Baptistic Theologies, 2009

nd other places to serve. In his journal of 28 lh August 1856 he writes ‘received a letter from Putnam, who advices me to choose another field of service, O Lord, show me the place’. Ibid., p. 63. 52 Numerous letters and recommendations flow back and forth between the States, Rymker and Wiberg. Wiberg’s wish was that F.O. Nilsson, who was in Minnesota, USA, go to Norway, but Nilsson declined. Ibid., p. 63. 53 Ibid., p. 69. 54 Ibid., p. 70. 116 Baptistic Theologies rd on 3 October 1857, he held his first meeting in businessman Wright’s building. Rymker travelled extensively and made personal contact in all the cities he visited. 55 He was keenly aware of the importance of locating Baptist churches strategically in Norway. Porsgmnn and Skien became the area of concentration for Baptist mission. It is in Porsgrunn that Rymker met his first opposition from the local Lutheran Church. Meetings were held to speak against the Baptists. Rymker’s first year in Norway ended on a happy note when in December he returned to Denmark to get his family. On 28 th December they returned to Porsgrunn and there rented a house. He continued to visit the surrounding towns of Skien and Langesund. 1858 was a very difficult year for the Baptists’ pioneering work in Norway. First of all the relationship between Lammers Free Churches and the Baptists in Skien became very difficult when Pastor Spren P. Tufte disagreed with Rymker and the Baptists’ view of baptism. 56 Rymker continued to meet opposition. 57 The family’s economic situation grew worse. His support from the USA did not arrive regularly and numerous letters to Wiberg did not solve his problem. Nonexistent results, and evaluation from the Americans and Wiberg, bothered Rymker, especially in 1858. In his quarterly report to ABPS he states that only negative news would be in his report. He was sorry for not having baptised anyone, and that he had hoped to have had the 58 joy of establishing a Baptist church by this time. However, in November he received help from G. Palmquist from Stockholm who held meetings in various places, which gave results. 55 Ibid., p. 71. He continued his travels east towards Christiania, Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg and Moss and on his return to Skien visited Valid, Langesund, Stathelle and Brevik. In all the places he visited, he made contact with individuals and free church groups where he held meetings. He also made contact with bookstore owners as well as publishers. He wrote to Wiberg ‘We need at least 5 Missionaries, one at Christiania, Skien, Stavanger, Bergenand at Trondhjem or Tromsd, may the Lord of the Harvest send us true Labourers’. Ibid., p. 71. One can report that in all of these cities we find a vibrant Baptist work today in 2008; in Oslo alone there are ten Baptist churches (my comments). 56 Lammers, who was in the North of Norway, had written a letter to his church in Skien warning them of the Baptists. Later a dire