A Factory Worker Shapes Swedish Pentecostalism
Lewi Pethrus, born Petrus Lewi Johansson on March 11, 1884, in Vargön, Sweden, embarked on a spiritual journey that would profoundly shape the Pentecostal movement in Sweden. As the son of a factory worker, Pethrus began working in a shoe factory at the age of ten and was baptized in the Baptist Church in Vänersborg in 1899. His path to becoming a pivotal figure in Swedish Pentecostalism was marked by profound experiences and divine interventions.
In 1905, Pethrus encountered a powerful 'inward cleansing' that set the stage for his future ministry. His faith was further transformed in 1907 after hearing Thomas Ball Barratt in Oslo. He embraced Pentecostalism and the baptism in the Holy Spirit, marked by speaking in tongues. Pethrus recalled, 'From that moment I was part of the Pentecostal Revival.' This experience was spontaneous, leaving him in awe of the supernatural encounter.
Pethrus's leadership journey began at the Lidköping Baptist Church. In 1911, he was invited to pastor the Filadelfia Church in Stockholm. Through prayer and discernment, the Filadelfia congregation received confirmation that Pethrus was meant to lead them. Under his guidance, the church grew rapidly, becoming the largest Pentecostal congregation in the world by the 1930s.
Throughout his ministry, Pethrus experienced God's intervention repeatedly. When his wife Lydia suffered from migraines, prayers led by Sven Lidman brought her healing, a testament to Jesus' power to heal. Pethrus often spoke about his own weaknesses, saying, 'My strongest side has been my weakness, that I have felt my inability and my dependence on God.' This dependence on God fueled his ministry, leading to the creation of numerous institutions and publications that furthered the gospel in Sweden.
Lewi Pethrus's life was a testament to God's faithfulness and transformative power. His journey from a young factory worker to a leading figure in Pentecostalism reflects a life fully surrendered to God's calling. Until his death in 1974, Pethrus remained committed to spreading the message of Jesus, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire believers today.
