Levi André Jensen (born 4 July 1967) is a Norwegian evangelist with a background from the Pentecostal community, and part of the charismatic movement.[1] He is associated with methods such as speaking in tongues and laying of hands,[2][3] and reaches out mainly to youth.[4]
Evangelism and views
[edit]Jensen evangelises to a large degree to youth, mostly boys. He uses meetings in town squares and videos in social media, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook to reach out with the message of Jesus Christ as "the rescue for sinful people."[5] Some of his videos have close to 100,000 views,[6] and he has about 100,000 followers on social media.[7]
Jensen travels across Norway in his RV.[8] By laying of hands, he claims to be able to heal anything including ADHD, cancer and bone fractures, and is often flocked around by youths in his public appearances.[9][10]
In his videos he has expressed support for conversion therapy for homosexuals, and stated that Southern Norway is "possessed by Satan."[7] He has claimed that COVID-19 has been created by Bill Gates to make money on microchipping people with "the mark of the beast".[11]
He has participated in arrangements held by the Christian television station Visjon Norge,[6] and Christian newspaper Norge Idag.[8] His views and methods have caused controversy and been met with opposition by others, including in Christian communities.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Levi Jensen var på Moster". Bømlo-nytt (in Norwegian). 30 January 2023.
- ^ "Evangeliserte i gågata: – Barn ble skremt". Gjengangeren (in Norwegian). 23 June 2015.
- ^ "Pop-up predikant på Stortorvet disket opp med frelse og håndspåleggelse på løpende bånd". Fredriksstad Blad (in Norwegian). 4 June 2019.
- ^ "Levi Jensen: Starter samarbeid for å følge opp ungdom". Norge Idag (in Norwegian). 7 July 2023.
- ^ "Levi Jensen i Horten: - 84 prosent av mine tilhørere er gutter. De lurer på det med djevelen". Gjengangeren (in Norwegian). 27 January 2020.
- ^ a b c "Omstridt predikant skaper kaos på Sørlandet". NRK (in Norwegian). 10 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Predikanter med tungetale og dåp i Tjenna. -Jeg er sjokkert, sier Tvedestrands ordfører". Tvedestrandsposten (in Norwegian). 8 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Levi Jensen kaster seg inn i maktkampen i Norge Idag". Dagen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Da kjendis–predikanten sa han kunne helbrede i Jesu navn, flokket ungdommene seg rundt ham". Agderposten (in Norwegian). 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Sandefjording skulle helbrede barn for ADHD i Narvik: – Jeg ser på ham som en mentalt forstyrret mann". Sandefjords Blad (in Norwegian). 20 June 2021.
- ^ "Omstridt predikant samlet flere titalls ungdommer på Kleppe og spredte konspirasjonsteorier – Det er gale, sier ungdommer". Jærbladet (in Norwegian). 25 March 2021.