served the
church at Joliet, Illinois, for many years, and came at great personal sacrifice
to serve our church at the time of general unemployment and financial
depression. He entered upon the work with evangelistic fervor and
spiritual enthusiasm, and the Lord added His blessing.The 50th anniversary of the church was celebrated for a week starting January 1, 1934. On New Year's Eve, the night before, a baptismal service was held and six candidates were "buried with Christ in Baptism" by Pastor Olsson, just as fifty years before on New Year's Eve, five of the Charter members had been baptized by Pastor Liljeroth.
During the week of celebration, addresses were given by former missionaries A. G. Sandblom and E. Bjorkquist, Dr. G. A. Hagstrom of Bethel Institute in St. Paul, Dr. W. H. Rogers of the Hinson Memorial Baptist Church and Dr. F. W. Starring, secretary of the Oregon Baptist State Convention, Dr. Jacob Kratt, for forty years pastor of the First German Baptist Church, now known as Trinity, and Dr. C. G. Emanuel of the Arleta Baptist Church also participated.
Mrs. Augusta Palmblad, the only Charter member then living, was the special guest of honor. Mrs. Jennie L. Gilman, a daughter of our first missionary-pastor, the Rev. Olaus Okerson, was also present. These two have both since gone to their reward, as have a score or more of other early day members, who were with us ten years ago. Our losses have be incalculable, but how great the gain of those who now are with the Lord!
The ministry of our church was greatly extended by the beginning of radio services, a Scandinavian Half Hour, every Sunday afternoon, soon after Pastor Olsson came. The venture was a venture of faith from the very first. Sponsors were secured, contributions came from listeners, and as a result no financial burden has had to be borne by the church. On the other hand many thousands have heard the gospel message, the church has become widely known and church attendance has been promoted. At least one backslidden former member has be restored, and only God knows the number of souls that have been saved. Many messages of appreciation have come from aged friends and from others, shut in by illness or other wise. Since Pastor Olsson left, the work has been under the supervision of a Radio Committee. Arthur B. Carlson has been the business manager since the beginning.
Special evangelistic services were held from time to time in which the church was assisted by Don Shogren, Pat Malone, Martha Pohnert, Ole Larson, Oscar Gunnarfelt, Ned Holmgren, Roland Holmberg, and others.
Dr. Ernest W. Wadsworth, Director of the Great Commission Prayer League, held a Bible conference in April, 1934, under the auspices of the Union Gospel Mission.
During the summer of 1935 Pastor Olsson used the Conference tent in holding evangelistic services in several outlying communities, assisted by Charles Sundstrom, Rev. A. G. Sandblom and others.
Pastor Olsson was much in demand for evangelistic services and held short campaigns in various places in Washington and in California, in which many souls were saved.
On December 15, 1936, Pastor Olsson closed his work in Portland to accept a call to the Englewood Church in Chicago, now known as the Emerald Avenue Baptist Church. Here he enjoyed a fruitful ministry for six years, when he felt led to resign to become a Chaplain in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
The minutes of Meetings prior to December 1, 1936, were written in Swedish; after that they were written in English, by the same church clerk. Click Here to read more concerning Pastor Olsson in the Notes of Harley Hallgren.
Taken from the book "Sixtieth Anniversary of the Temple Baptist Church" by Harley Hallgren.