THE BCC FEDERATION ANNUAL ÅRSRAPPORT REPORT 2020 2020 1 Table of Contents The BCC federation 4 A church in development 6 Organizational structure and authority 10 Key figures 14 From the Secretariat 18 From the Elders 20 A Norwegian church with a renewed organization 24 BCC Media - a new media foundation in the federation 28 Mission activities and Christian social entrepreneurship 34 Summary accounts 38 Independent auditor’s report 58 2 3 The BCC federation BCC’s objectives: BCC works so the gospel can reach the whole world and all nations can become disciples and learn to keep all that Jesus commanded. The year 2020 was an important milestone in BCC’s history, when it took (Matthew 28:18-20) 01 the first steps towards becoming an international federation. Since Johan O. Smith’s conversion in 1898, a church has developed throughout the world, but for more than 100 years it existed without an international structure. The church’s activities have been conducted by independent Christian organizations in various regions and countries, which have cooperated based on a common faith and overlapping objectives. Today, congregations and fellow believers on every continent identify with this church. The Norwegian association Brunstad Christian Church (BCC) has been the principal actor, and has conducted substantial activities that have benefited In 2020, the first two organizations congregations and individual believers all were admitted to the newly established over the world. federation, along with BCC, which serves as the federation’s central organization. These The year 2020 was therefore an important organizations are to manage the church’s milestone, as the first steps towards media operations and mission work. becoming an international federation were taken. The media activities were transferred from BCC to a new foundation, and a new BCC’s vision is to fulfill Jesus’ Great The purpose of this decision was to link missionary organization was established Commission. We want to achieve this by: the religious community internationally in the United States. These and all other within a suitable legal structure that allows parties affiliated with BCC currently or in • Organizing international conferences • Carry out mission work, church activities, for efficient operations in the coming the future must commit to conducting and events and Christian social entrepreneurship decades. The new structure is based on nonprofit activities that support the church’s general principles of association law from objectives. • Producing Christian media content for • Safe and sustainable financial various countries, and the structure of other various channels management international nonprofit organizations. The • Offering positive, drug-free activities for next steps in the development will be taken This annual report describes the children and youth in a Christian in the coming years. federation’s overall activities in 2020. community 4 5 A church in development 1910-1920:1910-1920: MissionMission work in work in Norway,Norway, Sweden Sweden and Denmarkand Denmark 1914-1920:1914-1920: 1920s:1920s: 1950s: 1950s: 1960s: 1960s: 1970s and1970s 1980s: and 1980s: Several Severalchurches churches The churchThe churchin in MissionMission work work MissionMission work continues work continues MissionMission work continues work continues are foundedare founded along along DenmarkDenmark is is begins inbegins Germany in Germany in Switzerland,in Switzerland, England, England, around aroundthe world, the includingworld, including the Norwegianthe Norwegian foundedfounded and Northand America North America the Netherlands,the Netherlands, France, France, in Africa,in SouthAfrica, America, South America, coast ascoast a result as a of result of Austria Austriaand other and other China, AustraliaChina, Australia and India and India Johan O.Johan Smith’s O. Smith’s EuropeanEuropean countries countries travels duringtravels hisduring his naval servicenaval service 1900 1900 1910 1910 1920 1920 1930 1930 1940 1940 1950 1950 1960 1960 1970 1970 1980 1980 1898: 1898: 1912: 1912: 1931: 1931: 1956: 1956: 1976: 1976: Johan OscarJohan Smith Oscar Smith The periodicalThe periodical Skjulte Skjulte The firstThe international first international The churchThe church Elias AslaksenElias Aslaksen dies. dies. gives hisgives life tohis God life to God Skatter Skatter(Hidden (Hidden Treas- Treas- 1922: 1922: conferenceconference is held atis held at purchasespurchases the the Sigurd BratlieSigurd andBratlie and on the nighton the of night May of May ures) is ures)published is published for the for theThe church’sThe church’s first first Nesbyen,Nesbyen, Norway Norway Nedre BrunstadNedre Brunstad Aksel J.Aksel Smith J. take Smith take 17. Considered17. Considered the the first time.first Founded time. Founded by by meetingmeeting hall is hall is farm in farmStokke, in Stokke, over responsibilityover responsibility for for beginningbeginning of the of the Johan O.Johan Smith O. in Smith 1912, in 1912,built in builtHorten, in Horten, NorwayNorway the churchthe church churchchurch the publicationthe publication has has NorwayNorway subscriberssubscribers from from 1943: 1943: 1978: 1978: Europe,Europe, Africa, AsiaAfrica, and Asia and Johan O.Johan Smith O. dies Smith dies A new conferenceA new conference hall hall North AmericaNorth America within awithin a on Mayon 1, 1943.May 1, 1943. with 4,000with seats 4,000 is seats is few yearsfew years Elias AslaksenElias Aslaksen takes takes completedcompleted at Brunstad at Brunstad over leadershipover leadership 1914: 1914: responsibilitiesresponsibilities for for The firstThe edition first editionof of the churchthe church the songbookthe songbook Ways Ways of the Lordof the is Lord is publishedpublished with 56 with 56 songs. Thesongs. current The current edition editioncontains contains 472 songs472 songs 6 7 2016: 2016: 2020: 2020: 2016: 2016: 2020: 2020: Online streamingOnline is streaming Extensiveis media productionExtensive media production Streaming-løsningStreaming-løsning via via SatsningSatsning på formidling på formidling til til utilized to reach churchutilized to reach churchfor Sunday School,for with Sunday School, with nett tasnett i bruk tas for i bruk å nå for å nå søndagsskolen:søndagsskolen: medie- medie- audiences all overaudiences the all overcontent the translatedcontent to many translated to many menighetermenigheter i alle i alle innholdinnhold oversettes oversettes til til world world languages languages verdensdelerverdensdeler mangemange språk språk 2002: 2002: 2005: 2005: 2011: 2011: 2005: 2005: The “A-team” is The “A-team” isBCC hosts two summerBCC hosts two summerBrunstadTV is establishedBrunstadTV as is established as BCC arrangererBCC arrangerer for for 2019: 2019: 2020: 2020: 2011: 2011: 2019: 2019: 2020: 2020: established as a established as aconferences for theconferences first for theBCC’s first own TV channel,BCC’s ownand TV channel, and første gangførste to gang to BCC’s conferencesBCC’s and conferencesother Increased and other support Increased for support for BrunstadTVBrunstadTV etableres etableres som som BCCs stevnerBCCs stevner og medie- og medie- SatsningenSatsningen på internasjonal på internasjonal continuation of acontinuation long oftime, a long in order to time, in order to begins to producebegins media to produce media sommerstevnersommerstevner for for media productionsmedia are nowproductions international are now missioninternational work, mission work, egen TV-kanalegen TV-kanal og starter og starteropp opp produksjonerproduksjoner sendes sendes nå på nå på misjon misjonstyrkes, styrkes, egen egen 1991: 1991: 1998: 1998: tradition of volunteertradition of volunteeraccommodate allaccommodate the all thecontent 1991: 1991:content 1998: 1998: 2002: 2002: å få plasså få til plass alle somtil alle som broadcast in 21 languagesbroadcast in 21 languageswith the establishmentwith the of establishmenta of a med medieproduksjonmed medieproduksjon 21 språk21 språk misjonsstiftelsemisjonsstiftelse etableres etableres Revival and renewalRevival and renewalBCC starts broadcastingBCC starts broadcastingwork in BCC. Youthwork from in BCC. Youthvisitors from wishing tovisitors attend wishing to attendVekkelseVekkelse og fornyelse og fornyelse For førsteFor gangførste gang «A-laget»«A-laget» etableres etableres som som vil kommevil komme spread through thespread through theits international its international går overgår menighetene over menighetene sendessendes internasjonale internasjonale newet ledd mission eti en ledd organizationlang i ennew dugnads- lang mission dugnads- organization around the worldaround do the world do 2012: 2012: 2012: 2012: 2020: 2020: church both in Norwaychurch both in Norway“Brunstad Feasts”“Brunstad via Feasts” via både i Norgebåde i ogNorge og JohanBrunstadfester, O. Brunstadfester,Smith’s Johan lettersog O. og Smith’s letterstradisjon tradisjon i BCC. Ungdomi BCC. Ungdom Johan O.Johan Smiths O. Smithsetterlatte etterlatte volunteer work atvolunteer work2008: at 2008: BCC develops its BCCown developsonline its own online 2008: 2008: BCC utviklerBCC utvikler egen portal egen forportal for KoronapandemienKoronapandemien gjør gjør and internationally,and and internationally, satellite and for the firstsatellite time, for the first time, internasjonalt,internasjonalt, og og distributedvidere stevnenevidere in unredacted stevnenedistributed på på in unredacted2020:fra hele fra verden hele verdenbidrar2020: medbidrar med skrifter skrifterutgis for utgis første for gangførste i gang