Pentecostal
Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement congregations in
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
(
Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
*Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
*Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including the ...
: ('Pentecostal congregations'), ('Pentecostal friends') and ('the Pentecostal movement')) is the largest
Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
free church
A free church is a Christian denomination that is intrinsically separate from government (as opposed to a state church). A free church does not define government policy, and a free church does not accept church theology or policy definitions from ...
in
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
with a total membership of 40,725 people in 2020.
The Pentecostal movement in Norway is a Christian movement. It is not a single organized unit, but consists of a community of 340 independent churches (free churches). The Norwegian Pentecostal movement runs humanitarian work, schools and missions in about 30 countries.
The Pentecostal movement follows a biblical, radical Christian teaching. The beliefs of
water baptism
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
and
baptism in the Holy Spirit
In Christian theology, baptism with the Holy Spirit, also called baptism in the Holy Spirit or baptism in the Holy Ghost, has been interpreted by different Christian denominations and traditions in a variety of ways due to differences in the doctr ...
are the characteristics of the Pentecostal movement, and this is perceived as the greatest difference between Pentecostals and, for example, Lutherans. Pentecostal gatherings are often held in simple rooms with few religious decorations. A congregation is not considered the church building itself, but rather the Christian community. In Norway, the Gospel Centre is the largest joint initiative in the movement.
Thomas Ball Barratt
Thomas Ball Barratt, also known as T. B. Barratt, (22 July 1862 – 29 January 1940) was a British-born Norwegian pastor and one of the founding figures of the Pentecostal movement in Europe, bringing the movement, or baptism in the Holy Spirit, ...
brought the Pentecostal movement to Norway in 1907. Barratt did not want to establish a new Christian movement, but rather wanted the Christian communities to be renewed. That was not the case, and he became the founder of the Pentecostal movement in Norway. Barratt was active in Sweden, Denmark and England, and when he visited Denmark in 1907, it sparked the beginning of the Danish Pentecostal movement. Barratt was a key figure in the establishment of the Pentecostal movement in several European countries, particularly
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
and England.
Prevalence
Public statistics show that the Norwegian Pentecostal movement has about 40,000 baptized members, and additionally, approximately 10,000 children of members. The number of members has remained stable over the past few years.
There are 340 Pentecostal churches in Norway. Most are traditional churches, but in recent years less-traditional churches have also been established, such as Jesus Church, which is a church aimed at youth.
The Pentecostal movement is considered among the world's fastest growing religious movements, with 600 million members.
The term ''Pentecostal movement'' covers the wider community. The Pentecostal movement worldwide is large and consists of many quite different free church congregations, organizations and societies, including the
charismatic movement
The charismatic movement in Christianity is a movement within established or mainstream Christian denominations to adopt beliefs and practices of Charismatic Christianity with an emphasis on baptism with the Holy Spirit, and the use of spirit ...
, the
Jesus Movement
The Jesus movement was an Evangelicalism, evangelical Christian movement which began on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s and primarily spread throughout North America, Europe, and Central America, before it su ...
,
Baptists
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...
, the
Word of Faith Movement, the Oasis Movement and many others. The term ''Pentecostal movement'' is used to refer to the community of Pentecostal churches with historical roots in the
beginning of the Pentecostal revival. Their followers are called Pentecostals.
The
Free Evangelical Fellowship, or ('the free friends') as they are also called, are considered by many as part of the Pentecostal movement. Historically, there have been some slight differences in the view of baptism in the Holy Spirit (spirit baptism). There are several other Pentecostal directions which in doctrine and practice are similar to Pentecostal movement, but which have a slightly different background and somewhat different teachings. These include the Word of Faith Movement and
Maran Ata.
History
The Pentecostal movement's roots go back to the
Holiness Movement
The Holiness movement is a Christian movement that emerged chiefly within 19th-century Methodism, and to a lesser extent other traditions such as Quakerism, Anabaptism, and Restorationism. The movement is historically distinguished by its emph ...
, which made its mark in America in the 19th century, but it was in 1906 that the Pentecostal movement and baptism of the Holy Spirit made a worldwide breakthrough at the
revival on Azusa Street in Los Angeles. The Pentecostal revival of the early 1900s affected many established denominations, focusing on Jesus Christ, the key teachings of the Bible, and the Holy Spirit.
Personal life as a Christian was also central and was expressed in an increased need for
evangelism
In Christianity, evangelism (or witnessing) is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Christians who specialize in evangelism are often known as evangelists, whether they are i ...
, prayer, and the use of
spiritual gift
A spiritual gift or charism (plural: charisms or charismata; in Greek singular: χάρισμα
''charisma'', plural: χαρίσματα ''charismata'') is an extraordinary power given by the Holy Spirit."Spiritual gifts". ''A Dictionary of the ...
s.
The term ''Pentecostal church'' was first used in the early 1900s by various congregations concerned with revival.
The baptism of the Spirit, as it was called, and Pentecostal revival came to Norway with Methodist priest Thomas Ball Barratt's return from the United States in December 1906. He had been on a fundraising trip for the construction of a building in Kristiania, now
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...
. Barratt had longed for the purification of the heart and the baptism of the Spirit, and when he was in the United States he happened upon the magazine ''The Apostolic Faith'' which discussed this. From New York, where he stayed, he made contact with the spiritually baptized in Los Angeles, which changed his life. Some time later he himself experienced "being filled with the spirit" and the ability to
speak in tongues
Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, is a practice in which people utter words or speech-like sounds, often thought by believers to be languages unknown to the speaker. One definition used by linguists is the fluid vocalizing of sp ...
.
Spiritual baptism in Norway
When Barratt came to Kristiania in December 1906, it marked the beginning of several revival meetings with speaking in tongues. When Barratt stood at the podium in the gymnasium in Kristiania on December 23, 1906 and told of his spiritual baptism, he wept. This was the first meeting after his return, and although he did not utter a word, it was of great importance: the Spirit was present. The day after Christmas, more people came to experience similar things. By New Year 1907, ten people had been baptized in the Spirit. This is considered the beginning of the Pentecostal movement in Norway.
The meetings aroused great curiosity, and many often sought out the long meetings. People were saved or experienced a renewed Christian life. But many Christians were sceptical of Barratt's baptism in the Spirit, and the new revival faced strong opposition and criticism,
in which the spiritually baptized were laughed at as religious fanatics. This contributed to the spread of the revival, and it spread like wildfire.
Initially, there was no set schedule or program at the meetings. The main content was likely to have been song, prayer and messages in the Spirit through speaking in tongues or
prophetic speech. At first, there was no preaching in an orderly form. The Pentecostal movement at the beginning was more subjective and impulsive than, and in great contrast to, the more set form of church meeting among the Lutherans. Eventually preaching became central to the gatherings.
Revival and stagnation
Despite ridicule and resistance, the Pentecostal movement grew rapidly. New congregations were formed mainly in southern and eastern Norway, and especially in
Telemark
Telemark is a traditional region, a former county, and a current electoral district in southern Norway. In 2020, Telemark merged with the former county of Vestfold to form the county of Vestfold og Telemark. Telemark borders the traditional ...
.
Church planting
Church planting is a term referring to the process (mostly in Protestant frameworks) that results in a new local Christian congregation being established. It should be distinguished from church development, where a new service, worship center or ...
or establishing business in new places has always been central to the movement. When new congregations are established, so-called outposts are formed. These are not independent churches or denominations, but are subject to the parent church.
From New Year 1907 the revival in Kristiania spread with great speed throughout the country. In many places, regular meetings began. Barratt did not want to establish a new Christian movement, but rather wanted renewal in Christianity. That was not the case, and he became the founder of the Pentecostal movement in Norway.
Throughout the 1930s, Norway was characterized by revivals in several places. This affected a number of churches and denominations and was a period of growth for the entire Christian community in Norway.
From 1945, after the war, growth stagnated. This period was marked by a deeper and more personal dedication to prayer and
fasting
Fasting is the abstention from eating and sometimes drinking. From a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (see " Breakfast"), or to the metabolic state achieved after ...
.
In 1937, thirty years after its establishment, there were 16,783 Pentecostals in Norway. At the 50th anniversary in 1957, there were 249 Pentecostal churches with 26,474 Pentecostals in Norway. In 2007, the figure was about 42,000, if children are included as well.
Dissenter Act
The
Dissenter Act restricted those who were not members of the
State Church
A state religion (also called religious state or official religion) is a religion or creed officially endorsed by a sovereign state. A state with an official religion (also known as confessional state), while not secular, is not necessarily a t ...
. The
dissenters
A dissenter (from the Latin ''dissentire'', "to disagree") is one who dissents (disagrees) in matters of opinion, belief, etc.
Usage in Christianity
Dissent from the Anglican church
In the social and religious history of England and Wales, and ...
did not have full civil rights and at the same time were given some special duties. Dissenters were banned from several professions and faced, among other things, a ban on working as a teacher, nurse, civil servant, judge or minister. This led to a kind of "ghetto existence" for members of the free churches. This treatment made them feel disregarded by society.
Gradually, the law changed somewhat, and the distinction between dissenters and the other Norwegian citizens decreased. In 1969, the Dissenter Act was abolished, and the concept of dissent disappeared from Norwegian law. At the same time, the Norwegian constitution was amended to give full religious freedom in Norway.
Churches
On May 18, 1908, the first Norwegian Pentecostal church was founded in
Skien Skien () is a city and municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county in Norway. In modern times it is regarded as part of the traditional region of Grenland, although historically it belonged to Grenmar/Skiensfjorden, while Grenland referred the Norsj ...
. It was called ('the Tabernacle'). The background for the foundation of the congregation was pastor
C. M. Seehuus' break with the Baptist congregation in Skien, a congregation which he himself led.
From 1910, several already-established congregations joined the movement, including Berøa Oslo, Betel Nærsnes, Filadelfia Skiptvet and Betania Kongsberg.
As late as 1916, almost ten years after its establishment in Norway, the first Pentecostal church in Kristiania was founded. It had 200 members, and the congregation had held meetings in various rented premises since 1910. Today it is called
Filadelfia Oslo
Filadelfia Oslo or Filadelfia Church Oslo () is a Christian church associated with the Pentecostalism in Norway, Pentecostal movement in Norway. It is the largest Pentecostal congregation in Norway with 2,092 members in 2019. It conducts extensi ...
. The new Filadelfia was inaugurated in 1938 after a major rebuild. Filadelfia Oslo is the Norwegian Pentecostal movement's largest congregation.
Throughout the 1920s many new congregations were formed in several places in Norway, due to the impression of God's intervention in life and that the spiritual gifts, as described by the first Christian churches, were again in use.
Missionary work
The
Pentecostal Foreign Mission of Norway conducts
missionary work
A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...
in more than 30 countries on four continents. Missionary work has always been central to the Norwegian Pentecostal movement, which has 300 active missionaries, of which approximately 140 are currently abroad. They are also involved in several projects,
humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and ...
and relief. These are many missionaries compared to the movement's membership numbers. It is said that "there is one missionary for every 100 Pentecostals". This is because the movement is organized with many independent churches (denominations). From the Pentecostal view, according to the
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
's example in the
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles ( grc-koi, Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; la, Actūs Apostolōrum) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its messag ...
, it is the individual congregation that is responsible for missionaries. The close contact between a missionary in the field and a church at home in Norway has therefore been positive for missionary engagement.
In 1910, the first missionaries were sent to China (
Henry
Henry may refer to:
People
*Henry (given name)
*Henry (surname)
* Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry
Royalty
* Portuguese royalty
** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal
** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...
and
Parley Gulbrandsen), India ( and ), and Argentina.
In 1915, a mission organization by the name of ('the Free Evangelical Missionary Federation') was founded by T.B. Barratt. In 1920 the name was changed to ('Norway's Free Evangelical Heathen Mission). In 1929 Barratt pushed for its dissolution, which happened in 1932. From then on, it is the individual churches themselves that have been responsible for the missionaries being dispatched. The movement later did not have any joint mission organization with responsibility for missionary activities.
The Norwegian Pentecostal Church's External Mission (, PYM) is an office that coordinates practical things for missionaries, such as an overview of mission projects, Norad support, visa applications, airline tickets and more.
In 1922, the first Pentecostal missionaries were sent to the
Congo, and after a somewhat difficult establishment, this became a major
mission field
A Christian mission is an organized effort for the propagation of the Christian faith. Missions involve sending individuals and groups across boundaries, most commonly geographical boundaries, to carry on evangelism or other activities, such as ...
. The missionary work in Congo was given its own name, CELPA, in 1995, at the same time as the national organization took over.
In 1983, there were approximately 350 active missionaries in 30 countries and 70–80 graduates waiting to travel.
Conflicts and reconciliation
In the late 1950s,
Aage Samuelsen left the movement and formed the church
Maran Ata in Oslo. A few years later there was a split with
Aril Edvardsen and the organization (Evidence of Faith) in Kvinesdal.
Several conflicts arose in the 1980s and 1990s due to
Word of Faith
Word of Faith is a movement within charismatic Christianity which teaches that Christians can get power and financial prosperity through prayer, and that those who believe in Jesus' death and resurrection have the right to physical health. The ...
preaching in the Pentecostal movement. One of the more striking characters is , who started his own megachurch, , outside the Pentecostal movement in 1985. In the mid-1990s, reconciliation came between Pentecostalism, the Faith Movement, Åge Åleskjær, Evidence of Faith and Aril Edvardsen.
The latter forms a separate branch. Aage Samuelsen's many songs are of great importance to the movement.
Credo
The Bible's words are interpreted to be true: that
everything in it is true, a recognition of the entire Bible as God's holy and
infallible word. At the same time, it is acknowledged that humankind does not understand everything or can fully explain all relationships. With the help of the
Holy Spirit
In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as ...
, however, Christians can gain a clearer understanding and greater understanding of what is written. The Pentecostal movement does not use explanatory
or other scripture besides the Bible. The Pentecostal movement believes in the Bible's revelation of God as the only One, the Father (spirit), the Son (the spirit robed in flesh), and the Holy Ghost (God's spirit poured out and the infilling of believers). The
return of Jesus
The Second Coming (sometimes called the Second Advent or the Parousia) is a Christian (as well as Islamic and Baha'i) belief that Jesus will return again after his ascension to heaven about two thousand years ago. The idea is based on messian ...
,
the last days
''The Last Days'' is a 1998 documentary film directed by James Moll and produced by June Beallor and Kenneth Lipper; Steven Spielberg, in his role as founder of the Shoah Foundation, was one of the film's executive producers. The film tells th ...
, and the
Millennium
A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting point (ini ...
play an important role.
The
baptism of the Spirit (baptism in the Holy Spirit) is an early Christian phenomenon, and first appeared on
Pentecost
Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christianity, Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in the Ne ...
in Jerusalem, following
Jesus' ascension to heaven. The disciples were gathered. Then the Spirit fell upon them, and some disciples became bold
apostles
An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to send off". The purpose of such sending ...
. The baptized Christians received greater boldness and joy, and they also received
spiritual gift
A spiritual gift or charism (plural: charisms or charismata; in Greek singular: χάρισμα
''charisma'', plural: χαρίσματα ''charismata'') is an extraordinary power given by the Holy Spirit."Spiritual gifts". ''A Dictionary of the ...
s that were a manifestation of God's presence.
Speaking in tongues
Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, is a practice in which people utter words or speech-like sounds, often thought by believers to be languages unknown to the speaker. One definition used by linguists is the fluid vocalizing of sp ...
is considered a prayer language that is used when one wants to pray not only with one's own thoughts and words, but also with one's spirit. However, speaking in tongues is not necessarily seen as being equally important for everyone.
Salvation
Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...
is understood as an active act on the part of God. The relationship between God and the human race was lost during the
Fall of Adam
The fall of man, the fall of Adam, or simply the Fall, is a term used in Christianity to describe the transition of the first man and woman from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience.
*
*
*
* The doctrine of the ...
. Through the sacrificial
death of Jesus Christ
The crucifixion and death of Jesus occurred in 1st-century Judea, most likely in AD 30 or AD 33. It is described in the four canonical gospels, referred to in the New Testament epistles, attested to by other ancient sources, and consider ...
on the cross and resurrection, God restores the relationship between himself and the human race. All this happens through personal faith, which is a gift of God.
Communion has a central place in the service life of the movement, in commemoration and proclamation of the atoning death of Christ. The Lord's Supper refers to a deep union between Christ and His church.
Baptism
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
is a baptism with full immersion in water, called believing baptism. Baptism is a voluntary choice. Baptism is an act that is done on the basis of faith and conviction. Baptism is a covenant of conscience between one who is baptized and God. For young children it is common to have a child blessing, which is not considered a baptism.
The Pentecostal movement has always had a social commitment to the poor and the excluded. This is done through
relief work
Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and ...
and
collections
Collection or Collections may refer to:
* Cash collection, the function of an accounts receivable department
* Collection (church), money donated by the congregation during a church service
* Collection agency, agency to collect cash
* Collection ...
. The missionary activity has focused on building schools, health services and taking care of the language and culture of each country.
The Pentecostal movement has a conservative view of
sexuality
Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...
and
cohabitation
Cohabitation is an arrangement where people who are not married, usually couples, live together. They are often involved in a romantic or sexually intimate relationship on a long-term or permanent basis. Such arrangements have become increas ...
.
The Pentecostals emphasize the idea that the Jews are God's chosen people, and are therefore Israel-friendly. Some give their support to
Zionism
Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after ''Zion'') is a Nationalism, nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is ...
.
Pentecostals have no particular celebration for Pentecost, although the first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples, is central to the movement. They celebrate Christmas and Easter.
The Pentecostal view of the Bible as God's word has been one of the reasons why they have been largely dismissive of the
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide Christian inter-church organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism. Its full members today include the Assyrian Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, most juri ...
because they believe the
ecumenical
Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...
organization has too liberal a view of the Bible.
Organization
Individual congregations are registered as independent religious communities with the county governor and make decisions independently. However, the different churches tend to maintain good relationships.
The organizational form of the congregations may vary. They often have a simple organization, modelled on the biblical
Book of Acts
The Acts of the Apostles ( grc-koi, Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; la, Actūs Apostolōrum) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message ...
, from the way the first Christian congregation was organized.
Many congregations are led by a pastor who works with several elders or
deacon
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...
s. Traditionally, the congregations have had only men in leadership positions, but today there are congregations that have
female leaders. Female speakers are not uncommon.
Membership
Individuals become members by enrolling in one particular congregation, preferably the local congregation where they live. Usually, they are required to proclaim their Christian faith to the congregation, and as a rule they must also be baptized. One can only be a member of one religious community (church).
Children in congregations who have grown up within the movement but who have not yet been baptized are referred to as ''belonging'', while those who are baptized are referred to as members.
Music
Music has played an important role since the beginning of the movement. The Pentecostal movement broke with the conservative view of religious music styles. The members of the Pentecostal movement had little to spare for the hymnals and chorales, which were associated with the church's liturgy and rituals. The music emphasized spiritual freedom and had a folksy, new and fresh style. Precisely this was likely the reason why the Pentecostal movement made great progress. The movement also received some criticism for the lack of quality in lyrics and melodies.
Solos, duets and smaller music groups have characterized the movement, but the music style and performance has changed significantly from the movement's beginnings in 1907.
Like the
Methodists and the
Salvation Army
Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...
, it is not uncommon to see
brass bands in the larger churches. Among the last such brass bands still in existence as of 2018 are the Salen Horn Orchestra in Halden, the Filadelfia Horn Orchestra in Filadelfia Drammen, founded in 1956, and Betel Brass in Trondheim, founded in 1958.
T.B. Barratt was a singer, composer, musician and songwriter. Many of his songs are found in the songbooks and . From the age of 18, Barratt translated and wrote songs and hymns. In 1887 he published the first songbook containing 96 of his own songs. Barratt published the songbook in 1911, with 587 songs. Many of the songs were written by Barratt, either newly written or translated from English. The songbook was first published in 1979.
The record company Klango was established early on and released a number of gramophone records. Among the most famous artists were Kjell and Odd, Milly and Oddny and Karsten Ekorness. Later, Filadelfiaforlaget released music on record and cassette. The name was later changed to REX Forlag AS, which has now been merged with Hermon Forlag.
Particularly in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, string music was both common and popular. These were smaller singing groups with stringed instruments. Mixed choirs or men's choirs were soon found in each church. Among the most well-known were probably the Filadelfia Choir in Oslo and Salem men's choir who were on par with the best in Norway. The lyrics were almost exclusively evangelical, and were about salvation, life and heaven.
In the 1980s and 1990s there was a period of many youth choirs and several released recordings. Betel String Music in Trondheim released three cassettes in the 1980s which were very popular.
From the mid-1990s, many of the lyrics have been characterized by more personal
praise and worship. Dancing and drama groups with multimedia are becoming commonplace in youth environments.
Joint initiatives
Norwegian Pentecostal churches have many joint organizations locally, nationally and internationally. This can entail mission work, care work, radio and television work, children's work and publications. Preachers meet for discussions and cooperation. Every year, key people meet at the Preachers' Conference for advice and inspiration.
Finnmark
Finnmark (; se, Finnmárku ; fkv, Finmarku; fi, Ruija ; russian: Финнмарк) was a county in the northern part of Norway, and it is scheduled to become a county again in 2024.
On 1 January 2020, Finnmark was merged with the neighbouri ...
's first private health enterprise, , now called (Betania Foundation), was established in 1937. The task was to alleviate the social distress among Finnmark's population during the interwar years.
In 1952 the first mission boat was purchased, or 'the Messenger of Peace mission boat'. It sailed along the Norwegian coast to smaller towns with
the gospel
The gospel or good news is a theological concept in several religions. In the historical Roman imperial cult and today in Christianity, the gospel is a message about salvation by a divine figure, a savior, who has brought peace or other benefits ...
. In 1980 it was replaced with a larger boat. In 2007, the boat was sold; the certification requirements and operating expenses became too extensive. It was remodeled and sailed under the name MS Vestgar.
In 1919, a Bible school was established in Møllergata in Oslo; this was the Norwegian Pentecostal Movement's first school. The school was intended for 100 students, but 400 met at school start. Later Bible schools or courses were established in several places in Norway. Hedmarktoppen, near Hamar, was first used as a convention site in 1954, while
Hedmarktoppen Folkehøyskole was established in 1970, and later came Sandvik Folkehøyskole, now known as Helgeland Folkehøyskole. Betel Trondheim started Tomasskolen, a Christian elementary school, in 2000.
('The Gospel Center Foundation') was founded in 1983 by Lise and Ludvig Karlsen. They were former drug addicts and felt a need to care for the community's outcasts. The first Gospel Center was opened in 1983 in a garage in Roa. The Gospel Center is Norway's largest private intervention in the field of substance abuse, and can accommodate 300 drug users at seven different centers around Norway. Hundreds have been given a new life.
The Pentecostal Children's and Youth Committee (PBU) coordinates the children's and youth work in the Pentecostal movement, publishes curriculum and organizes courses and conferences for leaders in children's and youth work.
The Pentecostal Leadership Council is a coordinating body. Its most important task is planning, conducting and following up the Pentecostal Preachers' Conference. It also processes referrals from public authorities, cross-Christian organizations and others. The leadership council strengthens the relationship between Pentecostal churches and takes initiatives to make the movement visible in Norway. Sigmund Terje Kristoffersen is the leader of the management council, elected in 2011.
Radio and TV
IBRA Radio was established in 1955. The name was later changed to IBRA Media due to its expansion into TV broadcasts and the Internet. IBRA Media is one of the largest TV and radio stations in the world and is owned by the Nordic Pentecostal churches. Its purpose is to preach the gospel to unreached people groups. IBRA broadcasts radio and TV to 110 countries in 82 different languages. It is estimated that 100 million TV and radio viewers can receive broadcasts. Every day, IBRA receives thousands of listener and viewer responses to its programs. Each year, more than 250,000 people announce that they have received salvation as a direct result of listening to the programs. The IBRA is neutral politically and does not criticize other religions or religious communities.
Many Norwegian Pentecostal churches produce radio programs and many broadcast local radio in their regions. Starting in 1983, several congregations established local radio stations. Several of the Pentecostal local radio stations are among the oldest in Norway and were started just after the authorities ended the state broadcast monopoly in 1981.
Some larger congregations are engaged in television production. In 1990 Filadelfia Oslo launched a local television station in Oslo called Filadelfia TV. Today the company has been transferred to TV Inter AS, which produces Christian television programs.
Egil Svartdahl's program signed its first major contract with
TV2 in 1993.
Publications
Barratt started the magazine as early as 1904, while serving as a pastor in the
Methodist Church
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related Christian denomination, denominations of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John W ...
. The magazine changed its name in 1910 to (''The Victory of the Cross''). Over time, the format and page numbers have changed and the magazine has taken on a more newspaper-like format. From the beginning, has been the movement's mouthpiece. In 2019, it was purchased by the Christian newspaper ''
Dagen''; it is now distributed as a supplement''.''
Other publications included , , (missions newsletter), (about mission work in Eurasia), (about the work of Norwegian Pentecostals in Israel), (about mission work in Mozambique), and (about children's aid).
Schools
The Pentecostal movement in Norway has several schools.
*
Hedmarktoppen folkehøyskole, Hamar
* Helgeland Folkehøgskole, Mosjøen
*
Norwegian School of Leadership and Theology
* Evangelisk Bibel-Seminar, Halden
* Filadelfia bibelskole (FBO), Oslo
* IMission bibelskole, Kristiansand
* MBS - menighetsbibelskolen, Sandefjord
* Hopen videregående skole, Eikefjord
* Bibelskolen i Trondheim, Trondheim
* Tomasskolen Trondheim Kristne Grunnskole
* Oasen barne- og ungdomsskole i Kristiansand
Modern individuals
Some profiled modern individuals associated with Pentecostalism include
evangelists
Evangelists may refer to:
* Evangelists (Christianity), Christians who specialize in evangelism
* Four Evangelists, the authors of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament
* ''The Evangelists
''The Evangelists'' (''Evangheliştii'' in Roma ...
such as
Egil Svartdahl,
Jørn Strand,
Jan-Aage Torp and
Levi Jensen.
See also
*
Christianity in Norway
Christianity is the largest religion in Norway. Norway has historically been called a ''Christian country''. A majority of the population are members of the Church of Norway with 68.7% of the population officially belonging to the Evangelical ...
References
Further reading
* In eight volumes.
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*
*
* ''Korsets Seier'' 2006 – 2007. Article series: ''Pinsebevegelsen 100 år''.
*
*
* ''Pinse for alle – 100 år'', appendix to ''Korsets Seier'', 19 January 2007.
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*
*
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External links
Pinsebevegelsen i Norge he Pentecostal Movement in Norway
*
Korsets Seier', the Pentecostal Movement's weekly publication
Pentecostal Foreign Mission of Norway
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pentecostalism In Norway
Protestantism in Norway