Sigurd Rudolf Guldbrandsen Bratlie (July 27, 1905 – January 24, 1996) was the leader of

Brunstad Christian Church Brunstad Christian Church (BCC) is a worldwide evangelicalism, evangelical Non-denominational Christianity, non-denominational Christian church. Established in Norway early in the 20th century. It is represented by more than 220 churches in 54 co ...

from 1976 until his death in 1996.

Biography

Bratlie was born in

Nordstrand, Norway Nordstrand () is a borough of the city of Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater ...

and was the youngest of nine children. A

tailor A tailor is a person who makes or alters clothing, particularly in men's clothing. The Oxford English Dictionary dates the term to the thirteenth century. History Although clothing construction goes back to prehistory, there is evidence of ...

by trade, Bratlie met Johan Oscar Smith at a church service in 1920 while still serving his apprenticeship. He became an influential member, and later leader, of

. He travelled widely as a

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thoma ...

and was the subject of international media attention when he was imprisoned for 143 days in

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

in 1978 for holding

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

meetings. He was also arrested for conducting missionary activity in

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

in 1974, a country then under the rule of dictator

Nicolae Ceaușescu Nicolae Ceaușescu ( ; ; – 25 December 1989) was a Romanian politician who was the second and last Communism, communist leader of Socialist Romania, Romania, serving as the general secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 u ...

Published works

Bratlie wrote numerous articles, mostly published in the Norwegian Christian journal ''Skjulte Skatter''. He also authored several books, including ''The Bride, the Harlot and the End Times, The Grace that is in Christ Jesus, The Gospel of God, So Great a Salvation''. He is also the author of three hymns in Brunstad Christian Church's hymn book ''Ways of the Lord''.

References

1905 births 1996 deaths Norwegian Christian religious leaders Brunstad Christian Church Norwegian Protestant missionaries Prisoners and detainees of Iraq Prisoners and detainees of Romania Norwegian people imprisoned abroad Protestant missionaries in Iraq Protestant missionaries in Romania {{Christian-clergy-stub