Swedish Evangelical Alliance Marks 25 Years, Vows to Keep Speaking for 'Classical Christian Faith'
Born at Stockholm's Filadelfia Church in 2001, the alliance says secularization in the churches was one of its first battles, and it still is.
See where this is ›STOCKHOLM, Sweden —
The Swedish Evangelical Alliance (Svenska Evangeliska Alliansen) has marked 25 years since its founding on Oct. 26, 2001, at Filadelfia Church in Stockholm, Sweden, Christian Daily International reported Nov. 8. Its general secretary, Olof Edsinger, said the alliance will keep bearing biblical witness to Christ as so-called progressive theology spreads.
See where this is ›Edsinger told the outlet the alliance is “an important voice for classical Christian faith in both Christian and secular media,” publishing almost one new article every week. He said it also has “an important role in encouraging our grass roots.”
Looking back, Edsinger said two frontlines had to be faced from the start, the first being “the secularization of Western Christianity.” The alliance also campaigned against making Sweden's marriage law gender neutral. “Unfortunately, we lost this battle,” he said.
Sweden's first evangelical alliance was formed in 1853. The modern alliance grew out of the Swedish Lausanne Committee, and its first chairman and general secretary was the apologist Stefan Gustavsson. Its first regular board was Anders Blåberg, Olof Djurfeldt, Carl-Olof Hultby, Gustavsson and Hans Weichbrodt, the report said. Its mission alliance now includes 20 organizations.
The alliance is linked with the World Evangelical Alliance, the European Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement, with the Lausanne Covenant as a common foundation, according to the report.
Edsinger said the group hopes to keep building alliances among evangelical Christians, and it plans to “make something more substantial” for the 2,000th anniversaries of the start of Jesus' ministry in 2030 and of His death and resurrection in 2033.
