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Smith's Friends is a worldwide Christian fellowship with no official denomination. Established in Norway early in the 20th century, they are called The Christian Church in official correspondence, but are also referred to as Brunstad Christian Church, "the friends", "the fellowship", "the Norwegian Brethren", or "the Norwegian Movement."[1] Johan Oscar Smith (1871-1943) was a Norwegian non-commissioned military officer and a religious preacher, who founded the non-denominational christian fellowship known by some outside the fellowship as Smiths Friends. Smith was born in Fredrikstad and grew up in a Christian family. ...
For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ...
(19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the...
The group has more than 220 churches in over 50 countries[2]. The Norwegian researcher Knut Lundby has estimated that in the late 1990s, its membership at 25,000 to 30,000 and growing[3]. As many as two thirds of its members live outside Norway.[2].
Background Johan Oscar Smith (1871-1943), credited as the founder of the group, was originally a member of the Methodist church. After a religious conversion in 1889 Smith began preaching to small gatherings. In 1905, his brother Aksel Smith (1880-1919) joined him and for nearly a decade, beginning in 1906, they were associated with the Norwegian Pentecostal movement. The two groups drifted apart as the Pentecostals became more structured. Some time after the split Smith's followers started to be referred to as "Smiths Venner," which translates to "Smith's Friends" in English. In 1908, Johan Oscar Smith met Elias Aslaksen (1888-1976) while serving in the Norwegian Navy. Under the leadership of Johan Oscar Smith, Aksel Smith, and Elias Aslaksen the group began to grow quickly, especially during the wartime years, and established their first congregation.[4] Brunstad Conference Center is the biggest worship center in Europe. ...
Johan Oscar Smith (1871-1943) was a Norwegian non-commissioned military officer and a religious preacher, who founded the non-denominational christian fellowship known by some outside the fellowship as Smiths Friends. Smith was born in Fredrikstad and grew up in a Christian family. ...
For other uses, see Methodism (disambiguation). ...
Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Athanasius · Augustine · Constantine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas Calvin · Luther · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Pentecostal...
Elias Aslaksen (1888-1976) was the leader of The Christian Church, known by some as Smiths Friends, from 1943 until his death in 1976. ...
Ranks Norwegian military ranks The Royal Norwegian Navy (often abbreviated as RNoN) is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. ...
Today, Smith's Friends still centers around Norway, and its main mission center Brunstad Conference Center. There are fellowships in more than 65 countries, which identify themselves as being part of The Christian Church (Den Kristelige Menighet in Norwegian).[4] Brunstad Conference Center is the biggest worship center in Europe. ...
The church has its own publishing house, Skjulte Skatters Forlag, publishing books and distributing audio-visual media intended for edification and spiritual help. The monthly journal Skjulte Skatter, ("Hidden Treasures") has been published every month since 1912.[5]
Teachings Faith in victory over sin plays an important role in the beliefs of Smith's Friends. They preach that Jesus was tempted, as he became flesh and blood when he came to earth, but did not sin and that it is possible now by faith in him to follow his example. The birth and life of Jesus and his crucifixion and resurrection are central to their doctrine. For other uses, see Sin (disambiguation). ...
Families are typically large, and are encouraged to be so.[citation needed] It is not uncommon to find families with more than 4 children.[citation needed]
Organization Smith's friends have no membership rolls. A frequently quoted criteria for being a 'member' is Galatians 5:24 (NKJV), "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Leaders are not elected; they are appointed based on a combination of their virtues and their natural abilities. Virtue (Greek αρετη; Latin virtus) is the habitual, well-established, readiness or diposition of mans powers directing them to some goodness of act. ...
After Johan Oscar Smith died in 1943, leadership passed to Elias Aslaksen followed by Sigurd Bratlie in 1976 and Kåre Smith in 1995. Each change in leadership occurred after the death of the previous leader. Johan Oscar Smith (1871-1943) was a Norwegian non-commissioned military officer and a religious preacher, who founded the non-denominational christian fellowship known by some outside the fellowship as Smiths Friends. Smith was born in Fredrikstad and grew up in a Christian family. ...
Elias Aslaksen (1888-1976) was the leader of The Christian Church, known by some as Smiths Friends, from 1943 until his death in 1976. ...
Criticism They emphasize self-sacrifice, denial of self, unquestioning acceptance of the wisdom of the brothers, and social separation from other organizations and the world at large.[citation needed]. Some of their more extreme attitudes and practices, e.g., explicit anti-homosexuality, have moderated since leadership of the group shifted in a "revival" in the early 1990's.[citation needed]. Marcus Aurelius and members of the Imperial family offer sacrifice in gratitude for success against Germanic tribes: contemporary bas-relief, Capitoline Museum, Rome Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning to make sacred, from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the...
Christian leaders have written about homosexual male-male sexual activities since the first decades of Christianity; female-female sexual behaviour was essentially ignored[1]. Throughout the majority of Christian history most theologians and Christian denominations have viewed homosexual behavior as immoral or sinful. ...
Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Revival in...
The denomination has little or no contact with other Christian groups.[citation needed].
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