Jan-Aage Torp (born 26 June 1957) is a Norwegian pastor and evangelist. He has developed an extensive international network, and currently hosts the show Hovedstaden med Pastor Torp on the Christian television station Visjon Norge.[1]
Biography edit
Torp was born in Kyoto to missionary parents, and spent his formative years in Japan and Thailand, until moving to Norway in 1971.[1] Active in the Pentecostal community, he eventually became a prolific interpreter for numerous international evangelists including Billy Graham.[1] After having been a pastor in established Pentecostal congregations for some years, he founded Seierskirken in Lillestrøm in 1990.[1] He then became outspoken in his opposition against the homosexual partnership law and against abortion, working together with Finn Jarle Sæle, Børre Knudsen and Ludvig Nessa.[1]
From 2016, he became active in work against the Norwegian Child Welfare Services together with Polish organisation Ordo Iuris, which led him to gain an extensive network among international ambassadors.[1] He has also gained contacts and had personal audience with the world's leading Muslim leaders, including Ahmed el-Tayeb, Shawki Allam and Mohamed Gomaa.[1]
Family edit
Torp's son Anders has spoken out publicly and written a book Jesussoldaten about his "extreme" upbringing, which included preparing for the end times, twenty-seven exorcisms and fasting for 40 days.[2] His daughter Christine has also spoken out about a childhood of being terrified of God, sin and hell, and of having been prepared of being persecuted, tortured and killed because they were Christians in the end times.[3] Two more of his six children have supported the criticism.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g "Jan-Aage Torp: - Kristenfolkets ambassadør". Norge Idag (in Norwegian). 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Sønn til kjendispastor snakker ut: Min barndom som radikal kristen". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). 13 March 2016.
- ^ "Christine Andreassen forteller om demonutdrivelser og frykt i oppveksten i «Nyhus & Dokka»". Vårt Land (in Norwegian). 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Anders Torp får støtte av familien". Vårt Land (in Norwegian). 15 April 2011.