Childhood and Upbringing
Elihu Pedersen was born in Horten on November 4, 1914. His parents, Karl and Leonore, were believers, and were part of the circle around Johan Oscar Smith, who two years earlier had started publishing the paper “Skjulte Skatter.” Karl’s sister and Elihu’s aunt, Pauline, was married to Johan Oscar Smith, and Elihu therefore became part of the environment around Smith already from his childhood. This would also shape him to a great extent, both in his personal faith, but also in his work as a songwriter and composer.
Already at 12 years of age, Elihu was converted to God. It soon became evident that Elihu had a real aptitude for singing and music. In addition, he was gifted as a poet, with a sense for rhyme and rhythm. His instrument was the violin, and he was skilled at both playing and singing.
The Revival of 1934
In 1934, the church that had gathered around Smith experienced something that would become a watershed, both for the church, and also for Elihu personally. God sent a powerful revival. Johan Oscar Smith wrote about the events leading up to this revival in a letter to the elder of the church in Oslo, Edwin Bekkevold, as early as February 1934:
“Br. S. Bratlie came here to hold outreach meetings. But it did not go well. We agreed to pray. About 10 young men came together and prayed for the gifts of the Spirit. We pressed in to God with great earnestness. After 2 days of battle, Elihu Pedersen received the gift of tongues. God’s Spirit was mightily upon us all. The next day Aksel spoke in tongues, likewise Jens Bratli from Horten. Since then, amazing things have happened every day. Br. Sigurd Bratlie has spoken in tongues, likewise Br. K. Martinsen, Enok Pedersen, Sara Widell. Br. Even Evensen (the pilot) speaks prophetically. The daughter of Br. Berg was saved yesterday evening. Everyone prayed and they spoke in tongues. There were mighty powers present. We have now held meetings for about eight days. They are always prayer meetings. We are staying in the basement. Thanks be to God for everything.”
During Easter 1934, this revival broke out unhindered. Smith recounted this in a private letter to an unidentified person in April 1934,
“Now we have had the most wonderful conference I have experienced. As you know, we prayed for about one and a half months before the conference. Many in Horten were baptized with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Then came Maundy Thursday and Good Friday with the Brothers’ Conference. There was prayer such as I have never heard before. It was a cry of need. One after another was filled with the Holy Spirit and praised God both with tongues and with their understanding. We had no time for anything but praying. The Spirit of prayer gripped everyone. The brothers from Fredrikstad lay huddled together in a corner, holding each other around the neck and praying. More and more broke through.
On Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, the sisters also came to the conference. It was a veritable sea of prayer that continued long past midnight. Between the meetings, the children prayed. I came upon ten small boys in a room at the venue, and they prayed, and several spoke in tongues. Up in the attic it was full of children praying. In the evening, the sisters took over the woodshed, kitchen, and dining hall. It is estimated that around a hundred of the friends received the gift of tongues, besides all those who were filled with the Holy Spirit. Several sick people were healed. They also prayed in the private homes and at the hotels. Neither in 1907 nor since have I seen the like.
It really does help to pray and not grow weary. Everyone traveled home from the conference with great riches, and I am convinced that the Spirit of prayer will spread around to many cities.”
Evangelizing in Norway
In the wake of this revival, an extensive outreach effort began throughout Norway. In January 1935, Johan Oscar Smith wrote about this in a private letter to Andreas Nilsen, who was elder of the church in Brevik:
“My son Aksel and Elihu Pedersen have been at Flisa ever since the New Year’s conference. The house is full every time, and several have felt convicted. Carloads of young people come from far away to listen.”
Elihu Pedersen took an active part in many different outreach campaigns over the next years, despite his young age (he was only 20 years old). He often traveled together with Aksel J. Smith and Sigurd Bratlie, but also together with Johan Oscar Smith.
His musical abilities proved to be of great use. Many very likely came mostly to hear him sing and play the violin, but at the same time they were also affected by what they heard. In this way many people were gripped by the message that was preached.
The Musical Evangelist Elihu Pedersen
In the spring of 1934, he traveled with Johan Oscar Smith and his son Aksel Johan Smith to Oslo, where Johan Oscar Smith spoke. Elihu was so moved by what he heard that he wrote the song “Times of grace have come upon us,” based on Smith’s message. The song bears witness to a sincere joy and enthusiasm over the revival that he himself experienced personally. This is the first known song we have that Elihu Pedersen wrote. Already the following year it was published in a new, revised edition of the songbook “Herrens Veier.”
In the same way, a growing number of Elihu Pedersen’s songs gradually came into being. Messages he heard were turned into songs which were sung again and again. Thus, Elihu’s songs played a large and important role in the evangelization work. In a sense, he “sang” the gospel into the hearts of many. Songs in verse form and in rhyme, often set to catchy melodies, made the message easy to remember. In this way, he also complemented the preaching of
Aksel J. Smith and Sigurd Bratlie.
He also wrote a great many of his songs during this short period. Almost half of his 53 songs in the songbook “Ways of the Lord” were written between 1934 and 1938. In addition, he wrote a number of other songs, a large part of which were later published in the family songbook “Almond Blossom,” which was published for the first time in Norwegian as “Mandelblomsten” in 1942.
Family Life
Elihu Pedersen married Erna Abrahamsen in 1945. They had 7 children together. At first, they moved around to various places in Norway, but eventually settled in Horten. Elihu earned his living for several years as a baker. At the same time, he continued to write songs, and wrote new songs regularly, all the way up until his death on April 21, 1999.
The Songs—a Gift From God
Elihu Pedersen himself expressed that his talent for writing songs and melodies was a gift he had received from God.
“For me personally, several of these songs are tokens of victory, personal tokens of victory. When I was in battle and the stakes were high, I gave myself over to the Spirit that was at work in the church, so that I could come into the Spirit of faith and the Spirit of praise. Then it became a song; for me personally it became a token of victory. It is clear that such songs would never have come about if I had not been in the Spirit that reigns in the church. They are not my songs in that sense. It is common property; I have just received it. What do I have that I have not received?”
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References
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Frequently Asked Questions About
Elihu Pedersen
Who was Elihu Pedersen?
Elihu Pedersen was a Norwegian evangelist, songwriter, and composer. He is best known for the many songs he wrote that are published in the songbooks “Ways of the Lord” and “Almond Blossom.”
What are the most well-known songs by Elihu Pedersen?
A great many of his songs are often sung at meetings and conferences in Brunstad Christian Church. Some of the most well-known are “O dear friend, gone astray, unbelieving,” “Times of grace have come upon us,” and “Who is she who’s so peaceful and modest,” also known as “The bride on her way to the Bridegroom.”
Where did Elihu Pedersen live?
Elihu Pedersen lived most of his life in Horten, but also lived for brief periods in Måløy and Kristiansand. In the second half of the 1930s, he traveled widely around Norway evangelizing, including in the inland regions of the country as well as in Western Norway.
What instrument did Elihu Pedersen play?
Elihu Pedersen was known for being a skilled violinist. Many often came to the outreach meetings he took part in solely to hear him play the violin.
