437. Conference in Oslo

It is now about 20 years since brother Thorleif Hansen held Bible studies with a little flock at 12 Rosteds Street. The living room was small, and it was usually stuffy; but the friends were glad to be able to meet together. Brother Thorleif Hansen had a definite gift for teaching Bible classes. And since he was also a zealous and righteous man who did not spare himself, his work has borne rich fruit. Brother Hansen went home to God on July 28, 1919. He was only 27 years old. He had a great care for the friends in Oslo. It was moving to see it. Many still remember him today, thanking God for what he meant for them. Brothers Hansen and Skiaker were the first brothers in Oslo with whom my brother Aksel Smith came in contact. They would sit behind the screen at 11 University St, while the dentist A.S. had a patient in the chair. As soon as there was a free moment, they came out and spoke together about God’s Word. I was there with them once and saw how they worked together. Now all these three dear brothers are home with the Lord; but their work lives on.

Three or four years ago we bought Vogtsgate 35, in Oslo, a piece of property that had a stable at the rear. This was converted into a meeting hall which could seat approximately 80 people. But God was with us in the work, and more and more people started coming. We started holding open-air meetings in Rolløkken and Birkelunden. A great many people were able to hear the Word of the cross. A number of musically talented brothers came along, so the music was very good, the zeal increased, and the crowds stood still and listened, even on the days when it rained on them. This fall, when it got dark sometimes, a few young boys created a bit of a disturbance up there in Rolløkken. However, a number of these have since come and confessed their guilt and said that the Word had had an effect on them. Brother Aslaksen has been in Oslo for quite some time now and has spoken at 24 Bridge St. and in Søylesalen. People have been streaming in, and many have been gripped by the fact that it is possible to have victory over sin by taking up your cross daily and fighting the good fight of faith. The circumstances forced us to get a larger meeting place, where people would be able to hear the Word. By pure coincidence, we got a place on the third floor of Idrettens Hus. It is a very nice hall which seats about 500 people. We met in this hall on Saturday, the 28th and Sunday, the 29th of this month. We rejoiced that God had been with us over the years, from the small beginnings up until now. We intend to keep on going down, by the grace of God, and to become even more humble in our own eyes, so that the Lord can continue to bless us. I would guess there must have been 300 to 400 people gathered, many of whom we did not know. We will now have this place every Sunday for the whole day, and every Wednesday, from 7:00 o’clock in the evening. Remember this if you ever come to Oslo. The rent is set at 3,600 kroner per year. This is not a small amount, but by the grace and help of God we will manage it. The best thing of all is that we now have so many priests among us; in other words, people that have passed from darkness into His marvelous light. And everyone agrees that the flesh with its passions and desires is to be on the cross. A result of this is that the blessing and promise of Abraham is able to rule among us. There are of course a few who hesitate to believe in this death to sin and death from sin, but they are too weak to do any harm worth mentioning. Little by little most of the newcomers understand that it is best to keep quiet, at least as far as the flesh is concerned, since this does not lead to the end of our faith—the salvation of our souls.

So now we commit the meetings in Oslo into God’s hand. He who began this work, which had such lowly beginnings, will Himself lead it forward and complete it.