Jim Knaggs , Commissioner

I have felt a strong unity with many of the preachers whom I have translated. However, what happened by God's grace when I interpreted Jim Knaggs at our annual congress in 2014 was extra-ordinary. From the very first meeting and through the congress we ministered as 'one'. 

It was captured by the congregation as well:

This year's Norwegian Congress has been quite exceptional in so many ways, and amongst the many aspects which will long be remembered was the dynamic preaching that took place in all the meetings. I am referring to Commissioner Jim Knaggs and Jostein (Joe) Nielsen. What was different was that it was not just a case of the preacher with a translator standing by his side simply repeating everything that was said, but rather, because of the empathy between two Spirit filled men, it was more of a duet because each one gave the other impulses that spurred them on, and to those who understood both languages it was both an inspiration and a spiritual delight. 

This would not normally work! I can imagine in some situations where the main speaker would be irritated that the translator at times answered him back, but here it worked to the delight of the congregation and also at the same time challenged them. There were so many such moments between Jim and Joe that brought laughter, tears and challenge to everyone present. There was the repartee between them that not everyone would have picked up on. For example: at one point Jim was talking about an incident in Alaska, when he made a little aside mentioning other details. When he returned to the main subject Jim said to Joe "That was just a little extra." 

Immediately came the response, "I'll put it on the bill." I do not believe anyone attending the congress this year has ever experienced such powerful "duet" preaching as we have been blessed with. The whole congress was filled with blessings, but the Spirit inspired "duet" preaching will long live in the memories of those present, and especially for those who made life changing decisions during these days. Thank you, Jim and Joe, and the Spirit's influence in your lives. Do I hear an AMEN, HALLELUJAH?

Posted on FB by Gilbert Ellis 30th of June 2014

A little extra from me as well:

In one of his sermons he used an illustration about a birdwatcher who was so eager wathing a rare bird in the Grand canyon that he managed to fall of the cliff, but managed to grab a branch of a tree as he fell. As Jim was telling this he jumped down on the next level of the plattform with his hands over his head with a grip around an imaginary branch. He glimpsed me doing the same, and started to giggle. I kept serious and said: "You shouldn't giggle, this is a serious situation!"  - imiddiately he replied: "Is this mine or yours sermon?"

 - a good laughter in sermon makes the listeners relax, and when we relax, we become receptive to the Holy Spirit.