Nov 12
HelgeBibleverse, Christianity, Evangelism, God, Jesus, Missions conference, frontline, missions
This weekend I was at a mission conference for youth in Oslo. It was hosted by the organization I am now working as a civil worker in, and was crowded with both high school students and people in the beginning of their twenties. The conference were sold out with approximately 600 youths participating.
The best part of the whole conference was not that the church were packed with people, but all the sermons and Bible teaching so dead on to the Gospel and our calling in missions. Tor Erling Fagermoen (principal of Fjellhaug Mission School, and soon to become leader of NKSS Laget) spoke on Thursday about “Until” (the whole world hears). He emphasized the fact that there is still many unreached people groups, and that we have got a commission to go out and make disciples of all nations (ethnos, people groups). Andreas Nordli (the leader of YWAM Norway) spoke on Friday. I’ve heard the same speech on gofest this year, but it is still just as true as before. His main point was that it was different callings for mission. There is a call for us to make disciples, but not everyone is called to go out. He mentioned a story from when he was a missionary in Romania and was struggling. Some people “adopted” his family as theirs, and supported them in prayer and called them regularly. Not just sending a prayer here and there, but really intercessing for them. He told us he could never have been without, because he and his family were about to give up the whole project.
So what were this conference all about?
And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
Why?
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me
What?
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Where?
all nations
How?
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
What is then but to go?
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!
Revelation 7:9-10 ESV
There is a party. Invite all of your friends.
Shalom!
Oct 14
MortenHappenings, Life, Prayer requests
Last Saturday I got a call from my dad saying he had gone to the doctor with pain in his side, and they found out he has a large tumor on his left kidney. There was not much I could say so I just started to pray over the phone. Both my mom and dad assured me I did not have to come home right away and that I should be were I felt God wanted me. God later told me that I could chose what I wanted to do, and that there would be a cheap flight Wednesday. Sunday I spent praying and talking to the amazing people at the Derby YWAM base and I was really encouraged by them, and by The Holy Spirit bringing His peace. In another phone-call my mom told me my fathers condition was worse than we imagined, he was in hospital and had much pain, and further scans of his body showed he has cancer in his back, skeleton and thye to.
At this point I wanted to be with my family so Monday evening I went online to get a plane ticket, and sure enough the cheapest and best flight would be that Wednesday. The next days in Derby before my flight home was a real blessing. I got to talk to wise people there, and God spoke to me through them and in prayer, and in a way I felt God prepared me to face the difficulties at home. I suddenly understood more why God put me there instead of in SOE or something more permanent. Coming to Derby all I knew was God wanted me there, and that this would be a “trial” visit to seek God in prayer for the next step. My agreement with YWAM there was that i should stay for 3 weeks and then see if I would come back or what God wanted, but for a reason I did not know right then I felt I was not to buy a return-ticket for that date. In one of my families hardest times ever, God is by our side.
Coming home my faith has been tested allot, it is hard to se my father who I have never seen sick being weak. He is staying at home until his operation to remove his kidney the 18th. Even though he is weak and eats morphine tablets alot, I feel as if God is holding His amazing arms around us. I am so glad my parents are saved. We have had some good prayer times when people have come to visit us and pray, and every prayer time has left my dad e bit more encouraged. When the presence of the Lord comes, the pain, fear and darkness has to flee from us. God is more than great and to know Him is all life is about.
I have some prayer requests:
Pray for unity in our family, love for each other.
Pray for peace, joy and light over us.
Pray for healing!
Pray for my dads operation the 18th.
Pray that we will trust in God being almighty and search His will for this time of struggle.
Pray that we will have faith for healing if that is what Gods wants us to.
Pray that our intimacy with God will increase, and that our faith in Him will grow.
Giving up our rights to Jesus.
Pray for my family for: Strength,wisdom. And against: depression, fear, anxiety and disbelief.
In Jesus mighty powerful name!
PS. I love to read your posts guys, miss you all allot my brothers. God is love and in Him I love you like crazy.
Blessings
Oct 14
JonasUncategorized
Hey!
It’s great to hear from you guys. I get so encouraged by all the stories. Seems like all of you are doing great. I’ll try to keep the ball rolling with some more good news.
Life in Montana is absolutely great. Montana is actually quite similar as Norway in many ways. A low population, mountains, forest, cold temperature and lakes. Overall a very beautiful nature. But I’m not gonna write an essay about the nature in Montana, I’ll save that for another time. Life at SBS is quite as expected. I can’t really say that I was surprised by the amount of work. My days contains of lectures and homework mostly. I love every second of it even though it’s hard. We have lectures about the different books in the bible. The study is consistent of three parts: Observation, Interpretation and Application. The main goal of the course is to apply what we learn in a practical way in life. Biblical truth will only change things if its getting applied.
Life at the school is great. My roommate is an awesome guy and the people at the base are very nice. “It’s YWAM”, no more is needed to say. I also watched a 12 hours seminar called, ” The truth project from an organization called, ” Focus on the family”. This dvd lecture changed my worldview and really helped me to understand God’s character more. I will make some copies when I get back home and give it to people. Life is in general very good at the moment, but I do miss evangelism a lot. You guys are out on the field and doing the evangelism part which is awesome. I’m very excited to read what God is doing through your lives during the year.
God bless you all
Oct 12
VegardUncategorized
Hey!
I’m Vegard! 21 years old, from the most beautiful city in the world, Bergen, proud supporter of SK Brann.. and for the moment doing a School Of Evangelism(SOE) in Skien, Norway! I want to live my life with and for Jesus, because He has given me everything. So here, I will post stories of what is happening in my life, things God show me.. and hopefully it will be to encouragement for you who read this. God bless:)
As already said, I am doing an SOE. It is evangelism, and it is challenging.. Even though I haven’t really gotten into it yet. Just getting myself out of my “safe-box”.. But most of all just realizing that what I have found is a truth that the whole world needs. Every single person. In Skien, in Europe.. In the whole world. And that what I’ve found is the only thing that can set people free.. Into a true relationship to the one and only God. Who loves them so much.. Oh, it is so good. God is so good. And I should want people to know. Well, already I do.. But I just want that passion to grow more and more. But even though my school is about reaching out to people, I still find that THE most important thing whatsoever is spending time with God, being in His presence and studying His word. Whatever situation I can be in in life with work, friends, whatever.. All my life should come from the relationship with Him. As it says in John 4,14: The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The water Jesus gives me is the whole reason and source that I can live and show His love with my life and actions. I just wish I understood that more myself.
Every friday we have night time evangelism in Skien. A lot of drunk people and partying, we’re walking around handing out free coffee and prayer:) Me and two girls from the base went around handing out coffee. We meet this one guy and his friend who is a woman. We talk to them for a while, having a good time, laughing. When they are about to leave, we tell them that we are christians and that we believe in Jesus and prayer.. so, can we pray for you? Well, they say yes. So we’re allowed to pray for the guy, for his economic situation and his uncle kids. And for the woman and her family.. Afterwards, they’re really touched. The woman gives one of the girls a hug and says thank you.. The man becomes silent for a moment and then asks: “you guys really believe in prayer, don’t you?”. Yes, we do.. I loved meeting those people. None of them accepted Jesus there and then, but who knows.. Maybe this was just an important step for them in their way to finding Jesus. I believe and hope so.
One more story before I go to bed. Every thursday after teaching we go out in the city to evangelize for an hour. Me and a guy from the staff walk around talking to people. Right as we’re about to finish our walk, we see this old man. We walk towards him, and start talking to him. Ask him if he needs prayer for anything. Actually, he does. He has a lot of struggles.. Doesn’t want to tell us what they are, but God knows, he says. He was a christian in his young days, but had fallen away from God.. Now he is on his way back to Jesus, he tells us. “It is strange that I should meet you guys right here, since I’m on my way back to Jesus”, he says. We get to tell him how safe he is in Gods hands and assure Him that we will pray for him. Wow, God leads us to people He wants us to meet.
Have you ever thought about that? That God puts people in our situations that need to hear the good news, the news about Him? Can we afford to be silent?
God bless, Vegard
Oct 03
HelgeBible, Bibleverse, God, Prayer answers, Prayers, Quotes bergen, salem, sivil duty
Today I was finally presented to the church I am working in as my sivil duty. The cool thing is that God once again confirmed that I am supposed to be where I am by dreams I’ve had in the past. I do not often dream, but it happens occasionally. God had planted this ministry in my dreams long before i started, and both of my dreams were exact replications of the surroundings and what happened. Today I was standing in the front of the congregation, and in the middle of my introduction I was reminded of the dream I had. The light, placement on the stage, monitors placed in from of me, and the situation I was placed in. It was all the same.. The last time this happened was sitting by my desk three weeks ago writing a mail. The same thing: Lighting, computer screen, placement in the room. All the same as in the dream I had. I haven’t even been in this room before I started seven weeks ago. I’ve had “déjà vu”s before that I could not really say where I had experienced, but this was something different. Something I was convinced God was having a finger in.. So I asked Him what this meant, and He answered me that this is where He has placed me, and this is where I am supposed to do my ministry this year. What a relief to get confirmation by God! I’ve been asking God for confirmation if where I am really is the place He wants me to be, and this was a reminder from God that He is keeping track of me.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
- Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
I want to quote Ken Helser in the end to shortly describe my present right now:
Yay God
Shalom
Oct 01
MortenEvangelism, God, Happenings, Jesus, Life, Prayer requests, Prayers
I have arrived in England and have been staying with YWAM Derby for a week now. I was warmly welcomed as you would a family member, and I really feel at peace here. The plan so far is to stay here for three weeks, joining in the great work YWAM Derby is doing here. I feel great about just trusting God for the next step, and I know I’m in His will and in His mighty hands, thanks to every person keeping me up in prayer.
The work I’ve joined in so far has been great but challenging. Feeding and connecting with homeless/broken people, making friends with gangs of youth that hang out in the city smoking weed, and also doing a youth club are some of the things I have been doing so far. It has been great, but the conversations still only scratch the surface and I haven’t gotten close enough with anyone to really start sharing the gospel. So this is a big prayer need; open doors to share about Jesus either with words or deeds in a way that hits deep. And that the relationships I have started to build will become close and deep, masks off!!
I’m real exited to see how God is gonna use me here. I know he is using this first time to draw me closer to himself, and I long more and more for the times we have of intimacy. Pray that The Lord will show me what He is doing, and that I may dwell in His presence.
Thanks again to those who feel led to pray. God hears every single prayer for his name to be glorified through me here in Derby.
I will try to post testimonies, prayer requests and other updates on how I’m doing here regularly.
Oct 01
MortenEvangelism, Life, The Holy Spirit
On the buss station at the airport I saw a guy with a bag that said “Out of Africa”. I placed myself and all my stuff right next to him and prayed for God to give me something to say or to use me if he needed me there. I was kind of hoping he wouldn’t because I was tired and not very focused. But the guy turned to me right away and asked me about the busses. He had just come from South Africa and as I have just been there we had something to talk about. His name was Charles and he had family in Zimbabwe. After sharing some of my life with him, he told me his parents and other family members were Christians. He worked in psychiatry and he said allot of the patients could have been well if they would have given their lives to Jesus. I asked about him, and it was clear he had been thinking allot about giving his life to Jesus lately. “Just before i met you, right over there(he pointed) I was thinking about this.” It seemed to me that he might be a believer but that he had never been baptised in the Holy Spirit, as he knew the truth really well but he had never experienced God to be real.He told me I was lucky to have experienced Gods love and I had to agree. I told him he could to, and he answered I will, maybe when I get home I will. I said how about now? He looked around and said “OK” and bowed his head. I started praying for the Holy spirit to come fill him, but something felt wrong. After I had prayed a short prayer I asked him if God was speaking anything to him, ” Is there something you want to say to God” He just looked up and said, “no I think it worked”. As I could see and feel that it had not “worked” I just encouraged him to keep searching closer to Jesus. And then the buss came. I felt a bit uneasy about what had just happened because I felt I had pushed the whole decision taking on him a bit. I believe God later showed me it was because he did not understand that being saved is about giving Jesus Lordship over your whole life, and not about Jesus moving into your life as an accessory. He was not in the right place to give his life up yet, but still it was great to see that God was working in his life.
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