Run With The Vision
Patricia Erlandsen: Evangelist an International Itinerant Minister: 1972-1996
📜 Introduction & Foundations (1972-1981)
Patricia Erlandsen; born-again in 1972, trained under Senior Pastor, Dr Reginald Kliminok of Mt Gravatt AOG, “Garden City Christian Church”.
“I am pleased and honoured to endorse the following – 1972-1981 – when Pat served at Mt Gravatt AOG Church and undertook church planting in Surfers Paradise”.
Warren Saxen (Board Member 1963-1988) states:
I met Pat when she was invited to work for the church as one of two teachers with two assistants caring for 60 enrolled children daily in the church’s Child Care Centre, resulting in families being added to the church regularly. When the Manager resigned, Pat took on this role, which one year won “Best CCC in SE Qld”.
Due to her efforts in evangelism, Pat was appointed head of the Department of Evangelism. Pat also conducted a twelve-week Personal and Church Evangelism class, and the senior minister’s wife taught Christian Fundamentals of the Faith. These were the two Adult Sunday School classes conducted, requiring all those who wanted to apply to serve in any capacity in the church, to attend and undertake the teachings.
In this capacity, Pat also took on the role of house visitation, especially following up with those new converts who came through the church services, as well as personal contact through the regular weekly street evangelism and other works. Further, another vital role evolved in which Pat recognised people in the church, identifying the need to form various ministry support groups, and attracting people to them. For example, Adult Singles and Chinese Believers.
Such recognition meant forming a unique ministry, and Pat was appointed Minister of Specialised Ministries. This work grew to 9 new specialised ministries drawn from mature church members becoming involved with new people attending and creating new groups with specialised interests.
🤟 The First Deaf Ministry in AOG Churches Australia
One of these groups attracted to joining the church was a group of 12 deaf people, along with a deaf pastor, his wife and family. Importantly, as part of the group, there was a deaf man whose wife was proficient in deaf sign language and another woman church member. These two hearing women immediately began interpreting for the deaf people who gathered at the church services; then, a mid-week Bible study was introduced in a private home, which brought cohesiveness to the group.
It quickly grew to seventy persons who attended regularly; it gained recognition as one of the largest deaf church groups in the world, at that time.
The “SignPost” Magazine
Once Pat was appointed Pastor to the Deaf, and seeing the potential for expansion, Pat produced the “SignPost” magazine, reaching a national audience of Pentecostal churches in Australia.
Through this means, invitations came in to visit local churches in different states, and the result was a few local deaf works planted by Pat, accompanied by a team that itinerated to interested churches.
DEAF MINISTRY REVIVAL AUSTRALIA-WIDE
Finally, the deaf launched a national conference for the deaf, supported by these churches. This unique gathering of Australian Deaf with overseas Preachers and Missionaries invited as speakers continues today.
The deaf ministry began at Mt Gravatt and finally moved to their building in Loganlea, housed in the first freehold debt-free building in Australia, owned by a deaf group.
During their formative years at Mt Gravatt, they began to expand their reach by sending missionaries, travelling to various places worldwide to reach the Deaf.
After 8 years of service in the local church, Pat moved on; and the deaf work spread to an international audience, carried forward by the deaf members themselves under the leadership of another woman-Pastor, and Rev. Hough, who continued to develop a dedicated team of deaf Christians interested in the work.
Signpost A magazine to the deaf
Why invite Patricia Erlandsen to speak?
I first heard stories of Pat from my late mother-in-law Pamela, who worked closely with her in ministry. She described a dynamic woman of great faith who had come from a worldly background and then dedicated her life to Christ as an itinerant evangelist.
These stories came to life for my family and I as we opened our home to Patricia at various time during these last ten years as she has continued to walk boldly in faith.
When asked to edit some of her writing I didn’t just play around with grammar and syntax, I had my theology on women in the bible adjusted! No small feat for a man raised on a steady diet of traditional gender roles in the church!
While sharing meals we didn’t just break bread, we learned from her about personality types and how they could impact our relationships with ourselves and each other. These meals turned into weekly studies and challenging conversations that have impacted our lives and relationships.
Patricia has been a marker post in my life and I count it all blessing to be challenged and changed by her great faith, knowledge and experience.
She is a challenger, she makes me think hard about my ideas and actions, and her life speaks volumes about her steadfast love for and faith in God.
She is thought provoking, and I have seen her connect with any audience. She provides stories, examples and “thoughts from the front lines” because she’s truly living out what she believes.
She has never stopped learning, willing to seek knowledge through hard work, as evidenced by her recently completed masters thesis.
— Babe Ruth
I recommend you invite Pat to speak at your next event. Pat offers a unique perspective that is both challenging and inspiring to audiences. Pat embodies hope that makes sense to lives lived well.
She is the real deal, living the type of life she promotes, challenging others to transform their daily living. If you want an authentic and challenging speaker for your event, look no further than Pat Erlandsen.
Stephen Shoemaker
A Life Impacted
I encountered Patricia Erlandsen in the mid 1980’s. She was leading a seminar at a Reinhardt Bonnke Evangelism Conference in Birmingham, England. I was deeply encouraged and equipped by her teachings to share the gospel in my everyday life.
Shortly after that I attended a conference where she was speaking in Dundalk, Ireland. The greatest blessing was watching Patricia pray for each participant and share a prophetic word calling out and confirming their gifts and God’s calling on their lives. The impact on my life personally was electrifying. I have never been the same and this marked the beginning of many adventures with God including travelling preaching in Africa on a ministry trip with Patricia to Kenya. God moved in my life in such a way that I participated in planting a church.
God also used Patricia to speak into the life of a close friend. In short, he quit his job, sold his house, and began serving with a ministry that brought relief supplies and assistance to areas experiencing national disasters.
God has given Patricia a remarkable gift of releasing and imparting faith for service in those she ministers to. Her faith and testimony of preaching around the world while trusting God for provision inspired me greatly. Her friendship and joy in the Lord are infectious.
Lisa McCains