Family Background

Brother Olson was the first born child of Curt and Marian Olson.   He was born July 7, 1954.  Marian was a devout Irish-catholic so she asked the parish priest to come and pray that her newborn son would go into the priesthood.  Little did realize that many years later God would answer that prayer but in an entirely different manner than she expected.

Four sisters, a brother and sixteen years later, Tim was integrally involved in his local Catholic church.  He was president of the youth group and was a member of the church's worship team.  But throughout Tim's Catholic years he kept inquiring about the Trinitarian doctrine but was unable to find answers to his question.  

Since coming to the Lord, Tim's brother Eric has also discovered the wonderful truth about this Saviour named Jesus.  Eric too found himself captured by God's mercy and wanting to tell others about this precious Savior so now he is pastor of Cornerstone Church in Hudson, Wisconsin.

Education

In 1972-75 Tim attended Bemidji State University and Inver Hills Community College but before finishing his degree he left school to marry his high school sweetheart, Jane Klug.  Then in 1976 Tim returned to school but this time he education took a very different twist.   As a newly baptized and Holy Ghost filled Christian, Tim enrolled at the Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota, with the intent of learning more about the faith that he recently encountered at a United Pentecostal Church.  Though Tim’s original intent was to discover more about his new found faith it wasn’t long before the Lord revealed that He had other plans.

After graduating from ABI, God greatly rewarded Tim’s sacrifice and dedication when his employer offered to train Tim to become a computer programmer.  For the next two years, Tim received excellent computer training paid for by his employers all the while receiving a salary!  Over the next several years the Lord’s blessings were evident as Tim climbed the corporate ladder.

North American Ministry

After receiving a degree from the Apostolic Bible Institute (ABI) in St. Paul , Minnesota , Tim was a little disappointed to find himself teaching Sunday school in the junior class at Apostolic Bible Church .  He now believes it is a perfect place for new preachers to develop their preaching and teaching style.

In 1980, the Olsons opened their home to start a home mission’s church in Hastings , Minnesota .  This daughter work from the Apostolic Bible Church provided Tim the opportunity to develop from a Sunday school teacher to preacher.  Through home bible studies and personal evangelism this church grew over the next six years to a solid church that is now pastored by Keith Leaman . 

As much as the Olsons loved their time in Hastings God had other plans.  After much prayer and fasting, in 1986 the Olsons moved to Moorhead , Minnesota , to start another church.  The Lord had already been preparing hearts of people  in Moorhead and the Olsons weren’t alone for long.  Soon there was a nucleus for a church and once again the basement of their home was set up for church and Sunday school services.  The Lord again blessed and the church grew and today this church is pastored by Gerald Nilsen.

While pioneering the work in Moorhead , the Lord opened doors to start a daughter work in Ashley , North Dakota .  The miraculous healing from cancer of a man from Ashley was the catalyst to establishing this church.  Today this church is pastored by Dale Burling.

But once again the Lord began to deal with the Olsons about moving on.  This time the location was quite a distance away.  The Lord was talking to Tim about applying for foreign missions in Norway .  Although the Olsons were ready to make the move to Norway , God again had other plans.

In 1993, Tim was invited to return to ABI as dean of students.  While teaching at ABI the Olsons also pastored a church in River Falls , Wisconsin , and it was during this time that the Lord finally led the Olsons into foreign missions.  Though Tim originally felt the Lord leading him towards Norway God again had other plans.  They were headed to St. Petersburg , Russia .

Foreign Missions Ministry

In 1998 the Olsons finally arrived in St. Petersburg , Russia , where the Lord again blessed.  After founding a church, several daughter works, a Bible College and the Russian Language Literature Production Center , Tim began feeling another change in his ministry was imminent.  In the spring of 2006 Tim received a telephone call that he knew was the hand of God.

Tim learned that the missionaries in Scandinavia had decided to resign from missions and the doors were opened for the Olsons to move to Scandinavia .  In February, 2007, the Olsons finally arrived in Oslo , Norway , to fulfill the long-standing call that God had placed in their lives 15 years earlier.