but were moved by the church’s mission to care for the needy. They were drawn to the church because of its commitment to helping others, rather than its doctrine.
However, many came back to the worship services to hear more about a God who began to seem more relevant to their lives.
“We work hard to give people an excuse to come to church,” Piensoho says. “For example, since we’ve been serving Ukrainian refugees, we started to celebrate the date of Orthodox Christmas. Or we’ll have a prayer meeting for Ukraine and invite people to come and share.”
Pandemic Flexibility
Philadelphia Church’s story is also one of adaptability. During the pandemic, for example, it remained resilient by being willing to adapt to changing circumstances. It had to close its doors for two years, but during its pivot to online services, it gained thousands of followers on YouTube by translating the services with AI-generated subtitles in up to 50 different languages. This willingness to embrace new methods of ministry ensured that the church could continue to reach people even when in-person gatherings were not possible.
Another adaptation is the Alpha Course—a program designed to introduce the basics of the Christian faith through a series of interactive sessions. The course has been particularly effective in reaching both secular Swedes and immigrants, including those from Muslim backgrounds.
According to Piensoho, the success of the Alpha Course lies in its interactive and friendly environment, which allows participants to explore faith at their own pace without feeling pressured. This approach resonates with people who may be curious about Christianity, but are hesitant to commit to a traditional church setting.
Another innovation that has helped the church’s outreach is expanding to new locations—currently there are four. “Pastor Niklas has embraced the strategy of church reproduction through multiple services and locations. Once resisted as American innovations that wouldn’t work in Europe, these practices are becoming an integral part of growing churches across Sweden,” observes Jim Tomberlin, director of MultiSite Solutions, who consulted with the pastor about becoming multisite.
The Gospel’s Enduring Relevance
What Philadelphia Church shows is that the gospel is still relevant, powerful and transformative, even in a post-Christian world, especially as it is demonstrated. The key is to meet people where they are, show them genuine love and communicate the timeless message of Christ in a way that speaks to their hearts.
FILADELFIAKYRKAN (PHILADELPHIA CHURCH)
Stockholm, Sweden
Senior Pastors: Niklas Piensoho
Website: FiladelfiaKyrkan.se
Founded: 1910
Denomination: Swedish Pentecostal
Attendance: 1,000