Hello!
My name is Elisabeth.
I am married to Lars, and am the mother of 5 children. We have a great passion for serving Jesus Christ with our lives. For 23 years, we have been a family of priests and served several congregations. I have worked as a diaconal in the congregation and ran grief groups. As a nurse, I worked in the municipal health service at Østfold Central Hospital, then for a period at the Norwegian Radium Hospital with children and adolescents with cancer. Later, I worked as a specialist nurse in mental health and substance abuse at Østfold Hospital within psychiatry, treatment, rehabilitation, and in the emergency unit. I also enjoyed working in mental health in Marker and Vestby municipalities, as well as as a teacher in health subjects in adult education in Oslo. From 2015, I was employed as a subject teacher at the Evangeliesentret's own school, Østerbo High School in Halden.
The extended Godman family continues to grow. Our 5 adult children are well established and well spread across Norway. We are delighted to have 12 grandchildren, - in Eastern Norway and in the West, - in Stavanger and Bergen. We visit them as often as we can.
Hello!
My name is Lars.
I own a consulting firm in organizational development and learning. In 2003, I coordinated and led a pilot project of an international research farm in organic agriculture. Until 2004 I was a priest in the Church of Norway. I have been a priest for 23 years, including 15 years as general manager of 5 employees and about 80 volunteers. I have led several Alpha courses. In 2008, three others and I started a national association: Prayer for the Norwegian Church. In In 2011 I was employed by Blå Kors as a subject teacher at Seiersborg High School. I worked with students with special needs until my retirement.
We are now active and committed retirees and travel between Gotland (Sweden), Denmark in the south and Norway. Our house on Gotland, «"Mission House Route"» we have given to the Lord. Here we have Nordic gatherings with Christian friends for inspiration and equipment. "Worship Night at Godmans in Rute" are Saturday gatherings we have during the months we live in the house. We consciously work with good dialogue and cooperation with the established congregations on the island. In Denmark we have a network where we visit Aarhus, Thisted, Klitmøller and Copenhagen, among others.
We are active in the Christian dance community in the Nordic region, through «"Psalto"» (in Denmark and Sweden) and «Dance for Jesus» in Norway. We hold seminars, lead Intercessory Prayer Teams at the national and Nordic level, and provide advisory guidance towards leadership in "Dance for Jesus".
Our passion for Banner
The first time we saw banners was at the Swedish OAS in July 2003. Banners were used during worship, praise and in procession. We both felt that God came strongly with his presence to us. Early on we understood that the use of banners had its roots in the Bible.
Lars has knowledge of the basic texts of the Bible, so he can read and understand the Hebrew and Greek texts. When he began to delve into the Old Testament, he understood that Banner had strategic and prophetic meanings for the people of Israel. There are also links to the New Testament. It was interesting to discover that the word Banner in the basic text is used more times than the word Dance.
Oppdagelsen og bruken av Banner i Bibelen fascinerte oss. Under lovsangen med Banner opplevde Elisabeth en ekstrem glede og en indre helbredelse. En lidenskap for Banner ble lagt ned i hennes hjerte. Hun har sydd og syr fortsatt Banner for barn og voksne til bruk i lovsang, tilbedelse og manifestasjon.
Elisabeth reiste en periode til Göteborg i Sverige i helgene på danseseminar. Siden har vi hatt god kontakt med Psaltery and Swedish OAS. Several members of the family have attended Psaltos' dance seminars annually. We have also served in OAS's own Dance Team on stage and held dance seminars. Elisabeth gets the movements down to the heart of a hymn and shares the choreographed dance with the participants.
On Norwegian Oasis we have collaborated with the management. In 2004 we had stands and participated with Banner. During Oase conferences for adults and children we have had various seminars with banners and dance. At the Children's and Junior Oase we served for several years with a family team of approx. 10 people. We have arranged weekend seminars for the whole family and taught in churches and Christian organizations. Elisabeth lends out and sells Banners on request.
In our service with Banner we experience the power of the Holy Spirit. Some feel a power, a deep joy that is released. The Lord touches and speaks directly to individuals. Some give feedback about touch just by observing us using this tool. We experience that the Spirit leads us when we use Banner, both during training, during a choreographed dance, but also in free dance. We notice that we are drawn more towards the prophetic dimension of the service God has set before us. For several years we were connected to the European Union of Prayers, a prayer leadership that followed the EU presidency. We were a team of about 60 Christian prayer warriors from all over the EU, including Norway. The team then traveled to the country and capital that had the leadership/presidency.
Confession and affiliation
We confess one God. It is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who in the Bible has revealed himself and the way to salvation. We want to honor God through our banners and represent Him. We want to cooperate with the church of Jesus Christ in all countries.
Nationally, we are part of Dance for Jesus, a network for dancers in Norway. Internationally, we are affiliated with International Christian Dance Fellowship (ICDF). When, where and how we use Banners, we follow the instructions from the ICDF.
Route Mission House
Flere forbedere har i senere år oppholdt seg i korte perioder i huset. «Lovsångskväll hos Godmans i Rute», en gruppe på ca. 20 personer som representerer hele Guds folk på Gotland, samles flittig her i huset (se bildekavalkade). Vi kommer sammen til måltidsfelleskap med hverandre og med Herren Jesus, til lovsang og vitnesbyrd.
The Lord Jesus Christ will meet His people and send us out! Including from this house of prayer for the Nations.
Exodus 25:8 «Let them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.».
2 Chronicles 7:15-16 «Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer that is made in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this house so that my name may be there forever.».
The history of the mission house
How it all started…
1978
The house is being built
At the same time as the eldest son Anders moved in on Alvan's farm, Lars' parents, Astrid and Bror, bought the plot of land at Rute Ale 260. There they built a new house that was completed in 1979. They then moved from Alvan's farm to Ale.
2015
Lars buys the house
Lars bought «Grandma Astrid’s house.» Elisabeth and Lars anointed the house and property with the Lord’s oil and gave the house to the Lord. Their children still call the house «Grandma’s house.» Lars’ mother was a believer and prayed a lot to God. Before she went home to the Lord in 2018, she lived in a senior center in Visby and in Slite.
2016
Summer conferences
Elisabeth and Lars begin organizing Nordic summer conferences for God's people in the house.
2019
Route Prayer House
The video chat group Prayer for North Gotland is started. A prayer woman in the group was given the opportunity to live in the house. She began to gather a group in prayer and worship. The house became "Rute Prayer House"!
2022
Route Mission House
After a command from the Lord, the name of the house was changed to «Rute Mission House» (2 Chronicles 7:15-16). Elisabeth and Lars felt the need for worship evenings and other activities for those who seek God and want to be God’s people.