Below is an email from Gaute, the young man who invited us to Norway.

Dear Flip, Miss Pat, David, Pastor Mike, Abbey and Joseph (and Kristen), 
 
First of all I want to thank you so much for coming to Norway to minister last week. You were such a blessing to me, Pastor Einar and his wife and I think to Ludvig Nessa also. We just started up with outreach a few months back, and are still just getting started with the street ministry. Not to speak of all the people that witnessed what we were doing on the streets, and the people that were ministered to. I know that whatever their first reactions were, people saw, most of them for the first time, Christians that lived out their beliefs. Your coming really gave us a boost that we will use for all that it is worth.

Your zeal in ministry is really contagious, and I think you came at the right time.  Though none of the "important" Christian leaders showed up to support us, several of the foot soldiers did, and there were many Christians who watched us and, seeing what we did, may wake up and "get to work."  The "resistance" that showed up was hardly worth being proud of, though they did some material damage and created a lot of commotion. The harder nuts to crack, didn’t show up, but if we keep going, they might.. I look forward to that day.

I sure hope you had a delightful and fruitful stay, and that you were well taken care of. And I sure hope that your memories of this trip will take you back to my nation. We will do a similar outreach at some point in the future, and could need reinforcements from America at that time also. Then, Joseph, you are welcome in a special way, since you weren’t able to come this time. In fact, the last two weekends next month and the week in between, I believe there is going to be a gay festival in Oslo, and we will try to do some type of ministry then, so whoever wants to come back then is most heartily welcome.
 
Once again, thank you so much for coming. I hope to see you again whenever I come to the States the next time.
 
I will write a report on what happened each day and send to you soon.
 
May the Lord bless you abundantly in your work,
 
Sincerely from Norway,
 
Gaute


Below is Flip’s response:

Dear Gaute,

You, Pastor Einar, Pastor Ludvig, and all of the rest were a great blessing to us.  We were treated as royalty and, as unworthy servants of our Lord, were all very aware of your many kindnesses to us.  We were especially aware of Jesus’ kindness to us as we were introduced to a country that has everything but the fear of Almighty God.  How sad it is in Norway to be without Jesus and not even care.  It is indeed hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, is it not?  

I see your mission as God’s “church in exile” in Norway, to come out of the closet and into the streets more and more.  Your wonderful theology must become biography in the streets no matter the cost.  Why?  Because the people in Norway are God’s creation and they are worth it.  He loves them very much.  He desires to draw them to Himself.  This will not happen if the church remains in the four walls of a church building.

Gaute, I am not talking about the church of our friend the college professor at Oslo University.  He is a wonderful Christian man, but he will never bring the powerful truth of the Gospel to deal with the issues of the day for which the world and the devil are contending.  He will never storm the gates of hell with the Gospel of Christ for he is too busy trying to build bridges to them.  He does not want to offend anyone.  This will never allow him to deal with the issues that are savaging the people of Norway.

He will not deal forthrightly with the murder of unborn children.  He will not deal forthrightly with the sin of homosexuality.  He will not deal forthrightly with the lie of Islam.  He will not deal forthrightly with sin.  Therefore Norway remains in darkness with light all around it.  Yes, Jesus desires to pierce the darkness that covers its landscape and the darkness that suffocates men’s souls.  He desires the truth of His Gospel to set the men of Norway free!

This is where the “church in exile” must rise to the occasion with the true Gospel of Christ.  You are more than you have become!

Thank you, brother.  We are looking forward to seeing you in the states soon.

In Christian love,
Flip