Whitehead, Charles (President)

 

In March 2008 when I was the CO in Drammen corps I heard about an interdenominational pastors meeting in Asker. It was on a busy day, but I managed to find the venue just as it was going to start. When I opened the door, and entered - one in the congregation exclaimed: "Praise God - there comes an interpreter."

It was a great experience to listen to Charles Whitehead as he shared that The Roman Catholic Church  had 180.000 members who had experienced a Charismativ Renewal - Whitehead served as President and the leader-team had an office in the Vatican and Pope John Paul II - used to visit them when the leader-team had their meetings. 

In this link you can find more information about the movement.

Bramwell Tillsley, General

 I interpreted Bramwell Tillsley under:

"Two Days with the Word"

in Oslo Feb. 1993 just before he was elected General

It was a blessing to interpret solid scripture-forcused teaching! 

Biography

Tillsley has written extensively for Salvation Army periodicals and is the author of several books:

"Life in the Spirit" 

"This Mind in You" 

"Life More Abundant" 

"Manpower for the Master"

Swanson, Sue & Barry C. Swanson, Commissioner (CoS)

I interpreted Sue & Barry Swanson at 

The annual Congress in June 2012 

Already in the 'pre-meeting' for the retired officers I understood that this was going to be a blessed time. In addition to the main guests of the Congress, the florist Finn Schjøll was invited and made a presentation in which he involved Sue - they straight away were in tune, and with a smile her husband commentet to me: "The two of them are made for each other!".

It was a delight to interpret both Sue and Barry - what they had prepared to share was so in line with the spiritual 'climate' at the time. I had for some years seen something in Isaiah that resembled a sandwich - and in the last meeting of the congress Sue confirmed the 'fill of the sandwich. (I don't think that it is a coinsidence that all three parts now had been confirmed during a congress by three individual guest-speakers). 

Biography Barry S. Swanson

Ed Silvoso, Pastor

I interpreted Pastor Ed Silvoso in:

A one-day seminar on Prayer-Evangelism in Oslo May 2002

Biography

Ed Silvoso is Director of Harvest Evangelism. He worked for several years in crusade outreaches with his brother-in-law, evangelist Luis Palau, before founding Harvest Evangelism to assist the church in Argentina in reaching the entire nation for Christ.

He travels all over the world to encourage pastors to work together to reach and win their cities for God.
It was a blessing to interpret him - and I felt that I knew him through his books. He is very eager to see women released in ministry.

Silvoso has written a number of books, e.g.:

"That none should perish"

"Prayer-Evangelism"

"Women: God´s secret weapon"

"Anointed for business"

You find more information in this link

 

Reinder Schurink, (Commissioner)

I interpreted Reinder Schurink after he had retired on a visit to
Norway and Oslo Temple in June 2002.

I remember his sermons and particularely his illustrations from 'lived life' both in his own ministry and faith-stories of some of his colleagues.

That Magna and I should be responsible for the pioneer-work he had started whilst leading the work in Russia hadn't even touched my wildest imagination. In 1993 Schurink opened the work in Ukraine and Georia and in 1994 in Moldova.  

Harry Read, Commissioner

I interpreted Commissioner Harry Read in:

"Days of Inspiration" in Kristiansand Feb. 1994

Biography

Harry Read was born in UK 17 May 1924. Read has been Principal of the International Training College, Chief Secretary - second in command - for the Canada and Bermuda Territory,
and Territorial Commander - leader - for the Australian Eastern Territory and the British Territory. He was a nominated candidate for the Generals office in 1986 and has witten extensively for
Salvation Army periodicals and is the author of e.g. "Words of Life". Read was promoted to glory in 2021, and received The Order of the Founder in 2019: 

Here is a link to a video about his life

Oliver Raper, Pastor

I was Pastor Raper´s interpreter for:

The introduction of the "From minus to plus" campaign in Bergen 1995/96

Biography
Pastor Oliver and Brigitte spent almost 15 years working with Pastor Reinhard Bonke at 'Christ for All Nations', Oliver being the UK director of CfaN. They started CWM in 1995 and commissioned Truck 1 to be built in autumn '97. After leaving CfaN in '97, Oliver became the senior pastor of the Birmingham Christian Centre where CWM's main office was based until 2001. He is still going strong in 2026.

The purpose of Raper's visit to Bergen was to get all the churches to spread the booklet "From minus to pluss" to all the people in Bergen through door to door visitation to give each household at least one booklet. 

When God asked Reinhard Bonke to take this initiativ, Bonke's reply was: "Why me, You have put Africa on my heart!" 

God's answer: "You are not my first choice, in fact you are my third choice. The other two refused to do it." Bonke's answer: "If you want me to do it, I will make it my first priority, not my third!" (cited from my memory of Raper's sermon he was an excellent communicator)  

TSA in Bergen was part of the spreading of the booklet. 

Vic Poke, Commissioner

I interpreted Victor Poke in:

The "Follow me!" Campaign
in Drammen 17th of Feb. 2008 

The SA's annual Congress
at Oslo Kristne Senter June 2009 

Biography

Victor Poke was born in Australia in 1946. He is married to Roslyn. They have served in Australia, United Kingdom and Sweden/Latvia.

It was always a blessing to meet Vic. He was promoted to glory in 2015. 

Brian Peddle, General

Just before Whitsun in 2022, I was asked to be the interpreter for General Brian Peddle during a visit to the territory where regional meetings were held for inspiration. I think they had forgotten to ask someone to interpret for the closing in Oslo. 

I have suggested several times that I should actually be exempted from interpreting as my brain works slower than it used to. However, I said 'yes', and interpreted first in an officers-meeting and thereafter in a "Public meeting" that was also streamed. 

But it worked well and by God's grace I quickly got into the flow. I know Brian and Rosalie well, and Magna and I were on The High Council where he was elected General in May 2018. Peddle was also pleased, if I correctly understood his comment after we finished : "Your preaching has improved!" - and replied: "And so has yours!" - at least the brain worked fast in the reply 😂. 

John Ord, Comissioner

I interpreted Commissioner John Ord on different occasions when he was the territorial commander in Norway 1991 - 1994, however Colonel Jan Peder Fosen was his private secretary and was the one following them when they travelled around the territory, both John and his wife Lydie Ord were very good Bible teachers.

I had also the joy of of interpreting him when he came as tour-leader with Croydon Citadel band
to Oslo May 2002. 

Brian Mills, Prayer-mentor

I was one of Brian´s interpreters in:

"Interdenominational Seminars on Prayer and Church Planting"
Bergen 1994/95

In 1983, Brian Mills, former Assistant National Director of Mission England, had the idea to get people to meet weekly in threes. 

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

Matthew 18:20

Read more about it in this Lausanne-document from 2024

John Matear, Commissioner

I interpreted John Matear in:

A course in Church Growth
Jeløy 1991

John has served in leadership on corps-, divisional and territorial level. In 2001 he became the Territorial Commander in the Caribbeans and in 2006 he became the TC in UK-territory and he retired in 2013. 

Ron and Lindi Masters

I interpreted
Ron & Lindi Masters in:

A tentmeeting in Etnedal 1999
In the Temple corps 2001

Biography

Ron & Lindi Masters were the leaders of "Heart After God Ministries" and were pastoring Shiloh Church (Glenwood - Durban - South Africa).The church is an autonomous local church under the leadership of a Team of Elders relating directly to "Heart After God Ministries".

Ron & Lindi are South Africans and have 3 children, Melanie, Daniel and Jeduthan. Their ministry was three-fold: worship, prophetic and teaching, with Lindi being particularly gifted and anointed in prophecy and words of knowledge while Ron, as a prophetic psalmist and songwriter and Bible teacher, operated in a corporate prophetic flow. Ron was promoted to glory in 2007. 

Lindi is still active in ministry.

Ah Ang Lim, Commissioner

 

I interpreted Commissioner Lim as the main speaker during

The Territorial Congress - Oslo 1994

I remember him as very gentle, mild, sincere man of God - he forgave me my first greeting when I met him: "I hope your main language is Mandarin, because my Cantonese is very rusty!" - when I saw his smiling face, follwed by "Do you really speak Chineese?" - I had to beg forgivness and say that I depended on him speaking English - his English was excellent with a charming accent. 

His messages were centered around following Jesus and not let the world come between ourselves and Christ as the light so that we walk in darkness. A blessed memory! 

Ken Lawson, Major

I interpreted Major Ken Lawson in a course on preaching for officers at

Jeløy Folk High School in 1992

Good feedback from the attenders!

Dick Krommenhouk, Commissioner

Dick Krommenhouk spoke fluent Danish when he first stood on the podium at a congress in Norway in 2009, but he preferred to speak in English. His argument was that Norwegians struggle to understand Danish anyway - (which of course is right, however I think we understand Danish better than the danes understand Norwegian). That's why Dick also became one of my victims. He is a good communicator. 

I also served on THQ when under his leadership, and we did quite a few projects together. Like the theme-song for the congress in 2014 "Jesus in our time"

Here you find the text (with music) in Norwegian, English, Rumanian and Russian 

 

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.

Bernice King, Reverend

 I was Rev. King´s interpreter during:

THE ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE SALVATION ARMY IN NORWAY 2001

Reverend Bernice King is the daughter of Martin Luther King. She was also one of the speakers at TSA's International Congress in Atlanta in 2000. She was a challenge to translate because she was not used to have an interpreter - so I just had to 'speak on top of her from time to time.

You find her life-story here:

The Official Website of Rev. Dr. Bernice King

Tony Kennedy, Major

Magna and I met Tony and Patricia for the first time when we met them as our assisting DCs in Ukraine where we had a joint welcome meeting in Kiev (see picture). For the Kennedys it was their third appointment in EET in their first three-year term in EET. We shared a great fellomship together. After an appointment back in their home-territory Canada, we met them again in Murmansk in 2009. There was already a strong connection with the corps in Kirkenes in Norway, and Fretex was trying to establish a ministry in Murmansk under the leadership of Karstein Kristiansen. Magna and I travelled together with Karstein, his wife Solfrid, and the DCs in Northern Norway Divison Margaret and Paul William Marti. It was a wonderful reunion - also with the corps officers shom we knew from our first term in EET, Galina and Vladimir Baskinov. 

One of the tasks Tony had come to do was officer's review with the COs and I stepped in as interpreter for review Tony had with Vladimir - so they both became 'victims' of my interpretation - it seemed to work out OK. God is gracious. When we needed some Sr. officers to step inn for short term leadership throughout EET when we were in leadership - Tony and Patrcia stepped in several times - wonderful people!

The COs Alexandr and Nadina Volosenko stand on each side
Tony and Patricia are next to Nadina - we next to Alexandr. 

John Larsson, General

 

John Larsson was my first "Congress-assignment" as an interpreter during:

The SA's annual Congress in Oslo in 1992

Ten years later he visited the congress again - this time as the Army's international leader. In the public meetings he preached in Swedish. In a seminar on music, he spoke English, and again I was his interpreter - this time with simultaneous translation.

Biography

John Larsson, born of officer-parents 2 Apr. 1938, was in 1992 territorial commander in UK. In 1999 he was appointed Chief of the Staff in the Salvation Army (2nd in command in the world), and from 2003 - 2006 he was the General of The Salvation Army. Apart from his ministry as a preacher and church-leader, he is known as a very capable composer. He is co-writer with General John Gowans in 10 stage musicals.

John Larsson is the author of several books, e.g. "How Your Corps Can Grow" and the autobiography: "Saying YES to LIFE" "Inside the High Council", "The incredible Booths". 

More about John Larsson here