Empowering a Generation for Mission

IMPACT isn’t just about events – it’s a lifestyle of service, rooted in Adventist identity and propelled by local mission.

IMPACT differs from other initiatives because it is a lay-led, local mission training and resourcing movement.

IMPACT began as a grassroots movement driven by young people passionate about making a difference through service, mission, and community engagement.

In 2006, a group of young people were very inspired during a camp meeting at Fredheim Health Center, Norway. They were young and inexperienced, but on fire, and they wanted to do something for God. During dinner at the end of the week, they decided to organize an evangelistic campaign the following summer.
The dream was realized. In 2007, about 20 young people, under the name Timen er kommet (The Hour Has Come), organized an evangelistic campaign in Oslo, the capital of Norway. The average age of the participants was under 20, and the majority had never attended an evangelistic campaign before. God blessed, the young people were inspired, and they decided to do it again the next summer.

In 2008, about 40 young people organized two simultaneous evangelistic campaigns, one in Bergen and one in Molde. Encouraged by the success, they started to plan for three simultaneous evangelistic campaigns the following summer – but God had other plans.

A few years earlier, in 2003, the Adventist Pastor Sven Arvid Gustavsen emergency crash-landed his (self-built) mission helicopter. By God’s grace, except for a little cut on his head caused by the broken plexiglass, Sven was not injured. Even secular newspapers wrote about his guardian angel protection.
This incident raised some questions in Pastor Sven ́s mind. He was convinced that God had given him this great tool to reach people of the West coast of Norway, which is so full of curvy roads and multiple ferry crossings. “Why did God give this tool to me, only to take it away a few years later? God, what do you want me to do now?” he inquired.

God answered by directing his thoughts to the book Education, where Ellen G. White writes about the “army of youth, rightly trained” (p. 271). “Do what you can to bring the army of youth rightly trained into the sphere of your mission.” 
Years before, this quote had inspired the founding of Matteson Mission School. Since 1986, the school has offered a one-year mission training program to small groups of students in a homelike setting. As a part of its activities, Matteson Mission School had been organizing a yearly summer literature evangelism camp, in different parts of the country, with good attendance.
In 2005, Pastor Sven partnered with Matteson Mission School. By God’s providence, he bought a bus (that wasn’t for sale) for the same amount he would have had to pay to rent it for a few weeks! Since then, Sven and his buses have faithfully transported young missionaries every summer.

In 2009, God led these movements together as the youth director of the Norwegian Union initiated meetings between them and encouraged them to work together. Thus, the Norwegian Union, Matteson Mission School, and Timen er kommet joined forces. 
IMPACT Finnmark was a direct result of this merging of forces. Instead of having many smaller summer projects, there was one bigger, better, and longer event. 60 young people travelled up to Hammerfest, “the northernmost town in the world”, and spent three weeks sharing the love of God through words and actions. This was made financially possible through funding from the Norwegian Union. 

This is how God led the Norwegian Union, Timen er kommet, and Matteson Mission School into a successful cooperation. This is how God raised up this movement, whose goal it is to Inspire Members to Proclaim the Advent of Christ Together – in this generation.

“Let your heart be animated by the love of Jesus to ardent activity for His glory.” Ellen White, Our High Calling, pg 147.

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A Supporting Ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church