I'm writing this blog entry from the backstage room of a night club called Klubi (http://klubi.net/) in Turku, Finland. We've spent the last few hours setting up our stage set and sound check is about to start. We're going to be playing with a local band and a well-known Finnish band. The doors open at 8pm (3 hours from now) and we'll be on last at around 11pm. Pray that many people will come to the show tonight and that God will move powerfully through our show. We really need your prayer support! 

There is internet in the club, so I'm going to try to chronicle the night by providing frequent updates on twitter. Check it out: http://twitter.com/adpierced

Also, a few pictures of this year's No Longer Music tour have been added to the Steiger International fan page on Facebook. Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=98243&id=16823469806

We have arrived here in Finland. We've enjoyed a great day off today. Tomorrow we have a large youth meeting in the evening, on Thursday we have a concert in a city called Turku, on Friday we have a large outdoor concert in the center of Helsinki and on Sunday we are running a Evangelistic Artists Seminar in Helsinki.

I don't have much time, so here's a quick summary of our last concert in Croatia:

Our last concert in Croatia was another great night. Once again, we found ourselves playing to a very atheistic, punk crowd. The club was packed with people and they were very engaged in the show. Unfortunately, the club owner asked that we not preach after the show, so we invited anyone interested in our message (it is VERY clear in our show) to come outside and talk to us. Many people came outside and we were able to have long conversations for hours after the show. We gave away many bibles and other literature and quite a few people signed up to attend our follow-up meetings in September. Praise God for another great night! Please continue to pray for those that responded and they will grow in their faith.

Below is a prayer request from David Pierce:

Pray that God protects the local team in the Middle East and that the beginnings of the youth center  are powerful.  This is the first time something has been done like this in this area and it faces much opposition. Also pray that we find sponsors for the rental costs and support teams. Also pray for Mark Johnson from Minneapolis who is going there at the end of the month.
 
Pray that Jesus gives the No Longer Music team the power to finish well.  Its been good but stressful and we need a fresh anointing from God. Pray that I have the right words when I preach at the end of the shows and for good weather when we do the outdoor show on Friday.
 
110  people  have signed up in Croatia to attend the follow-up meetings that will be in September and we hope to launch a bible study groups in two cities. Pray for Luke and Anja Greenwood who will be leading the follow up meetings in Croatia in October and that God protects those who have made first time decisions to follow Jesus.

Last night, we played an outdoor show in a town called Rijeka. We were supported by two Christian metal bands. Around 400 people - consisting mostly of young atheistic punk types - covered the town square where the concert was held. Apparently, this city is the center for the alternative, punk rock scene in Croatia. 

We started at around 10pm and the concert went well. Afterwards, David stepped into the crowd and passionately preached the Gospel message. He asked those who wanted to surrender their lives to Jesus to come forward and kneel. Many came forward - touched by the message they had seen in our show and the words that David had spoken. After repeating the sinner's prayer, David asked everyone to join hands and over 100 people held hands on the square. 

Afterwards, Luke shared about a follow up event that he and Ania will be leading in September. He asked those interested to fill out a form and over 50 people did that. This is incredible when you consider the people we were reaching last night. We then spent next several hours having long conversation with people about Jesus - so many of the young people there hold strong atheistic beliefs, but they were so open to hearing about Jesus. It was truly an amazing night! 

Below is a comment from Marin - the lead singer of one of the Christian bands that played with us yesterday: 

Brothers, my name is Marin and I'm a singer from croatian christian metal band Effatha from Rijeka, where we suport NLM last night. It was so powerful, and presence of the Holy Spirit was so obvious. Thank you David and all of your great people. Croatia needs concerts like this one. Many people talk to us, and we share our telephone numbers and contacts with them, many are interested in Christ now.We will keep contacts with them, it's so important. David, you are wonderful human being, and God works with you and your crew great job. Thank you ALL for everything and we will continue to be in contact. God Bless you NO LONGER MUSIC

Tonight, we are playing in a well-known alternative music club in Zagreb called Mochvara (which means "swamp"). The concerts starts at around 7:30pm and we will be on at around 8:30pm. So please pray for another great night filled with God's power! 

The band that is playing before us tonight, is led by a young guy who came to a NLM concert last year. God deeply moved him during our concert and he came to our follow-up meeting. While we were praying for people, he came and asked for someone to meet and pray with him. He said he really felt the urge to confess his sins and repent before Jesus. Luke prayed for him and then he prayed to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Our Croatian promoter has kept constant contact with him, helping him to grow in his faith and now he has started a christian band and will be playing before us tonight at Mochvara!