Gustaf Liljeroth

1884

     On January 1, 1884, the First Scandinavian Baptist Church of Portland was organized by Gustaf Liljeroth, a pastor who had come from the East to assist Rev. Olaus Okerson.  It has been said that Gustaf Liljeroth was a lecturer of a humoristic turn.  He was called a "migratory bird".  He never stayed long in one location.  Rev. Gustaf Liljeroth and his wife came to Portland during the summer of 1883 to help Olaus Okerson in his work after organizing their own Scandinavian Baptist Church in Seattle earlier that year.  On October 17, 1883, Rev. Liljeroth baptized John Palmblad and two others in Johnson Creek at Gresham.  On New Year's Eve, 1883, Pastor Liljeroth baptized five persons in the baptistery of the First (American) Baptist Church at Southwest Fourth and Alder St.  The J.J. Newberry store is currently at that location.

     A charter member, Mrs. John Palmblad, wrote concerning the founding of the church, "my husband and I had lived in Oregon three years before we heard a Swedish sermon.  The first preacher to visit us was Rev. Okerson, who held a meeting at our home.  How well I remember Sunday, December 30, 1883, when we journeyed to Portland, fifteen long miles in our farm wagon.  It took us about five hours as the roads were bad.  We stayed over night at Pastor Liljeroth's home.  It was cold and there was a lot of snow and it was hard to keep warm.  On New Years eve I was baptized by Pastor Liljeroth and on the next day, New Years' Day, the church was organized."

    Ill health compelled the Liljeroths to return to Sweden where the Pastor  passed away in 1891.

    "If  we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins; and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9