JILDWI - Jesus is Lord, Deal with it!

Background
Pontus J. Back grew up in Vasa, Finland with his parents. He was adopted at the age of seven and God found him the best possible parents, Olof and Maj Britt Back. At the age of four he came in contact with music and started to play guitar. He formed his first band, "The Killers," at the age of eight. After school he went to different music schools and got kicked out of them all because of his rebellious, disruptive ways. He established a relationship with the Devil, who created an alcoholic in Pontus.
He met his first love, Hannele, in 1990 and they married in August of 1993. They welcomed the birth of their first beautiful child, Johan Sebastian, in December, 1994. Today they have four children: Johan Sebastian, his sisters, twins Jennifer and Jessica (born in July 1997) and their youngest beauty, Jeannette (born in May of 1999).

Pontus' life changed in 1995 after meeting Status Quo bassist Alan Lancaster and legendary Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt. Pontus made his first trip to London, England in 1995 and met Whitesnake guitarist Micky Moody. They established a friendship, and Pontus invited Mickey and his friend Steve Simpson to do a short tour of Scandinavia. This was how Pontus got into show business. "I can't blame anything on my friends, music or my family," says Pontus. Pontus soon adopted the ways of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, and they took over. He managed numerous tours for major artists such as Uriah Heep, Sweet, Slade, Boney, Graaf Sisters, Linda Lampenius, The Boppers, Hep Stars and many others.

He loved the road life and, deciding to play on a professional level himself, formed the band The Rubbish Brothers with John J. Kulju. They became the backup band for many artists such as Steve Simpson, Ian Hunt, Willy Finlayson and former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Mike Estes. Pontus formed a partnership with Mike Estes and together with Dave Hlubek (founding member, guitarist, writer of Molly Hatchett) they started Skinny Molly.

Meanwhile, Pontus also toured as the guitarist with New York City porn/rock band, Erocktica; he also booked their European tours. After years of touring and partying, Pontus became sick and tired. He performed 150-plus shows a year and he was deep into the classic, rock-star lifestyle of drugs and alcohol. "I thought I was a rock star, but I was just another drug and alcohol abuser," says Pontus.

In 2005 he established a friendship with Tangier and Cinderella bass player Garry Nutt. They soon became close friends. Pontus knew that Garry carried something special, but it took him a long and hard time to realize that Mr. Nutt was a born-again Christian.

Salvation

By March 1, 2006 Pontus was desperate and depressed because of his lifestyle. His band members gave him two choices: continue drinking, and they would leave the band, or stop drinking, and they would try to support him. He decided to give it a try--but he knew that he could not do it on his own. His long-time friend, Ben Antell, had prayed for him for at least seven years, and he tried to tell Pontus about Jesus. Pontus found peace with Ben and decided to trust him and start a new life, together with Jesus.

On March 1, 2006 Pontus accepted Christ as his Saviour and Lord.

Pontus was able to continue the tour and he stopped drinking. However, he thought he could do the drugs because of the stupid excuse that "God created the weed.” He neither went to a church nor did he do anything to build up his relationship with Jesus. He prayed every now and then, when life was hard. Soon he was back drinking again and he managed to empty three big bottles of vodka every day. Too much!!!

He did his last tour with Erocktica in November, 2006 and he managed to mess up that tour with too much drinking. He was back where he was earlier in the year and now his health started to fail. In December, 2006 a friend of Pontus told him that there was yellow in his eyes. ”Then I knew something was really wrong!” Pontus says.

He continued drinking and felt worse than ever. He was facing death. On January 3, 2007 Ben took him to a small church outside his hometown, Vasa. He was scared going to church and he built up thoughts about what the Christian people would say as he walked in to the church. He was wrong! They welcomed him with open hands and with the love of Jesus Christ. Pontus could cry out and get his first personal touch from above. ”I felt that these people had something special and I wanted what they had!” Pontus says.

Pontus continued to visit the church for a couple of weeks but his condition was too bad. In February, 2007 he was admitted to the hospital in Vasa. At this time he already had a relationship with Pastor Olle Rosenqvist and the pastor was among the first who visited him at his deathbed. Pastor Rosenqvist asked the doctors what they were going to do with Pontus. They told him that there was nothing they could do. They said that he would die in the next few days. His kidneys did not work, he was diagnosed with an incurable liver cirrhosis and all of the nerves in his legs were dead (so he was basically paralyzed from his back down to his toes).

Encounter with Jesus

Pontus’ new Christian friends and other Christian people did not give up. They all knew that there was someone who could do the impossible. They laid hands on him and prayed in the name of Jesus Christ. One night at the hospital, Pontus had a personal visitation and Jesus himself stood next to Pontus’ death bed. He told Pontus

“When you get up from this bed, go out and tell the people about me and about your life. Help other people with same problems and make sure you tell all young people about the dangers in life that you have experienced.”

WOW! Those were the three letters in a text message sent to Ben Antell at 5:00 the same morning. Pontus was filled with the love of Jesus Christ, and knew then that his day was not over. The next day the doctors could start working on his body; they did, and two weeks later he was out of the hospital. He spent a total of 33 days in the hospital bed, and those who came to see him can testify that it is indeed a miracle that he is alive today.

The path to where Pontus stands today was not easy. Lots of tears and pain, but for Jesus Christ, nothing is impossible. He was baptized in water April 25, 2007 and baptized in the Holy Spirit a short while later. In February, 2008 he went back to the hospital to check his condition. The results did not show anything from his past. God gave him a new liver and today he is completely healed. He walks on his own legs without any problem. He is working full time for the Kingdom of God. He knows that he has a calling in his life and he is taking it seriously.

In May, 2008 Pontus heard God’s voice; he followed the signs and ended up in Lakeland, Florida. He spent ten days at the Florida outpouring getting spirit filled and he connected with evangelist Danny Neale from England. Ten days later, Danny and Pontus had ten days of revival meetings in Finland.

Since the summer of 2007 Pontus has shared his testimony on different places. People who know Pontus have seen what Jesus can do with their own eyes and followed the sign. People have been saved, healed and delivered through Pontus ministry.

In october 2008 God opened the door to the schools in Finland and during two days Pontus preached the gospel to nearly 300 students. Pontus has a new goal and that is to preach the good news to no less than 10000 students before the summer of 2009.

_{In november and december 2008 God spoke clearly to Pontus and he was invited to preach in USA in 2009. At the same time the relationship with formed Cinderella and Tangier bass player Garry Nutt was ignited into passion and fire. Garry officially joined the band and came to Finland to record with his brother and friend.

In april 2009 his book}_{Ristin Oma}_{was released by Päivä Oy in finnish and in may 2009 before a two week long crusade with revivalist Jeff Garvin his album}_{Ride to freedom}_{was released. A new market and missionairy field opened up for Pontus in Finland among the finnish speaking people.}

_{During 2009 Pontus has also established relations in Sweden and a short version of his testimony was broadcasted all over Sweden by the Swedish television when he attended the program Good morning Sweden. Since that date Pontus have been visiting Sweden regullary
and another missionairy field is open.}

_{More doors opened in 2010 and through this ministry people have been able to find Jesus and people have been saved, delivered, set free and healed. One important thing to mention is that Pontus is working out of Frank Mangs Center in Närpes, Finland wich is the heritage of evangelist Frank Mangs.}

_{The new version of his life story "En rockares väg till korset" was released in Swedish in march 2010. Read more about that in the books and cd section on this page.}

_{His vision is clear and it is all about what Jesus told him to do! Go out to all the people and tell them about his Lord and Saviour and give his testimony to the people. That is what Pontus is burning for today!

Jesus is Lord! Deal With it!}

To book Pontus write to pjb(at)netikka.fi

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Our 17th anniversary and a bright future

Pontus J. Back - A true story about a changed life of a finnish rockstar

Background

“When you get up from this bed, go out and tell the people about me and about your life. Help other people with same problems and make sure you tell all young people about the dangers in life that you have experienced.”

Jesus IS Lord, Deal with it!

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