Norway

Country Facts 

Capital City: Oslo 

Area: 385,155 sq km (148,709.18 sq miles) 

Population: 4,702,000 

Official Language: Norwegian

Major Religions: Christian 90%, Muslim 2%, Other 8%

Currency: Norwegian kroner

Adult Literacy Rate: 100%

Life Expectancy: 79 Years

Church Info

Organisation: Norwegian Union Conference

Churches: 62

Address:
Vik Senter
Postboks 124
N-3530 RØYSE
Norway

Norwegian immigrants to North America sent back home copies of Adventist pamphlets and the Scandinavian language journal Advent Tidende, published in Battle Creek, Michigan, from 1872. This literature created some interest in the old country.

John G Matteson returned to his native Denmark in 1877 as an Adventist missionary. In August and September 1878 he made an exploratory trip to Norway finding several people keeping the Sabbath. Judging Norway to be a promising mission field, Matteson moved to Christiania (Oslo) the same year. In October he began a series of public lectures. His first meeting was held in a room of the house where he stayed. To his surprise his small place was filled to capacity with people standing on the stairways unable to get in and many had to be turned away. He soon rented larger halls, drawing crowds of 800-1,200 people.