Ole Olsen

Ole Olsen

Our dearly beloved brother went home to God on Wednesday, May 5th, in Fredrikstad and was buried from the Glemmen church on Wednesday, May 11th. Approximately seven hundred friends attended the funeral.

The fact that so many people were gathered to attend a funeral in the middle of the week indicates that Bro. Olsen was an extraordinary person who was dearly loved by many.

Bro. Olsen was radically converted in 1937 during a great revival in Bagn in Valdres. Before his conversion he was a fiery leader in politics and in sports. He painted his parents’ house red on the May 1st holiday, wore a red sweater emblazoned with a white hammer, and participated in the May 1st parade with a red flag. He fought radically for what he saw was right, and he was also respected by his opponents.

The darkness in the world as well as among religious people was widespread in Valdres. As the revival continued to spread with light and power and joy, and more and more people were converted, opposition to it also increased. However, even when he was unconverted, Ole Olsen stood up against the rabble which tried to disrupt the meetings. He also took up a battle against the local priest and the leading personages in that area who were against the revival. All these opponents were put to shame as the good fruits of the revival became evident.

Ole Olsen came to a meeting together with his comrades. The meeting hall was filled with young people—converted and unconverted. At the end of the meeting, Sigurd Bratlie asked if anyone wanted to get converted. Olsen went forward, threw himself on his knees, and said, “Here is one!” His comrades were considering whether they should do the same, but they walked out instead. Imagine if they had followed Olsen’s example and had said, “Here is also one!” “Here is also one!” Then they would have found happiness together with Olsen, and their lives would have been rich and interesting.

Just as Saul of Tarsus was stopped by a light from heaven in his fierce pursuit, so Ole Olsen was stopped in his pursuit and was led from darkness to God’s marvelous light. God saw that Bro. Olsen could be used as a special worker among the youth, and He gave him grace and wisdom to that end. He was married to a God-fearing and good woman who was among the first four to be along in the revival. They moved to Oslo and from there to Fredrikstad. He was a zealous worker at our conferences at Brunstad right from the time we first bought the property in 1956. Year after year the number of the friends increased, especially the number of young people. Conferences have been held at Brunstad during the summer, at Easter, at New Year’s, and at Pentecost all these years. Several thousand young people from all five continents have attended these conferences, and Bro. Olsen has been one of the driving forces in this great youth work. He was radical against sin, but he loved the sinner. He wept and he exhorted, privately and from the podium, and he gained an abundant entrance into their hearts. He was truly someone who could fire the others on.

Brotherhood and Ole Olsen were inseparable. He exhorted the young people not to seek the things that are great in the world. Quite often he said, “The greatest thing you can be is a brother among brethren.” Jesus is the first, the greatest, and the most excellent among the brethren. He was the only begotten when He came to earth the first time. When He comes again, He will be the firstborn among many brethren. This is the most precious flock you can receive grace to be with.

“Then one said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’” Matt. 12:47-50.

Brotherhood and discipleship are one and the same; it is the most exalted and glorious thing we can partake of. It is completely different from being the usual kind of religious person. Brotherhood is found only in the body of Christ, with Christ as the head, through obedience to Him. The revival to discipleship is still continuing in Valdres after all these years.

Bro. Olsen’s wife, Ingrid, went home to God on February 9th of this year. The time between their deaths was brief. She was a pious and God-fearing woman who was a great help to her husband. They had twelve children, and almost all of them are brothers and sisters in the church. Ingrid Olsen’s funeral was also a great and blessed occasion for which approximately five hundred friends were gathered.

The memorial feasts for both were like glorious revival meetings. On such occasions we are awakened even more to pursue Christ’s virtues.

We have all received a limited time of grace, and it is of the utmost importance for us to get as much as possible out of it for eternity.