Aril Edvardsen

Infobox Person
name = Aril Edvardsen

---

image_size = 150px
caption =
birth_date = birth date|1938|11|15
birth_place = Kvinesdal, Norway
death_date = death date and age|2008|9|6|1938|11|15
death_place = Mombasa, Kenya
other_names =
known_for =
occupation = Preacher, missionary
nationality = Norwegian

Aril Snorre Edvardsen (15 November, 1938 – 6 September, 2008) was a Norwegian evangelical preacher and missionary, considered one of the most influencial Christian figures of all time from Scandinavia.

In his youth Edvardsen was active in local politics for the Workers' Youth League, the youth wing of the Norwegian Labour Party, and also performed in a country music band.cite news|url=http://www.kjendis.no/2008/09/06/545999.html|title=Aril Edvardsen er død|last=Kristiansen|first=Arnhild Aass|date=2008-09-06|work=Dagbladet|language=Norwegian|accessdate=2008-09-06] He claimed to have been born again in 1956, [* [http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2640804.ece Obituary] in English from Aftenposten, accessed 7 September 2008] an experience which led him to redirect his life towards evangelical work.cite web|url=http://www.refleks-publishing.com/Files/The%20Charismatic%20Movement%20in%20Norway.pdf|title=The Charismatic/Pentecostal Movement in Norway: The Last 30 years|publisher=Refleks Publishing|accessdate=2008-09-06] Then, in 1960, he experienced what he described as a calling, instructing him to start worldwide evangelising through the use of native missionaries.cite news|url=http://nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/sorlandet/1.6209754|title=Aril Edvardsen døde i dag|last=Kleiberg|first=Gunnar|date=2008-09-06|work=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|language=Norwegian|accessdate=2008-09-06]

In 1965 he founded the organisation "Troens Bevis", an organisation that would grow to support around 1000 native missionaries around the world. The organisation today includes a multi-media venture, with daily television broadcasts reaching as many as 200 different nations. In 2007 Aril Edvardsen's son Rune took over leadership of "Troens Bevis".cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=525636|title=Aril Edvardsen er død|last=Andersson|first=Katja|coauthors=Marianne Vikås|date=2008-09-06|work=Verdens Gang|language=Norwegian|accessdate=2008-09-06]

Aril Edvardsen was a proponent of reconciliation between Christians and Muslims, and in 2004 directed heavy criticism against Carl I. Hagen, then leader of the right-wing populist party Progress Party, for Hagen's derisive comments against the prophet Muhammad.cite news|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/innenriks/4117918.html|title=Kristenledere ut mot Hagen|date=2004-09-24|work=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|language=Norwegian|accessdate=2008-09-06]

Edvardsen married his classmate Kari when he was 17 years old. It was allegedly while his wife was in the hospital giving birth to the couple's first daughter that Edvardsen went along with a friend to the meeting where his conversion happened.

He died 6 September, 2008, in Mombasa, Kenya, where he was vacationing with his wife after a missionary campaign in Zanzibar, Tanzania. According to friends he had experienced cardiac problems in a period before his death.

Edvardsen's funeral on 15 September 2008 was attended by some 1,500–2,000 people, including among others the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Helga Pedersen. [cite news |first=Sven |last=Goll |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Big turnout for preacher's funeral |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2656741.ece |work= |publisher=Aftenposten |date=16 September 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-17 ]

References

Persondata
NAME= Edvardsen, Aril
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Preacher, missionary
DATE OF BIRTH= 1938-11-15
PLACE OF BIRTH= Kvinesdal, Norway
DATE OF DEATH= 2008-9-6
PLACE OF DEATH= Mombasa, Kenya