Since 1978, the Heartgood Foundation in Norway has successfully provided health, educational, and other services to local and international partners. The mission is to represent Jesus Christ while sharing the joy and hope of Christ’s second coming. The organization is united in carrying out this mission through health ministry, education for service, and organic biological agriculture.
Its educational facility, the European Bible School of Health and Agriculture, draws students from all over the world. Though their native languages and cultures vary, the students are united by their desire to learn how they can best serve God in the mission field.
The students have opportunities for hands-on experience by doing outreach in the community. Starting in 2000, the school also began to organize yearly mission trips so that students could get firsthand experience putting their newly learned skills into practice in the field. Every year staff have the privilege of witnessing a tremendous change in the students when they return from the mission trip with a strong commitment to mission work.
Fredheim Health Center, another branch of the Heartgood Foundation, has been changing lives for nearly 30 years. A stay at the center is a unique opportunity for young and old, healthy and sick to change their lifestyles and improve their quality of life. Located on a forest-covered hillside southwest of Oslo, Fredheim guests have more than one opportunity to get closer to God, and staff strive to be living examples of Christ in action.
The Heartgood Foundation is also home to an organic biological farm, which gives students opportunities to learn more about sustaining themselves. The farm also provides the school with food and some income. Sunt & Godt Bakery, in Skotselv, is the first bakery in Norway to produce bread using sprouted wheat. Using sprouted wheat ensures that the bread contains many more nutrients than regular milled wheat bread. The bakery works hand-in-hand with the Sunt & Godt Health Food Store. The store sells the bread and dry goods (organic seeds, grains, legumes, etc. packed by the bakery), plus it offers a variety of vegan and vegetarian products. In 2002, the post office in Skotselv was moved into the health food store, making it the only post office in Norway that is closed on Sabbath. The post office is a great tool for outreach, because it brings the community into the store and multiplies opportunities for making friends with people and leading them to Christ.
