Return trip to Finland spiritually invigorating for DI men’s hockey team and staff

The power of prayer was evident on Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team's second sports outreach to Finland in four years from Jan. 4-14, with a near revival starting in the team's host church in Hämeenlinna.

"It was fantastic," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said of the trip that was both physically exhilarating in the sub-zero temperatures and spiritually rewarding. "It was so powerful to see God's hand at work the whole time we were over there."

Baptism-Freechurch-group — Players baptized on Wednesday are surrounded by teammates at ICF Freechurch.

Four Flames players and team statistician Ben Barnett were baptized at Hämeenlinna Internation Christian Fellowship (ICF) and Freechurch last Wednesday and Thursday, including freshman forward Ryan Finch, who made a first-time decision to follow Christ.

"It was so encouraging for the people in Finland at the local church to see our players get baptized, and so challenging for players on our team to see that kind of life-change happen," Handy said. "Even the guys on the team who were already believers grew in their faith journey."

He said one of most moving moments for him was the day after the baptism service when the pastor — Dave Pike, the team's primary contact from Operation Mobilisation (OM Finland) — offered to adopt the team members into their church and committed to pray for them from Finland.

"It was so encouraging for me to see the inroads that we have made in Finland, with HPK (the hockey organization Liberty engaged with) and Dave's ministry over there, Kingdom Sports," Handy said. "Dave Pike and his family have been incredible for us to go over and work with. It's a wonderful partnership (and) it's really exciting to see it grow. People in Finland have been a huge encouragement to us, and we have been to them as well. We see the value in how we can help them out and what it does in our team every time."

Club Sports Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Angie Witt participated in her third trip to Finland in five years and second with the DI men's hockey team. She said the purposeful prayers of the team and those supporting them made a world of difference.

"Having had the experience before … we knew how to pray and prepare the boys ahead of time," said Witt, who also traveled with Liberty's DI women's hockey team to Finland last January.

Kirk-Handy-presents-jersey — Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy gives a Liberty jersey to an HPK U18 Academy coach.

"The Lord really opened their hearts for what they were going to do there, to not only minister to others, but to be ministered to. We were able to see the Lord not only work through us but in us."

Flames senior forward Kris Bladen helped lead Finch to Christ and joined him in being baptized along with Barnett, junior forward Jacob Kalandyk, and senior forward Kam Ottenbreit. Senior forwards DJ Schwenke and Nate Albers shared their testimonies that night and Bladen said the service had ripple effects in the hearts of the Finnish believers.

"The congregation of the church had a bit of a revival with the joy that we brought to them all," he said. "That shows that God has no borders. We have it very good in America and it's easy to get complacent and comfortable. It's good to realize that there are people all over the globe that love the Lord with all of their hearts, and they are hungering and thirsting for Him. It was definitely inspiring."

He said it was a good reminder of how Christians of all ages and backgrounds are called to be investing in His Kingdom.

"Sometimes our priorities get lost in the things of the world," Bladen said. "We get caught up in schoolwork and stuff that matters, but there is so much more that really matters. Ultimately, we're called to spread the Gospel, to go through the doors that are opened to us."

One of the highlights for Witt was the ladies' ministry night at Hämeenlinna Internation Christian Fellowship and Freechurch that she attended on Thursday with Handy's wife, Jannie, and Megan Davis, Club Sports Assistant Director of Video & Social Media, while the hockey team was leading a clinic for 14-under youth. Witt noted that the gathering truly had an international flair with myriad nations represented in the fellowship.

Prayer-Nate-Albers-Finnish-Team — Senior forward Nate Albers leads a post-game prayer in a huddle with an HPK team.

"Megan shared her testimony, and I shared how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things if we are simply obedient," Witt said. "We had a time of Bible study and worship and listening to eight different nationalities of people worshipping God together sounded a little bit like what Heaven will sound like."

The three women, plus other team members, also served at a food bank out of that church on Tuesday morning and Associate Director of Sports Performance Jared Lovelace shared the Gospel and his testimony with the 150 people who showed up for the bag of provisions, which included a copy of the New Testament.

The hockey team had the opportunity to fellowship with members of HPK's U18 Academy development team after Tuesday's game at Pohjantahti Stadium in Hämeenlinna.

"That was definitely cool to go to dinner afterwards with the U18 HPK team," said Flames senior forward and head captain Matt Bartel, noting that Bladen shared his testimony and the team gave Bibles and Liberty hats to players from all three teams they played throughout the week. "It was a great opportunity to share. Some spoke a little English, some not so much. During the testimonies we shared, we would have translators to help. We didn't have a whole lot of time with the other two teams we played against, but we were definitely able to plant some seeds and who knows what God will do in their lives in the future."

He said the Kids Action Night hosted by ICF and a nearby Pentecostal church on the first night after the team arrived was an especially impactful time for the 75 youth that attended. Between games ranging from soccer and floorball to inflatable sumo wrestling and an obstacle course set up in the church's gym, team members were able to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the kids ages 12 and under.

Brett-Gammer-Finnish-player — Senior Brett Gammer, one of two Liberty returnees to Finland, enjoys a post-game chat.

"Brett Gammer spoke about the Romans road (to salvation) and I was able to tell them my story of how Jesus has changed my life," Bartel said. "I told them how before I had a relationship with Christ, my life revolved around hockey. That was kind of how I found my identity, as a hockey player. Since then, after I got saved as a freshman (in October before the 2020 trip), I've become a Christian who plays hockey. Jesus has helped me through struggles and helped me to become the man that God wants me to be."

Witt said the team members stretched themselves outside of their comfort zones and were flexible to be used however the Lord saw fit, jumping at the opportunities to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus.

"I saw a different side of these boys, especially some of the spiritual leaders, and how they stepped up and got involved in the ministry opportunities and communicated with their teammates about their need for Jesus," Witt said. "Specifically with Bartel and (fellow senior forward Brett) Gammer, to see the growth that has happened in their hearts and lives over the past four years was amazing. They did a really good job of making the most of their experience, and it was neat to watch them give their testimonies and share the Gospel."

Graduate forward Jackson Vercellono, one of the team's spiritual leaders, testified of God's grace in his life in front of the church's main congregation on Sunday morning while Schwenke, Barnett, and junior defenseman Nate Cox shared the Good News and showed their creativity in leading crafts and activities in the children's ministry.

"It was all about serving and getting involved in the ministry," Witt said. "You don't have to have a title to serve. You just do it. They all did a really job of just jumping in."

Baptism-quartet-Liberty — Gammer (left), Jacob Kalandyk, Jackson Vercellono, and Truett Olson after a sauna

The day after the church service, and two days before the baptism, team members had the opportunity to experience a sauna in Kuusijarvi followed immediately by a polar plunge in nearby frigid waters.

"First, you would go in the sauna for 5-10 minutes, as hot as you can stand, and then you had to walk about 150 feet from the sauna through outside temperatures that were only around 25 degrees to an icy lake with water that was just above freezing and stay in there for 30 seconds to a minute max," Witt said. "That was their (hydro)therapy for the day. It really does rejuvenate your body."

"I did that my freshman year as well and that was super fun," Bartel added. "It was definitely a memorable moment there. Half of us also got to go to an outdoor rink later in the week, and we got a game going out there. It was a really nice sunset that night and a really special time. I am super grateful and blessed that I got to go on another trip like that, and thankful I got to do it with this group of guys. It was definitely a great way to go out my senior year, especially for all the guys who got baptized. That was a super cool moment that made it all worthwhile."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video by Megan Davis, edited by Kamia Cooper/Club Sports Video & Media Intern

Gallery: (1-19-2024) Finland-Hockey-Trip

Return trip to Finland spiritually invigorating for DI men’s hockey team and staff

Players Mentioned

Nate Albers

Ryan Finch

Brett Gammer

Jacob Kalandyk

Kam Ottenbreit

Jackson Vercellono

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