In the early 1900s, small groups of friends were established around Norway, and soon they would form a church that spread to all continents.
Johan Oscar Smith gave his life to Jesus on May 17, 1898, and that was the beginning of BCC’s history.
Smith had no intention of starting a separate assembly. In the early 1900s, he was active in Christian circles and wanted to bring together people who wanted to live a godly life at a time when several revivals were sweeping through Christian congregations. Gradually, a few small groups of friends grew up in Norway, holding prayer meetings and discussing the Bible’s message.
The longing and insight into what it means to live as a disciple of Jesus and come to spiritual growth and sanctification became Smith’s great cause. He spent the rest of his life sharing this insight and life experience to help others come to a life of being formed into the image of Jesus Christ.
Our history from 1898–2024
1898
The beginning
In the early hours of May 17, 1898, Johan Oscar Smith gives his heart to God on a naval vessel stationed in Horten, Norway. This is the start of a Christian church with fellow believers all over the world.
1905-1912
Correspondence and social debate
Johan O. Smith participates in several Christian contexts and is an active letter writer, discussing the gospel with his brother Aksel and other believers. Many of his letters have been preserved and published in book form, in the collected writings of Johan O. Smith.
The Smith brothers often write articles for Christian magazines and want to gather the godly in the country. But more and more articles are rejected by editors because they uncompromisingly uphold God’s commandments. This leads to the idea of an independent periodical.
1912
An independent paper
The periodical Skjulte Skatter (Hidden Treasures) is published for the first time, founded by Johan O. Smith.
“Sanctified to the Lord, we pray that the paper will serve the believers, shedding light over the ways that lead to a deeper life of fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ. The paper’s aim is to promote those truths that lead to faith and godly fear. Tit. 1:1.”
(Johan O. Smith, in the first issue of Skjulte Skatter, January 1912)
Within a few years, the paper has subscribers in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
1914
The first songbook is printed
The first version of the church’s songbook, Herrens Veier (Ways of the Lord), is published with 56 songs. The current version contains 472 songs. Slowly, the small groups around Smith and other key people grow. They organize evangelical meetings and conferences during the Christian holidays.
1910-1920
Missionary work in Norway, Sweden and Denmark
Several churches are established along the Norwegian coast as a result of Johan O. Smith’s work for the navy, especially during the First World War. During this time, Smith and his colleagues make contact with people from southern to northern Norway, and this is the start of what eventually will become 19 Norwegian local churches.
In the 1920s, the first congregation is established in Denmark, and the community becomes international.
1922
The first meeting hall is built
The church gets its first meeting venue, in Nordre Enggate 7 in Horten, Norway. There is no longer enough space at the house meetings. Johan O. Smith and others mortgage their own homes to raise funds.
Three years later, the local church in Oslo buys its first premises, at Vogtsgate 35.
1931
The Nesbyen conferences—a new gathering place for the church
The first national conference is held at Nesbyen, with friends from Denmark in attendance. Friends from Molde, Måløy, Bergen and Hardangerfjord in the west of Norway, and from Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad, Drøbak, Oslo, Horten and Sandefjord in the east also participate. The conferences become regular, annual events.
1934
Revival
A revival breaks out in Horten, leading to active missionary work and enthusiasm among young people in several places in Norway. The picture is from Flisa in 1934.
1943
Johan O. Smith passes away
Johan O. Smith dies on May 1, 1943. His close coworker Elias Aslaksen, with whom he has collaborated for more than 30 years, takes over responsibility for the church.
1950s
International missionary work
Missionary work in Germany and North America. Elias Aslaksen and others travel to several Christian conferences in Leonberg in southern Germany, where the foundations are laid for further missionary work and evangelization in Western Europe.
1956
Nedre Brunstad farm purchased
The church, named “The Christian Church”, buys Nedre Brunstad farm, by a fjord midway between Sandefjord and Tønsberg, Norway.
A great deal of effort is put into developing the run-down farm into a conference venue with space for families and children. This is a time of prosperity for the churches, which are now linked together through annual conferences and work at their common venue.
1961
The first meeting hall at Brunstad is ready
After several years of hard work, the first meeting hall at Brunstad is finally complete. During the summer conference, the hall, which was previously used with makeshift tarpaulins, can finally be put to proper use.
1960s
Missionary work continues
Missionary activities continue in Switzerland, England, the Netherlands, France, Austria and several other European countries, as well as in the USA and Canada.
The church now has a place to come together, Brunstad, where visitors from many countries can be invited to conferences.
1976
Sigurd Bratlie and Aksel J. Smith take over responsibility
Sigurd Bratlie and Aksel J. Smith take over responsibility for the church when Elias Aslaksen dies in 1976. At his last conference at Brunstad, Aslaksen gets a large banner hung up in the hall: “Faith in the word of life is the greatest power that exists in the universe.”
1970-1990
Missionary work around the world
Missionary work all over the world, including South America, Australia, Asia and Africa. This provides the basis for new churches to emerge in many countries.
In 1974, two young men, Kåre J. Smith and Sverre Riksfjord, travel around preaching the word of God in order to awaken hearts, first in Norway and then in Europe.
1978
Imprisoned in Iraq
On a missionary trip in 1978, Sigurd Bratlie is imprisoned in Saddam Hussein’s Baghdad for participating in Christian house meetings. He remains in prison without charge for almost five months, but is released after great efforts by the Norwegian authorities.
1978
The church gets a new meeting hall
A new meeting hall with space for 4,000 people is completed at Brunstad. It is a big undertaking for the church, and the entire expansion is financed by donations and volunteer efforts. Friends from churches in Norway and other countries travel to conferences several times a year and stay overnight at the campsite.
1990s
Revival throughout the church and the start of a new era
Revival and renewal sweep through churches in various countries, and many young people are touched and receive the baptism of the Spirit. A group of people leave the church during this period.
The church’s first bylaws are formalized and a board is established. The bylaws describe the basis for the church’s activities, and guidelines for board work, accounting, auditing and property law are drawn up.
Kåre J. Smith takes over as spiritual leader of the church.
1996
Focus on children and young people
Kick-start for extensive work for children and youth, with activities and major development. In the same year, BCC establishes a resource team of professionals who work preventively to ensure that the work with children and young people is sound and safe.
Sigurd Bratlie dies on January 24.
1998
International satellite broadcasts
For the first time, international “Brunstad feasts” are broadcast via satellite, followed by all the conferences at Brunstad.
In the years to come, interpretation services are developed so that the message is disseminated in more than 10 languages.
Aksel J. Smith dies on August 24.
2002
A youth program is established
The A-team is established as part of an old volunteer tradition in BCC, and young people from all over the world come to participate.
2003
BCC is registered as a religious community
For the first time, BCC is formally registered as a church in Norway, and receives public state aid for Norwegian members.
2002-2006
Development at Brunstad
Major development at Brunstad: The conference center is expanded, and cabins and several apartment buildings are built.
BCC transfers all its assets at the conference center to a foundation, which is better suited to developing the venue and its assets.
The church eventually moves its head office to Oslo.
2011-2012
A TV channel is established
The church starts up with TV production. Now fellow believers on all continents can follow and watch the preaching from international conferences and broadcasts. Several TV series are produced with positive content for children.
Around the same time, BCC develops an online portal for sharing literature, messages, podcasts, and member information.
2015
New impetus in youth work
The first Easter camp for young people is organized. This is the start of a new, comprehensive boost in youth work, with the development of activities and training in mentoring and care work for young adults.
2019
Johan O. Smith’s letters are made available
For the first time, Johan O. Smith’s surviving writings are published in unedited form, together with a number of previously unpublished letters. The series comprises a total of six books.
2019
A large donation undertaking comes to an end
A decade of donations is coming to an end—and both BCC and the local churches have strengthened their equity. BCC manages the funds in a separate fund, which will secure international missions and church activities in the future.
A long-term financial plan forms the framework for the church’s finances in the coming years.
2020
The corona pandemic and digital development
The corona pandemic turns church life upside down, creating a high degree of digital renewal for the benefit of the entire church, especially Bible studies for youth and Bible stories for children.
BCC’s head office and production environment moves from Oslo to Moss.
2021
The BCC Federation is constituted
The federation model becomes the framework for the church’s activities. Independent organizations are established within the focus areas of missions, media, music, events, youth programs, and funds.
The first member organizations are admitted to the federation: BCC Norway and 19 Norwegian local churches.
In addition, the members establish a cooperative enterprise for accommodation during the conferences.
2022
Organization takes shape
The donation model is renewed and, for the first time, membership with conditions is introduced in Norwegian churches. Until now, anyone who “considers themselves a member” has been a member.
Several times a year, representatives and other volunteers meet to collaborate on church projects, strategy development, conference planning and exercises.