Because of the GLS | Norway Has a New Hope for the Future

When the GLS started taking off internationally, Norway was one of the first countries to embrace it back in 2005. At the time, we didn’t know if it would translate contextually to other nations, but because God was calling us to go, we went.

What we learned is that not only does the GLS translate to other nations, but God is using it to transform leaders and even entire countries in incredible ways.  “When you change a leader, you can change a church — you can change a country” – There’s a ripple effect that occurs when we develop godly leaders.

Here is a small example of how one leader was impacted, and how it changed her church, and now her country.

Change a leader

Liv Heskestad

Liv Heskestad, a business woman and volunteer in her church, attended that first GLS held in Norway. It changed the way she leads and how she sees the world.  “I learned how important it is to lead well,” Liv explains. “I learned the importance of leading forward and looking to the young people to give them possibilities. I learned to care for all and look for the best in all people – To push and give confidence, telling people, ‘You can do this.’ And I have and seen some incredible results of that.

“I think GLS changes the hearts of people. And when you change hearts, you change minds and you change society.”

Change a church

There are two types of churches in Norway — the state church and the free church. The state churches are typically strict and traditional, practicing more rituals and liturgy. Over time, Norway is seeing more and more free churches emerge, which reflects a newer, contemporary way of doing church and the changing society. The GLS is helping the church in Norway to be more open, caring for their neighbors in need.

“In Norway we usually don’t bother one another,” Liv explains. “You do what you want to do, and I do what I want to do. You don’t say anything to me, or me to you. The culture is that way. But we need to get a bigger heart for our neighborhood.

“Norway needs the GLS because Norway is a very secular society. I think we need to know that the church is the hope of our world. We need to see the needs of others and bring them to Church.”

As a result of Liv’s experience at the GLS, her own church embraced a volunteer culture that seeks to serve their community in need of a new hope.

Change a country

Norway has recently fallen into difficult economic times in certain areas due to a crack in the oil industry. Thousands of people recently lost their jobs as a result – which is somewhat of a culture shock for those who are used to a normally flourishing economy. Liv shares the need business leaders have in this context, “We know that a lot of these business leaders need something different. They need different inspiration, different thoughts, different ways of leading… and we want to give them that.”

This fall, Norway will be hosting the first GLS targeted specifically for leaders in the business community. Their hope is to address the issues Norway is experiencing today, and use the skills learned to turn the country around for the better.

How has the GLS helped change you, your church, or even your country?