Vision Norway asks people to give of their heart – says that God fixes the electricity bill – NRK Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
– I can only say that now with these high electricity bills. Do not look at the electricity bills, give what your heart wants you to give. Then God will make sure that the electricity bill and everything else is paid.
Ivar Kolstad, a volunteer at Vision Norway, said this in a broadcast on the channel on 5 December.
– I have many examples of the same, personal testimony, but I will not take it now. I have been a given for all these years, and I have never lost on that, Kolstad continues.
Bishop responds
– It is a reprehensible guide to give, says bishop of Tunsberg diocese, Jan Otto Myrseth.
He believes that the people who hear this, and who like Vision Norway, will feel financially bound. He also believes that it will provide strong guidelines for how they spend their money. The bishop says that one must handle finances in a sensible way.
– Then we can give what we may have left over after the necessary needs have been covered.
Ivar Kolstad thinks the bishop is wrong.
– I do not agree with that. We are grateful for all gifts, and all amounts are equally valuable, Kolstad says to NRK.
Hanvold: – It must be at his expense
This is not the first time that Vision Norway believes that a monetary gift should provide something. Among other things, they have said that a monetary gift will ensure that the donor is protected against the coronavirus.
Jan Hanvold is head of the TV channel Visjon Norge.
– What do you think about a statement that God provides the electricity bill?
– It must be at his (Kolstad’s) expense, Hanvold answers.
– Do you agree?
– No comment.
Money from heaven
Ivar Kolstad has previously been CFO of Vision Norway. Now he is a volunteer who helps from time to time.
– What lies behind one must be a believer to understand. There is a lot about sowing and reaping in the Bible and sowing in good soil, which means that it benefits the poor. Despite high electricity bills, God will look to the heart and be able to help, says Kolstad to NRK.
– What do you really mean by that?
– I do not mean that money comes down from heaven. It is not the case that bang, then the electricity bill is paid. It is not going to happen. One should not give the bluff in the electricity bill, it must be paid, but when one helps the poorest of the poor then one will be blessed back. Even if you have high electricity bills, you have the opportunity to give a package, says Kolstad.
The broadcast on Vision Norway is about what they call the Moldova campaign where they collect money for Christmas packages to Moldova. The goal is 12,000 packages, and Vision Norway says they have collected over half of the amount they need during the first week of the action. A package costs 500 kroner.
Contact the electricity company directly
Glitre Energi has many thousands of customers and also reacts to Vision Norway’s TV broadcast.
– We can probably not recommend trusting God to pay the electricity bill. We have a great understanding that electricity costs are now and will be very high. If there are any customers who have problems paying the electricity bill, we ask them to contact us as early as possible, says Jan Vidar Thoresen, CEO of Glitre Energi Strøm.
State Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Amund Vik, writes in an e-mail to NRK:
“The electricity bill is a big expense item for many. The high electricity prices make it difficult to make ends meet and everyday life more difficult. It is very unfortunate if actors use this situation to monetize people’s concerns. The government is now working on a larger package of measures that will be presented in a short time. “