Even Now – The VISION Lives
The vision of Tent Mission was born in 1929. Grandma Karin Eriksson had a call to missions but that call was to be fulfilled in a manner different than anything she expected. During her second pregnancy when her despair was great and Karin was close to taking her life she gave an unborn child to God. It was an act of putting the baby's life in God's hands to use him for His work since it was apparent she could not go.
Erik Gunnar, as the son came to be called, said that, "...he was absolutely not going to become a missionary or to serve the Lord." Especially not after learning his mother had promised him to God. Erik Gunnar's life was marked with his own decisions, protesting against God in a life filled with hustle and bustle. By his own admission he says his inventiveness and nose for business made money and his heart was hard. The longer he ran his business the more it felt like he did the wrong thing. He felt like Jonah in the Bible, as opposed to God's calling. He had a reputation in the area in which he lived. Humanly speaking, there were not a lot of good prospects in his future.
God, however, had big plans for Erik Gunnar. The first incident was when a Swedish China missionary approached him with a message: God sys that he has chosen you to be a witness for him all over the world. Your yes to his call will lead to unexpected blessings. A no will mean thousands of people you could reach will never hear about Jesus. It was an unforgettable event but he still had doubts about his capabilities. He was in his mid to late 20's and he started talking to God about his shortcomings. The decisive event that led to his complete surrender occurred when God allowed an accident while he was in the military service. A grenade accidentally detonated near Erik Gunnar during an exercise. He received severe injuries, suffering third-degree burns on his face, hands mangled and fingers deformed. Within a few hours his plans and hopes for the future were dashed. In the deep agony came a simple but honest prayer. "God, if you have mercy on me, I promise to do what you want." For the first time in his life he had humbled himself seriously and was ready to serve God instead of himself. Within a few minutes he held out his hands to show that none of the injuries were left and the face bore hardly a trace of a scar.
Shortly thereafter Erik Gunnar went to Bible school and then he was ready to start. "As the entrepreneur I was born to be I started from the outset to consider how best to reach people." He observed the success of the Tent campaigns in the U.S. and initiated a collaboration with three successful evangelists.
The Maranatha Revival began to take root in Sweden. Erik Gunnar became involved and quickly became a prominent figure in the movement. When it dissolved Erik Gunnar formed Tent Mission in Sågmyra in Dalacarlia, Sweden. For several years home base was Borlänge where Tent Mission grew from being an evangelistic effort in Sweden, like New Life campaigns in the 1980's, to spread to other parts of the world. His goal was to raise money for education, training of national pastors and evangelist and encourage church planting. And thus began the international work.
During a revival campaign in Brazil in 1969 Erik Gunnar visited a slum area. Something different occurred of which he says, "God gave me the call to extend the work of of the Tent Mission to the whole man, to spirit, mind and body. In the slum area, I met the lone child's survival. Suddenly I heard him speak, not with his mouth, but with his large fevered eyes; 'Why should I have it like this'? Something happened in my heart. I started talking to myself, Erik Gunnar, you have to do something for the children. At that moment there was a conversion. All of a sudden I was with a broader view that the gospel comes to taking care of the little ones. What Jesus says in Matthew 24:45 Then shall he answer them, Truly, what you have not done to one of these least, ye have not done for me. A living faith means that we must act. We cannot help but convey our faith, our joy, the love we have received from God, the hope we have for the future and eternity. This belongs not only to us, but all God has created."
One year later, 1970, Christmas Eve, the first orphanage "Estrela de Esperanza" Star of Hope in Brazil was inaugurated. The first child who came was the little dying boy Paolo, who, with God's help, had survived. Paolo turned 42 in 2011 and is today the father of two boys, a successful businessman and a devout Christian.
Barely ten years after the event in Brazil in 1979, Tent Mission started a separate assistance unit for social assistance – STAR OF HOPE. The latter has grown to be an aid organization with daily assistance to 30,000 children in 22 countries on all continents. Sponsorship is still Star of Hope's signature.
In parallel, Tent Mission remains the classic missionary work in most places where Star of Hope works. Work is done in collaboration with local churches, often associated with Pentecostal and Baptist movement. Training of pastors and evangelists, investment in Bible schools and pastor seminars has still continued since the mid-1960's.
And so began a ministry that has affected more lives than could ever be counted. It began as Tent Mission addressing the spiritual and social program, Star of Hope, was added.
In 1987 Star of Hope International, America was formed. From our base here at Star of Hope America we find it impossible to separate the spiritual and social programs. In the Bible, James 2:14 – 26 speaks about faith without works. When working with the marginalized and disadvantaged of this world it is impossible for a Christian to give one without giving the other. As we have sought to be obedient to God's directives He, in turn, has blessed the work immensely. What a privilege to be part of His great plan.
