These two verses sum up our recent trip to Norway May 8-13, 2007. We came to Norway invited by a young man we met in Amsterdam. He was with us during our street ministry and believed Norway needed this type of outreach. Gaute set up a meeting on the university in Oslo and encouraged pastors and a few professors to join us in lifting up Jesus and proclaiming His Lordship and the good news of salvation.

 

During the four days of ministry, we displayed Baby Malachi pictures and distributed hundreds of pieces of literature. These horrible pictures opened the door to many conversations, debates, violent reactions and at least one conversion. We came to Norway with four Malachi pictures. We left with none. By the end of our trip, three out of four of our signs had been stolen and we donated the remaining sign to the local ministry.

 

It is the ultimate in foolishness and pride to deny the existence of God. Yet, here in Norway, there is no knowledge of God and His ways. Our host pastor commented that in modern Norway the scriptures carry no authority. These people have bowed at the altar of environmental worship and now honor the creature rather than give worship to the creator. To suggest there is a creator that we are accountable to causes the people to doubt your sanity!

 

Norway is the gem of Scandinavia. There are beautiful mountains, narrow deep fiords, crystal clear air, and sparkling water. Norway has one of the richest economies in the world. Yet looking into the eyes of the people, you see a discontent, in some cases outright sadness, and mostly a lack of hope.

 

We spent one evening and part of the next morning on the campus of the University of Norway. In the evening we introduced the gospel message of pro-life activism. The next morning, we took the Baby Malachi pictures to the University Student Mall and Forum only to find that academic freedom and free speech are only afforded to those who hold politically correct, pro-abortion, viewpoints.

For the next three days we set up a display and took literature to Oslo's city square. This square is where Pastor Ivair and Gaute minister each Saturday. It was here that we witnessed to Muslim's, secularists, pro-abortion advocates, Christians, a disgruntled woman, anarchists, homosexuals and Nazi like feminists. It was here that our signs were stolen and painted, and literature taken. But it was also an excellent opportunity to meet Alex, Dorothy, Kasim, a pro-life Polish refugee, and others who wanted to listen, debate and received our witness. Dorothy, a young Norwegian woman, said she had just prayed for a English Bible and was open to hear the Gospel. She prayed to receive Christ just before the anarchists came in and attempted to disrupt the outreach. What the anarchists didn't realize was that their presence gave a wonderful contrast between truth and lies, and love and hate. While the anarchists fomented, many stopped to listen to our proclamation and defense of the Gospel.

 

Pray for our brethren in Norway. They were greatly encouraged by our presence and received us with grateful hearts. Each evening they treated us to a wonderful dinner and inquired of methods of outreach. They are also eager for OSA and Life Coalition to make a return trip. We are grateful for all who gave financially and prayed for this missionary trip.