David & Beth Ivany

 

29. aug. to 2. sept. we had a gathering of all officers and seargants in the territory gathered at Jeløy. Our main guests were Majors Beth and David Ivany. David did most of the teaching, whilst Beth contributed with excellent singing and meditations on the piano. 

For me personally, it was great to see David again after 33 years - we were both at the "Strategy for growth conference" in London in 1989. 

TSA is a 'small' world ☝

The interpretation happened with simultanous translation, and we were several officers who shared the burden. 

Beth introduced one of the songs she had written to the tune "Finlandia": 

I translated it into Norwegian: "Å, Gud, vår Far, vi ydmykt kommer til deg."

General John Gowans

I met John Gowans for the first time in dec. 1974 when he invited international students in London to an advent-party. He made a great 'first-impression' on me, and I am so grateful for the impact he has had on TSA and on many individuals.    

I interpreted John Gowans at:

The Annual Congress of the Salvation Army in Norway in 2000

and in a campaign in Oslo Temple Sept. 2003
(just after he had retired as General)

Link to his biography 

I have made a specific blogg with the name "Gowans på norsk" (Gowans in Norwegian) were I have posted my 'translation' of all his poems and included the English texts. 

General Lyndon Buckingham

Magna and I were fortunate to have Lyndon as our 'line-manager' in the role as Chief of Staff when we were TCs in Eastern Europe - and I think EET was the first territory Lyndon and Bronwyn visited in their new roles when they came to conduct the celebration of 25 years precense in Georgia in October 2018.  

General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham visited our territorial congress in Oslo in the summer of 2025. 

It was decided that simultanious translation should be used for the first time in such big event. There are "pros & cons" with such a solution. If the interaction between the preacher works very well - the overall experience is better. This happened in the ordination of the cadets the night before the congress started. 

Our daughter Captain Janne Våje Breen (teacher at the training college) did a great job - and many have said that this was probably the best presentation during the event. However, simultanous translation was used - and I had a go in one of the meetings. I admire Lyndon's preaching and his enthusiasm for our mission. 

Here is a Biography

Dr. LOUIS GOLDBERG

I was Dr. Louis Goldberg's interpreter in the conference:

"Ordet og Israels sommerstevne"
at Danvik Folkehøgskole, Drammen 1993.

It was very interesting to interpret Dr. Goldberg and his teaching on the role of the Jews in an escatological perspective. 

Biography - link

Comissioner Israel L. Gaither (Chief of Staff)

I have had many wonderful experiences as an interpreter, but being allowed to interpret Israel Gaither is very high on the list. I experienced that God used him prophetically, and it was wonderful to be able to stand in the flow with him. The presence of the Spirit was very strong both during and after the meetings. Thank God that such people come into leadership positions! 

I especially experienced that his preaching from Isa. 54:1-4a was a direct message to us as a movement. It was very exciting that these were also the verses that Lars Berg (my friend and prayer-warrior) emphasized that God had shown him as the main focus through his 40 days of fasting and prayer. He shared this with us at the Tuesday prayer meeting a little over one week before the start of the congress. 

I received a personal letter from the Israel Gaither after the congress in which he felt the same unity and share this sentence from the letter "How grateful I am that our spirits were joined as we both felt the anointing of His Spirit in every opportunity of ministry." 

It had nothing to do with us, it was simply The Holy Spirit taking over control.  

Commissioner Frank Fullarton

 Commissioner Frank Fullarton  was the international secretary for Europe, and he was the first 'big event' speaker I was asked interpret as a translator in my home-territory. Apparently it went well, since it took a while before I stepped down from that part of my ministry. 

The event was the celebration of the centenary for the Salvation Army's social work in Norway 

in February 1991.

"A glimpse of the history"

Colonel John Dangerfield

 I interpreted Colonel John Dangerfield in a course on 

"Church Growth" for officers at

Jeløy Folk High School in 1991