100 Years of Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
It was 1926 when Ole Olsen and two of his friends pooled their money together to purchase a building for $500 in Minneapolis. The purpose? To feed men—physically and spiritually—who were struggling with addiction.
Ole Olsen was born in Norway into a Christian home, “but even after having been brought up in such an environment, Satan poisoned my young heart.” In 1887, Ole arrived in New York City. “I was still in Satan's power and was living in sin.” He was trapped in his addiction to alcohol.
Ole met and married his wife, and they had children. Yet he continued to believe the lies of Satan, “saying that if I were alone for a while, I could make more money,” so he sent his family to Europe to live without him. “You can realize the situation—a father giving up all that was worth living for, the only real happiness this side of eternity, aside from that which is found in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ole fell deeper into the hands of Satan. “But someone was praying for 40 years for their prodigal son—thank God for a praying father and mother.”
Ole Olsen, founder of the Gateway Gospel Mission—known today as Metro Hope Ministries.
In the fall of 1911, Ole was in Spokane. “I found that Gypsy Smith was just starting a revival campaign, and I went to hear him. It was there that the Holy Spirit completely arrested me with His convicting power. Then Satan came to me in person and tempted me with everything. He told me my whole life story—but praise God, Jesus gave me the power to overcome him, and he departed.”
At Christmas in 1913, God returned Ole’s family to him.
“In the spring of 1926, the Lord laid it on our hearts to move to Minneapolis. Some of God’s dear children, who were also burdened for the unsaved, joined us there, and we founded the Gateway Gospel Mission, located at 111 Nicollet Avenue. God has blessed us wonderfully. Souls have been saved, prodigal sons have found their way to the Father’s House, and numerous families have experienced blessed reunions through the return of prodigal fathers who have found Christ as both Savior and Lord. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has been brought to thousands. Many have found in Him joy unspeakable and full of glory, and a deep, settled peace that passes all understanding.”
Metro Hope continues to share and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ without compromise, feeding, housing, and loving the men, women, mothers, and children God brings through our doors. To Him be the glory!