The firstborn Laestadian awakening movement

The Laestadian awakening movement is named after the Dean Lars Levi Laestadius. Our faith and doctrine are nothing new, but the same Apostolic Christianity that Jesus himself established when he founded his church. The apostles were the first messengers, and then this Christianity has been passed on through smaller and larger awakenings until today. It was the same Christianity that Martin Luther brought forth in the Reformation in the 16th century and later Laestadius in the 19th century. This Christianity is still alive and in full operation.

After his death, Jesus rose from the tomb, came to his disciples and greeted them with a greeting of peace. Jesus said to them. Peace be unto you. As my Father has sent me, even so send I you. Having said this, He breathed on them and said to them: Receive the Holy Ghost. Whose soever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins you retain, they are retained. (John 20:21-23). Jesus Himself sent His first disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name (Luke 24:47). God has always used people as His servants, and the keys of the kingdom of heaven are still in our use. (see Matthew 16:19).

The reformer Martti Luther (1483-1546) lived for years with an awakened conscience, trying to reconcile with God through monastic life. It was only when the word of sins forgiveness was preached to him that he found peace, it kindled in Luther a living faith that only God could ignite.”A ray of light passed through Luther’s heart as he experienced the word of the Bible: ”The just shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17). The ministry and power to forgive sins has been given by Jesus in His church here on earth. Luther says about this: “Although the power to forgive sins belongs to God, we must know that he exercises this power through the office to which He called the apostles.”

Lars Levi Laestadius (1800–1861) was born in Arjeplog in the village of Jäckvik, in Northen Sweden. He studied theology and botany at Uppsala University. He was ordained a pastor in the Swedish church in 1825 and was then appointed as pastor in Kaaresuvanto. It was not until 1844 that Laestadius came into living faith, and this was the beginning of a powerful awakening. While on one of his inspection trips in 1844, a Sami girl, Lapp Mary, real name Milla Clemensdotter, came to talk to him. From her own experience, she recognized the Laestadius’ soul condition, and she came to his aid in his distress. Mary was herself a fervent Christian who had received living faith through the revival preacher and Nora parish pastor Per Brandell.

This comfort, the word of faith (Rom.10:8) is preached among us, namely the testimony of sins forgiveness sins in the name and blood of Jesus. Thus, the gospel and living faith has revealed from heart to heart, ”from faith to faith” (Rom. 1:17). One of Laestadius´ closest fellow labourers, John Raattamaa (1811-1899) describes having seen this awakening grow from a small seed into a great tree whose branches reach across the borders of kingdoms and oceans. The tree has its roots in Swedish Lappland. Through the missionary work, which is in accordance with the apostolic time, the Christianity is united with the mother congregation in Swedish Lappland.

We think of the Bible as a book of books, but we also consider the sermons of Laestadius so valuable that we read his sermons whenever we gather in our services to listen to the Word of God. Our service begins with singing a hymn, a prayer and the reading of a sermon by Laestadius, followed by a sermon from one of the preachers alongside a Bible text. The service ends with a prayer and a hymn.

To our great joy, many children and young people are following Christianity with living faith in their hearts and with the assurance that they are God´s children. We do extensive work with children and young people. Our services are open to all who want to hear the Living Word of God, the doctrine proclaimed by Christ and the apostles. Our prayer is that the Word of God would affect in the hearts of people in our time, and also in your heart. The most important thing a person can own is a personal living faith and Christianity that gives purpose and refuge in life, comfort in death and assurance of eternal life.