Lewi Pethrus

Lewi Pethrus, actually Peter Lewi Johansson ( born March 11, 1884 in Västra Tunhem; † September 4, 1974 in Stockholm) was a pastor in Sweden and is regarded as the "father of the Swedish Pentecostal movement." He was also one of the initiators and founders of the Christian Democratic Party of Sweden.

Life

His professional career began in the son of a poor working class family as a shepherd boy and already earned eleven years his living as a shepherd. Lewi Pethrus trained as a shoemaker and organized into the union. In 1899, he was baptized in the Baptist church in Vänersborg and soon began to work on it as a preacher. In 1903 he resigned from his job as a factory worker in 1904 and moved to Stockholm, where he was educated at Betelseminar pastor. In 1906 he became pastor of the Baptist church in Lidköping and 1910 the Filadelfiagemeinde in Stockholm.

1907 Lewi Pethrus had come in Oslo with the Pentecostal movement in contact, the teaching he took over. His work in the Filadelfiagemeinde in Stockholm in 1913 led to a break with the Swedish Baptist society from which he and his community were excluded. She then founded the first Pentecostal church in Sweden.

Pethrus founded in 1911 a social institution, in 1912 a publishing house, in 1915 a Bible school, 1916, the magazine Gospel Härold ( he held until 1960, edited ), 1942, a school, 1945, the Pentecostal newspaper Dagen ( whose editor was he to life was over ), 1952, a bank, and in 1955 evangelistic, almost world -heard IBRA Radio.

Pethrus was also involved in the ecumenical movement. Until his official retirement in 1958, he was pastor of the Filadelfiagemeinde in Stockholm, but remained active until 1974 in the International Pentecostal movement.

Were also widespread Pethrus ' songs that were mostly published in the edited his own hymnal Seger Toner ( 1930). The song Löftena Kunna ej Svika was translated into several languages ​​and also included in the hymnal of the Lutheran Church of Sweden.

1950 Pethrus was honored for his services to the worldwide Pentecostal movement from Wheaton College with an honorary doctorate. King Carl XVI. Gustaf awarded him the 1974 Wasaorden.

Writings (selection )

• The wind blows where it wills. Necessity and effect of the baptism of the Spirit in the Christian life. Chandelier Verlag, Erzhausen. ISBN 3874820610
• Pure community, the goal of biblical church discipline ( Christian Church Discipline ). Dynamis Verlag, Kreuzlingen 1980