With an unwavering trust in God, Pastor John Halvorsen will embark soon on a 10,000-mile faith walk across Europe and Asia.
Halvorsen said he believes God has called him to this task. "It's an act of obedience for me. It's not an adventure or a scheme. I just want to obey," he said.
Halvorsen plans to leave his post at Great Lakes Church in Duluth in three weeks and begin the walk at the end of October or early November. His wife, Sandy, and their 16-year-old daughter, Laura, will accompany him as support crew -- at least on the first leg of the journey.
Halvorsen plans to walk from the westernmost tip of Portugal across Europe and down to Istanbul, Turkey. From there, he's not sure what route he'll take. He wants to go through Iran and Iraq but doesn't know whether that will be possible.
"The truth is, I have way more questions than answers," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Halvorsen is experienced in journeys. He has gone on three long-distance canoe trips. In 1987, he and his wife and their children set off for Europe with one-way tickets and little money and trusted God would provide. They eventually made their way across Europe and Asia by car and train, then flew home from Hong Kong.
In 1998-99, Halvorsen went on a nearly 5,000-mile prayer walk across America, from north to south and then west to east. The journey took 14 months, with a two-month break. His wife and their two youngest children came along on the trip in a recreational vehicle. On that walk, God wanted him to share the message that tumultuous times were coming and it was time to get right with God, he said.
Though he thought his long-distance walking days were behind him, last year while on a trip to Europe he began to discern that God was calling him to do another faith walk and preach to other nations, he said. After prayer and consultation with his wife and other people he trusts, he began making plans for the journey.
"The message of this trip is different," he said. "God is saying a great light is going to shine in dark places."
Ron and Linda Olson of Minnetonka, Minn., provided logistical support for Halvorsen during Prayer Walk America and are heading to Europe soon to do ministry and provide support for Halvorsen's World Prayer Walk.
Ron Olson said Halvorsen's whole life has been a walk of faith.
"When he feels God is calling him to do something, he is able to step out absolutely and believe that God will equip and enable him to see the journey through," Olson said. "In Prayer Walk America, he never lost a single day to weather or sickness. He walked every single step. I've seen that in everything he's done. I've learned a lot from that in my own personal life."
Olson said he is realistic about the dangers they may face. When they get beyond Europe, they may need to travel with the help of underground Christian churches.
ADVERTISEMENT
"If I put us in contact with the wrong people or down the wrong road, I could get us killed. ... That's why we are looking for prayer support from people," he said.
John Karas, an elder at Great Lakes Church, said he believes God is calling Halvorsen. "For me, it's not a stretch that he's doing this. It's a stretch for my faith. The only way this thing will happen is miracle after miracle," he said.
On the journey, Halvorsen aims to walk 20 miles a day, five days a week. He expects the journey will take more than two years. He doesn't plan to end the journey until he sees the Pacific Ocean at China's eastern shore.
Halvorsen said he hopes that as he walks he's able to touch people's lives with God's message of hope and that people who hear about his walk find encouragement.
"Everything in my life has prepared me for this," he said.
LINDA HANSON covers family issues and religion. She can be reached at (218) 723-5335 or by e-mail at lhanson@duluthnews.com .
