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Islamic groups have for several years used our streets to spread Islam. Now Christians are also appearing. Last weekend there was a tent bearing the inscription “Norway for Jesus” in the centre of Trondheim. Not “Jesus is Muslim”. And the Christians are apparently to be seen more frequently. – It was the first time with this equipment, and there will be more street evangelisation, both in Trondheim and other places around Norway, says Bjørn Stokka, leader of Norge for Jesus.
Newly established street evangelisation
The Facebook group Norge for Jesus has almost 8,000 members, and it originates in the organisation Norge for Jesus, a voluntary and non-profit organisation that works to make the gospel of Jesus Christ known throughout the country. The organisation engages, inter alia, in street evangelisation, prayer, testimony and the communication of God’s word in the public sphere. The evangelisation commenced on Saturday 21 February, with tent and stand in Nordre gate, in the very centre of Trondheim.
Bringing the gospel into the cityscape
“We set up the stand at the top of Nordre gate and placed ourselves at the service of sharing God’s word with those who passed by,” writes leader Bjørn Stokka on Facebook. And further:
“With tracts in our hands and a desire to be available, over the course of the hours we were able to distribute several hundred. A catechist took many to be shared with an entire confirmation class, and another took several in different languages to pass on in the workplace. The people we met were open and friendly, and many received both testimony, God’s word and literature. We were able to pray for several, and also met believers who expressed joy at seeing the gospel being brought forth in the cityscape. In the midst of it all we experienced a deep blessing in being able to stand there together with Jesus.”
Norge for Jesus also has its own website. There they write about themselves:
“We live in different parts of the country, but stand together in the desire to see Norway for Jesus. Common to us is the desire to see people met by God’s love, raised up in faith in Jesus Christ and led into a living fellowship with Him as Lord in their lives. We are not affiliated with one particular denomination, but wish to walk together in prayer and deed with all who carry a heart for reaching people with the gospel.”
The leader of Norge for Jesus invests in visual communication of the Christian message. Photo: Facebook.
Missionaries in Norway
Bjørn Stokka is chairman of the association and publishes numerous posts on Facebook about the missionary mission of Norge for Jesus.
“Norway needs the gospel. It is time for prayer, renewal and a new boldness in the body of Christ. May the Lord awaken a deep love for those who do not yet know him, and grant us grace to live faithfully in the commission he has given,” he writes in a longer post in mid-February, under the heading “Begin to send missionaries out in Norway”.
And a few days earlier:
“Dear friends and followers. You mean more than you perhaps realise yourselves. Many warm and stable Christians are needed in the time that lies ahead – and you are precisely such people. Among you here are many thousands who are not yet in the group Norge for Jesus, and you truly have something valuable to contribute.”
Wants more to participate
As late as 2 February he asked whether more would join:
“I wish to get in touch with some who go out on the street with the gospel of Jesus Christ, a group that is already engaged in this or that could consider beginning, and who could consider doing this under the logo of Norge for Jesus.”
Stokka received several responses. Among them from two who evangelise in the Moss–Oslo area but wish to remain independent, from some who are planning something in Fredrikstad, and from one who “goes on the street in Molde on his own initiative together with the Holy Spirit, but is curious about how you evangelise.”
On 21 January he thanked all who have supported the project. At that time the tent roof and walls had been delivered, as well as the remainder of the equipment for the stand of Norge for Jesus.
“This is a great joy and gratitude for us. It means more than words can express. Now we look with expectation and humble joy to taking this fine evangelisation equipment into use, in service for people we meet in squares and streets,” wrote the leader of the organisation, which continues to collect money and support so that the evangelisation can be expanded.
No longer only “Jesus is Muslim”
In recent years it has seemed as though Islamic missionaries have conquered the streets. Not only in Norway, but throughout the Nordic countries there are various Islamic groupings that have stood there with tents and free Qur’ans to convert the Nordic population to Islam. Everything from Ahmadiyya Muslims to various extremist milieus, such as Norsk Dawah, with the convert Yousuf Dawah / Kent Michael Malmø at the forefront. Or Nordisk Dawah with the convert Fredrik Bjelland.
Nordisk Dawah at Oslo S claims that Jesus was Muslim, even though Islam was invented several hundred years after Jesus died on the cross. The man in the centre is Fredrik Røe Bjelland, a convert. Photo: Bente Haarstad
Many have been irritated that it is only Islamic and Islamist activists to be seen on the streets, moreover such as are so brazen that they write “Jesus is Muslim” on their tents. These work diligently to convert searching and perhaps vulnerable Norwegian youths to Islam, and appear to have nothing else to occupy them.
The Christian awakening
Now Christians are thus taking up the competition for attention. They too engage in street evangelisation. Not only Norge for Jesus, but also Foreningen Tro og Håp, which has even larger tents than the Islamists.
Foreningen Tro og Håp on Facebook.
Foreningen Tro og Håp was established in 2022, but has its background in Arne Borgersen and Bønnetjenesten for Norge from 1995.
“We in Foreningen Tro og Håp have a fire in our hearts. We desire that the whole of Norway shall be saved. That Christians shall begin evangelising and be visible out on the street. Both in villages and cities throughout the country,” writes Tro og Håp on its website. The association is led by Gunnar Rokseth and Stina Andreassen.
Norge for Jesus must otherwise not be confused with Norge for Kristus. That is a congregation, founded in 1979, which is located in the old Victoria Hotel and Misjonshuset in Sarpsborg, according to the website. These hold services every Sunday and Tuesday, as well as prayer meetings, conferences and other gatherings. Every Tuesday they hold meetings with Stefan Salmonsson which are broadcast on Kanal 10, they write.