SAM is a free, Christian, evangelical denomination based in Jönköping, concentrated in southern Sweden. It has no fixed confessional documents; the Apostles' Creed is used in worship, and the Lausanne Covenant underpins ecumenical cooperation. The movement emphasizes revivalist Christianity with personal conversion, faith, and confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Worship includes Bible reading, preaching, praise, and the sacraments of Holy Communion and baptism. Membership is based on confession of faith in Jesus Christ and baptism; both infant baptism and believer's baptism are practiced. Congregations are characterized by extensive children and youth work, democratic structure, and commitment to equal worth of all people.
SAM engages in mission and aid work in about 20 countries worldwide. Its annual conference is held during Ascension weekend at Gullbrannagården near Halmstad, attracting many visitors with programs for all ages, including children's meetings, activities for 10-12 year olds, teenagers, and young adults. The conference includes worship services, seminars, concerts, quizzes, and other social activities.
We want together to receive, be formed by, and embody Jesus Christ in the world.
On Saturday, a business meeting covers formalities like finances and presents results from the vision group. The vision group has been working on SAM's direction for 2026–2033, with workshops held at last year's conference. Three new thematic areas for the coming years are 'Increased fellowship', 'Growing faith', and 'Expanded mission'.
Four core values to shape the movement's culture are 'authentic', 'forgiving', 'courageous', 'hopeful'. Ulf Häggkvist has been mission director of SAM since 2021. He is responsible for the leadership team and is assisted by a national mission director and an international mission director.
Formally splitting the leadership role is not currently under consideration, according to Häggkvist. SAM runs a campaign 'Vi ber och ger' (We pray and give) in early 2026, focusing on prayer and collected gifts for the movement's work. The 2025 Christmas campaign 'Julgåvan 2025' supports the Kenosis Educational Center for Roma in Romania to help children complete basic education.
The most rewarding part of his role is meeting interesting people, ecumenical exchanges, and visiting sister churches worldwide.
A café gathering on Epiphany at Bankeryds Missionskyrka features inspirational stories about SAM's mission in Sweden and abroad, with Ulf Häggkvist, Martin Ström, and Henrik Lundström. SAM encourages members to support the movement through a church fee, which also benefits local congregations. The 'Vi ber och ger 2025' campaign focused on church planting, international work, and the Academy for Leadership and Theology.
In 2024, 'Tillsammanskvällar' (Together Evenings) focused on sharing faith under the theme 'Bärare av goda nyheter' (Bearers of good news). SAM wants to be a movement where relationships carry and mission is the heart. In November, mission director Ulf Häggkvist and colleagues visit local congregations to explore 'increased fellowship, growing faith, and expanded mission' and share SAM's strategies for the coming years (SAM 2033).
Visits are scheduled for Hillerstorps Missionskyrka, Tenhults Allianskyrka, Skarpnäckskyrkan, Storegårdskyrkan Eksjö, and Laholms Missionshus. SAM believes in God as creator and calls for responsibility for the earth, integrating care for creation and people's vulnerability as part of discipleship. SAM emphasizes that each congregation is self-governing.
Its position is that sexual orientation should not determine fitness for leadership. A debate arose when cooperation between two local congregations was broken after one hired a homosexual youth leader. SAM has received media attention after a congregation held a vote on whether a homosexual person can hold a leadership position.
According to Dagen, Ulf Häggkvist described SAM's clear line while acknowledging congregations' freedom of self-determination. The outcome of that vote has not been disclosed.