Bernt Stadven—80 Years

Bernt Stadven—80 Years

On the sixth of July of this year our dear and utterly faithful brother, Bernt Stadven, was 80 years old. In this connection we had a feast at Brunstad in which many friends from Norway and other countries participated.

In his message, Br. Kåre Smith emphasized that Br. Bernt Stadven has especially preserved the inheri­tance that Br. Sigurd Bratlie has left us by constantly impressing us with the exhortation in 1 Timothy 4:16: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both your­self and those who hear you.” He drew a picture of our dear brother as someone who is an unusually good, gentle, and merciful servant of the Lord. When Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:4 “that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you,” this is precisely how we have learned to know Br. Stadven. There­fore the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by the life he has lived and by his ministry in his lo­cal church and the world over. “For the fruit of the Spirit [light] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.” Eph. 5:9. This is the fruit of walking in the light that radiates from a hid­den life with Christ in God. It is easy for us to think of Br. Stadven when we, for example, read in 1 Thessalonians 2:8: “So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” Such a life inspires confidence in people’s hearts. Gifts alone do not impart confidence! On the other hand, the fruit of light which, among others, is goodness, does inspire confidence in people’s hearts. It is easy to receive exhortations when they are given in this goodness.

In Proverbs 27:9 we read that a friend’s tenderness and upright counsel delight the heart. It is again easy to think of Br. Stadven. Br. Kåre J. Smith expressed his personal thankfulness to Br. Bernt Stadven for unfailing brotherhood without any disharmony whatsoever. During the feast it was repeatedly mentioned by several brothers in their testimonies that it has been, and is, such a safe feeling and a blessing for the entire church to see the beautiful relation­ship and mutual respect that exists between Bros. Kåre J. Smith and Bernt Stadven.

During the feast very many edi­fying traits of our dear brothers’ life and ministry were illuminated. It was made clear that the goodness and mercy that has been revealed in his life and in his ministry is rooted in this: “You have loved righteous­ness and hated injustice . . . .” Heb. 1:9. There is power and decisive­ness in Br. Stadven’s ministry. His is a battle—not against flesh and blood—but against sin and dark­ness. His ministry in the church has the power to accomplish things just as it did when he was actively engaged in his vocation.

He himself witnessed enthusi­astically about “going down with speed” on the way of humility so that it creates an undertow after you. And the fact is that there is such an undertow behind him. He is truly a pillar in God’s temple. In 2 Thessalonians 2:15 we read, “Stand fast and hold to the doctrines you were taught.” Stand fast! Hold on! Again this is a word that so well defines our dear brother, an example for old and young.

His dear wife, Liv, who during all these years has faithfully stood by his side and about whom he said that she had been “marrow in his bones,” could only confirm that her husband’s teaching agreed with his life. She could testify about her husband’s pure spirit and his great zeal against sin from the time he was a youth. Br. Stadven’s children also spoke about a free and good home in their childhood in which they daily witnessed their parents’ sincere love for each other that created a pure and good atmosphere around them. One of the sons-in-law remembered something his father-in-law said re­cently in one of his messages: “I love the daily cross, and I have loved it from my youth on!”

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Ps. 103:2. In his testimony Br. Stadven said that he was constantly reminded of this word. He could so clearly see God’s leading in his life—God’s calling and election—even from his childhood years. He also mentioned that Br. Sigurd Bratlie and Br. Kåre J. Smith, and of course also his wife, Liv, have been of inestimable importance for his development.

May God give him strength and health to continue his ministry among us, and bless his wife, chil­dren, sons- and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grand­children.