Editing Word of Life (Sweden) (section)

==History==
The congregation was founded in [[Uppsala]] by [[Ulf Ekman]] on 24 May 1983.<ref>J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, page  2772</ref>  In 1987, it dedicated its new building in [[Uppsala]]. <ref> Dagen, [https://www.dagen.se/nyheter/2001/10/16/livets-ord-en-forsamling-som-har-kritiserats-och-hyllats-i-18-ar/ Livets Ord - en församling som har kritiserats och hyllats i 18 år], dagen.se, Sweden, 16 octobre 2001</ref>{{bsn|date=March 2025}}{{cfy|date=March 2025}} In 2012, it founded Word of Life International, an association of churches it helped establish around the world. <ref> Livets Ord, [https://www.livetsord.se/en/uppsala/about-word-of-life/ About], livetsord.se, Sweden, accessed November 2, 2023</ref> Ekman passed on the local pastorship in [[Uppsala]] to {{ill|Joakim Lundqvist|sv}} in 2013. On 9 March 2014, Ekman announced that he and his wife was leaving the organisation, with the intent of joining the [[Catholic Church]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/debatt/darfor-lamnar-jag-livets-ord-och-blir-katolik/|title="Därför lämnar jag Livets Ord och blir katolik"|language=sv|work=Dagens Nyheter|date=2014-03-09|access-date=2025-03-29}}</ref><ref name="catholic">{{cite web|url=http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/church-ministry/19936-ulf-ekman-converts-to-roman-catholicism |title=Ulf Ekman Converts to Roman Catholicism |work=Charisma Magazine |date=9 March 2014 |access-date=10 March 2014 |last1=Leclaire |first1=Jennifer }}</ref><ref name="catholic3">{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/march/sweden-pentecostal-converts-catholicism-ulf-ekman-word-life.html |title=Sweden's Pentecostal Megapastor Converts to Catholicism |publisher=Christianity Today |access-date=11 March 2014}}</ref> In April 2022, Jan Blom was installed as the senior pastor. In August 2022, Jan Blom was injured in a serious motorcycle accident and is currently on sick leave. In the fall of 2023, Livets Ord implemented an interim leadership team of Simon Ahlstrand, Sebastian Asklund and Christian Åkerhielm. In the fall 2025, David Ekerbring will begin his tenure as senior pastor. <ref> https://www.varldenidag.se/nyheter/david-ekerbring-blir-ny-huvudpastor-for-livets-ord-tilltrader-i-sommar/858200</ref>

Aside from church, the movement also runs academic schools for all ages and Bible schools.<ref>Allan Anderson, ''An Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity'', Cambridge University Press, UK, 2013, page 95</ref>  It sends missionaries to Russia, [[Ukraine]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Israel]] and [[India]]. In 2023, Word of Life International would have helped establish 1,000 churches.<ref> Livets Ord,[https://www.livetsord.se/en/uppsala/about-word-of-life/history/ Word of Life’s history], livetsord.se, Sweden, accessed November 2, 2023</ref>