Christian Week April 23/2010 Police in Finland are investigating allegations that Peter Youngren and his assistant, Taina Kuusiluoma, illegally used a Finnish evangelical organization’s mailing list to smear its board members.
A Finnish evangelical organization is taking Peter Youngren of Canadian Grace TV and World Impact Ministries to court after expelling him from their board. Â It has come on from reliable and several people who were part of Youngrens ministry that two of his 3 celebration churches are struggling . It was been suggested by more than one source from his assuming senior pastor ship at his Toronto church (his son stepped down in December and is running for City Council) was hostile. Â It is believed his daughter also stepped away from her fathers ministry.
A Canadian organization which give Youngren his licence to operate as a minister (Open Bible Fellowship) came to BDBO comments after the first post on Peter Youngren which raised questions about the Grace TV purchase his ministerial credentials, licencing and separation from his second wife and strained family relations. As for licencing, this is what the Canadian association had to say:
Peter Youngren was asked to leave the open bible faith fellowship 4 years ago by myself.
His credentials were pulled at that time and he will not be re-instated to the fellowship.
Open Bible Faith Fellowship put up a notice  April 2010 on their website shortly commenting at BDBBO which is still up.
It was so good to see many of you at the gathering in Kitchener last week. The reports coming in have all been quite positive and we rejoice in the Lord’s goodness.
Lately, it has come to our attention once again that some people are not clear on OBFF’s relationship with Peter Youngren. I hope this short statement will clarify this for you.
Peter has not been in fellowship with OBFF since November of 2007. We do not support him as an organization in any way, and are not in agreement with his current action to divorce his wife on unbiblical grounds.
Blessings,
Pastor Rick Ciaramitaro and the OBFF Board of Directors
What Canadian organization is Yougren licenced with?  Is he legally ordained in Canada? By whom? As well the Ontario Registrar General Office was contacted as to why Mr. Youngren remains on  the active list of provincial licenced and credentialed ministers, since questions have surfaced about his affiliations.
More than one reader who knew or knows Youngren has offered that  he was ordained with the PAOC. His ordination was removed after his first divorce, questions to Grace TV and WIM about this remain unanswered. ChristianWeek:
In 1993 Finnish pastor David Sterling invited Youngren to join the board of fledgling evangelical organization Evankeliumi Kaikkiin Maihin (EKM). EKM and Youngren’s Canada-based World Impact Ministries subsequently worked together on a number of evangelistic campaigns in various parts of the world. Youngren also joined the board of EKM’s publishing company Helmi-Media.
But somewhere along the line the relationship between Youngren and the EKM board turned sour.
David Sterling, vice-chairman of EKM, says it started when the EKM board learned about Youngren’s marital difficulties and suggested he take a year off from active ministry to straighten things out.
Last August, Sterling says, Youngren wrote the EKM board to say his marriage had “broken down” and he and his wife RoxAnne were “separated.” Sterling says he confirmed this in a telephone conversation with RoxAnne in September.
“We presented him with a proposal that he would take time out for one year to try and rebuild his marriage and his personal life, but he was aggressively against this,” Sterling told ChristianWeek.
Relationships between Youngren and the board continued to deteriorate. In January 2010 Youngren, with Kuusiluoma’s help, allegedly sent a letter to about 6,000 people on EKM’s mailing list. In the letter—a copy of which has been obtained by ChristianWeek—Youngren accuses Sterling and board chair Tom Lipkin of misusing EKM funds, holding secret board meetings and attempting to hijack the organization.
Sterling says EKM’s reputation in Finland has been seriously harmed by the letter. He also says the list of addresses was confidential in accordance with EU privacy laws, and that Youngren had no right to use it.
EKM had shared the list with Youngren for the purpose of sending a postcard from an evangelistic festival in Pakistan. A written agreement signed by both parties stipulated that the list was to be used once and then destroyed.
But when the EKM board asked Youngren to relinquish the list in December 2009, he refused, saying it was his personal property.
ChristianWeek:
Youngren tells a different story. He says the conflict between him and the EKM board started three years ago over the use of finances. In an e-mail Youngren told ChristianWeek the mailing list belongs to him.
“I claim ownership because all names on the list have been added at my personal invitation through public meetings and TV,” Youngren wrote. “All the people on the database have received promises from me that they will receive reports and teaching articles. This is my database, which I have allowed EKM to use.”
Sterling says the addresses were obtained under EKM and that Finnish and EU privacy laws don’t permit an individual to use such a list to ask for funds.
Youngren has now set up an office for World Impact Ministries in Finland.
Readers  familiar with Youngren have said many of World Impact Ministry Offices have closed around the world.
For more information see prior posts here at BDBO: Peter Youngren – Running out of Grace and Christian Week looks at the world of Peter Youngren.
Questions are also being asked about the Grace TV CRTC
licence, such lack of religious network challenges, this station has a Category 2 (specialty licence). The station was sold to Youngren for about 12 cents on the dollar. It appears as a 1.2 million dollar 3 year deficit for (S-Vox) Vision TV which recently finalized a sale of assets to ZoomerMedia,. The question was been raised if the sale of this bleeding red ink religious station was conditional of the larger sale of assets to ZoomerMedia. This would be an area BDBO readers could provide accurate information with documentation. The Grace TV is up for renewal August 2012. It was granted in May 2009.
World Impact Ministries is a registered Canadian Charity. (See the comments under BDBO Youngren posts). 
Other current organisations run by Youngren are an
uncredited bible college, Israeli Ministry and Heart of a Child and a for profit  organization called Global Grace News, “a teaching resource for ministers and churches all over the world.” It is not know how much money he takes in from his various crusades, sales and enterprises yearly.
He sells extensive lines of his own products. I do not know if  all  these organizations are registered Canadian Charities, Way of Peace was registered with Charities Directorate Revenue Canada in 2007.  it is rumoured Grace TV, 
World Impact Ministries  and the  unaccredited Celebration bible school are moving to Celebration Church Toronto this fall. Youngren is no longer associated his Hamilton and Niagara Celebration churches; and information coming from Youngren insiders say since Peter Youngrens son stepped away from the Toronto church in December 2009, and Peter Youngren  Sr.assumed leadership, attendance  is down about  40%.
Christian Week – April 12, 2010 Peter Youngren Making Waves
Christian Week – April 23, 2010 Finnish police investigate Peter Youngren
World Impact Ministries
Celebration Church
Grace TV
PS: I encourage readers who are involved or who have been involved with Youngren and his ministries to email or comment with pertinent information so any errors, rumours and speculation can be corrected. Thanks.
peter deserves this!
As I said, the whole thing will unravel if you just keep pulling the thread. The weak-spot of this wannabe Cracken/Jellyfish hybrid is $$$$$$$. Follow the money, and you will know what I know. Take away his money and he will finally see what we all so clearly see about him. Leave the money, and he will keep on keepin’ on.
I offer a few other tidbits of information that I know to be true…
He doesn’t just have bases in Finland, he has bases in the UK, the U.S, and in Sweeden also… among others. I have e-mails from concerned WIM workers with their I.P addresses to confirm this.
Also, there was a “Word of Life” (the original name of Niagara Celebration Church – remember, he is a big fan of rebranding!) in Sweeden originally, and the gentleman who started it – Ulf Ekman – was one of PY’s protege’s. Just look at this website and you will see what I am speaking is nothing but truth – http://www.chc.org.sg/sot/lecturers.asp
“Rev. Dr. Ulf Ekman is known throughout the world as a premier apostle, dynamic preacher, Bible teacher and author. He is the founder and pastor of the very exciting Word of Life church in Uppsala, Sweden. This church has an extensive missions program, and over a period of just a few years, more than 700 churches were started in Russia and Eastern Europe through their efforts. Out of his ministry, more than 2000 new churches have been birthed all over the world in the past 20 years.
He is the also the founder and president of Word of Life Bible Center, the largest Bible school in Europe, from which 7,000 students have graduated and are now working actively in the harvest field. Pastor Ulf holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Theology. Over the years he has written many books, such as A Life of Victory, Church of the Living God, and many more which are published in over 20 languages.
Since February 2002, Pastor Ulf Ekman and his wife, Birgitta, have been traveling extensively, further establishing the international ministry of Word of Life.
Rev. Dr. Peter Youngren has been acclaimed as one of the most influential Pentecostal healing evangelists in the 20th century by Ministries Today (Nov/Dec 1999). In 1987, God told him to prepare for the evangelism of the once-atheistic stronghold of the Soviet Union. Today, with its doors wide open, Pastor Peter has preached to a crowd of over 500,000 people in a single service there.
Pastor Peter is the senior pastor of Word of Life Church in Ontario, Canada, and the founder of World Impact Ministries. This ministry was started to help train and equip believers to make a difference in the world they live in. More than 120,000 pastors have attended his leadership seminars around the world.”
I think that’s enough for one day. Also, I’m pretty sure that he not only is running out of “grace”, but also legs to stand on. I pray for his true repentance often. I fear though that the damage done to his soul is much too deep to be repaired, short of a miracle from YHWH.
Here’s to miracles.
Correction: Peter Youngren is one of Ulf Ekman’s protege’s. Not the other way around. My grammatical mistake.
Since when is a board meeting not secret, since when are there not confidential files on congregants? These are the currencies of churchian politics, and I do not miss them. That is all.
Phatittyahu, what congregants? These two groups are associations, not churches.
There are many times boards do not meet in secret, depends on the type of governance, the organizations and the matters before the board.
The allegations are laid out plainly in Finland, and I apologize for the poor translation here – I have to use Googe.
This is from EKM’s lawyer, dated April 22nd.
The lawyer goes further than this.
This is now in the hands of Finnish Police. EKM is technically on the hook if Youngren broke the alleged agreement and sent out 6 thousand emails. Twice according to EKM.
I’ve placed this comment in a couple of other Peter Youngren posts to keep readers informed.
I think it’s important to hear WIM’s side. To that end, Peter Youngren responded to ChristianWeek on April 29th, 2010.
Mr. Youngren/WIM have not provided documentation to date, while documentation in itself isn’t proof of anything, it would be helpful.
Here is Mr. Youngren’s response to the magazine. If WIM choses to respond to BDBO, I’ll put it up.
ChristianWeek’s recent headline, “Finnish police investigate claims against Peter Youngren†was forwarded to me while conducting a “Friendship Festival†in Orissa, India. Interestingly, the main newspaper in Orissa ran a headline, “Youngren distributes the magic of God’s love†on the same day. While “magic†is not a word we feel comfortable with, the irony struck me; a Christian newspaper in Canada writing unsubstantiated vilifications while secular newspapers in a staunchly Hindu state, known for strong anti-Christian sentiments, speak encouragingly of our gospel work.
Are Finnish police investigating me? Not as far as I know; I’ve heard nothing. I wrote to ChristianWeek before they published this article: “Upon hearing statements about a police report and lawsuit in a phone meeting with EKM’s board in early February, I immediately contacted the Public Prosecutor in Osterbotten, Finland and the police in Vaasa, Finland. I have not received any reply, and consequently I cannot confirm or deny.†None of this information was printed.
(BD here: The EKM information states the interview with acting board chair Tom Lipkin was February 2nd, 2010. There is no word from Finland any police interviews have been conducted since)
Should not ChristianWeek’s article at least have carried a question mark? How does ChristianWeek know that Finnish police are investigating me? No source, other than a disgruntled pastor of a store-front church, is given. Is this pastor, David Sterling, a spokesperson for Finland’s police? ChristianWeek makes it appear as the article was filed from Vaasa, Finland. The reader is either to assume that ChristianWeek is quoting a local Finnish news report, or that ChristianWeek sent its reporter to Finland. Neither is true. Isn’t ChristianWeek giving its readers a false impression?
(That’s a classic red herring in the current of a he said, they said scenario. BD:^)
Now, a few facts for the record. I did not join a fledgling Finnish organization called EKM in 1993, at the invitation of David Sterling, any more than I joined World Impact Ministries [WIM] when it was small organization. I started both organizations, and I have been the driving force equally in Canadian WIM and Finnish EKM. EKM did not work with WIM on a few projects; it worked with WIM in all its projects. For seventeen years EKM did not do a single project other than those I initiated.
That appears to be the crux of the matter for Mr. Youngren – who owns and owned what and when. That having been stated, was Finlands privacy law violated and is EKM continuing their civil suit?
Ownership and money is discussed on the EKM site in Finnish. BD)
The relationship between myself and EKM’s board did not become strained when I shared with EKM’s board regarding my marital difficulties in the summer of 2009. In fact, I heard nothing from EKM about this. EKM’s board has never given me a proposal or discussed my marriage with me, though I have invited them to do so. There is a large volume of documentation that shows the strain started in the summer of 2007, due to the misconduct of two of EKM board members, one of them David Sterling.
(EKM states on it’s website (in Finnish) problems in the relationship began prior to August 2009 as Youngren has stated. Why the dispute began earlier is the subject of investigation. As well the EKM lawyer letter addresses these concerns. I’m reading in the EKM letter sent to Canada that they are proceeding with a civil suit, there is no statement the criminal investigation is closed – BD)
ChristianWeek claims to be investigating, and I encourage the paper to do just that. I have documentation from the owner of TV 7 in Finland that it is not allowing EKM to air any TV programs by its present leadership. If ChristianWeek really wanted to investigate, documentation is available to substantiate all my claims.
(I think that is a fair request and will ask if EKM leadership have ever produced programming or have had programming taken off TV 7 – BD)
Readers must be bored. What has all this got to do with a Canadian Christian newspaper? Is ChristianWeek publishing relevant news or engaging in journalistic sensationalism? This week World Impact Ministries distributed follow-up material to more than 50,000 individuals who received Christ in the first major evangelistic campaign in Orissa since the cruel murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in 1999. 1359 pastors from the entire state attended WIM’s Pastors’ Seminar. Maybe that could be worth an article in ChristianWeek.
(This has a great deal to do with a ‘Canadian Christian newspaper’ and Canadians. Mr. Youngren was given a licence to broadcast. That licence carries obligations, responsibilities and public awareness. Questions about WIM/GraceTV/Celebrate Churches and Youngren are reasonable. Go to blog aggregators, the few posts around Peter Youngren is mostly pr put out by Peter Youngren – BD)
Peter Youngren
St. Catharine’s, ON
I am not aware of any TV program produced by EKM. Their website http://www.ekm.nu/ does not mention any. Probably they don’t have the resources.
The letter by Martti Ojares, founder and manager of TV 7, states that the channel is shelving Mr. Youngren’s program because it does not want to get involved in the quarrel and get bad publicity in the secular media. “Reciprocally, we have to abstain from sending EKM’s programs, if they produced any.” – Translating from
http://youngrensuomi.net/index.php/celebration/2206/
Thanks Hiski, good catch.
No matter how the translation comes out Mr. Youngren is adapt at vilifying. I haven’t seen reciprocal vitrol from EKM Finland.
On April 29, 2010 Peter Youngren wrote Christian Week and said:
On March 29th, 2010, Taivas TV7′s statement from managing director Martti Ojares on World Impact Ministries Finland regarding the removal of Youngren’s program states:
Also stated in the Channel 7 translation (which I am not sure is printed in full by WIM)
a) Peter Youngren states he has not heard from Finnish authorities, fair enough.
A request has been made for a statement from Finnish police. He is aware an investigation was launched.
b) World Impact Ministries was aware the program was pulled in March as EKM states
c) EKM doesn’t appear to have had any programs on Channel 7, only product.
From what I understand from the station statement EKM software sales were suspended
c) It appears EKM has not had programming on the station contrary to the inference by Mr. Youngren that EKM leadership could not get their programs on the station – false equivalence fallacy from where I sit.
d) Despite the Youngren program being yanked off Channel 7, World Impact Ministries continues to advertise it on thier listings page
The perils of computer translation. The Ojares letter quote speaks of TV programs, not software. The keyword is “ohjelmia”. Sure that word is also used of software programs, but not here. Translation programs are notoriously blind to context.
EKM’s electronic sales or mailing lists are not in any way controlled by or affiliated with TV 7.
Hiski:
Thanks.:^)
I appreciate your help and I’ll try this again.
1) EKM paid for Youngren’s program to air on Channel 7
2) EKM did not and does not produce their own tv programs
3) Youngren continues to list Finland’s channel 7 as an international distributor even though it is not and
4) Youngren’s website states his program was pulled in Finland
“I have documentation from the owner of TV 7 in Finland that it is not allowing EKM to air any TV programs by its present leadership.” – Youngren ChristianWeek April 29th, 2010.
I’ve written Martti Ojares and asked for a copy of their March decision.
I see Helmi(Pearl)Media continues to offer Youngren product.
Do you know why?
http://www.helmimedia.com/tuotteet.html?id=1/
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Hello, I am not new to these witch hunts. Not that I am trying to deminish the work being done in testing the fruit of people and I use “witchhunt” because I believe the times call for believers to be wise in whom they allow themselves to listen to. In the past, I wanted to know more about the word of faith, seeker sensitive, churches and what I found was a rabbit whole of insanity and terror that any informed Christian would weap over.
I know Peter Youngren, and I know his Toronto Celebration Church. I have had meeting with him in recent weeks and I tell you that your blog has helped myself and friends in our decisions regarding ministry. God knows that it is terrible for someone with power and wealth to take from someone who is weak and without without. Yet, I am watching this happen.
Sorry that I can not go into too much detail but I wanted to let you know that I agree with you that this man much like Sen. Grassleys 6, are not what they say they are. Perhaps, they started off alright but God knows, that we know them by their fruit. Pray for me in accodance to your faith.
Jo
Hi Joseph
After some time working with and being closely involved with PY
– I came to the conclusion that this man seems to suffer from accute “Narcissism Personality Disorderâ€.
There is no other explaination to the continuous, repeated behaviour patterns manifested in his life and ministry.
This dangerous personality disorder when combined with complete lack of accountability in ministry is perilous and highly toxic.
Narcissistic people often live tumultuous lives, as few people can tolerate them for long. PY is a prime example.
When you understand narcissists, it becomes easier to deal with them = FLEE, FLEE, FLEE as quickly as possible!