Ole Opsund was born August 11, 1880, in Bristol, Iowa, where his parents had settled briefly, after coming to America from Norway.   His father was Gunder Michaelson Opsund, and his mother was Anna (Storaasli) Opsund.   In 1894, the family moved to Oregon, coming by train, and they settled near Silverton.   There were five boys and three girls in the family, and all were raised up in the Lutheran Church in Silverton, Oregon.

     November 3, 1903, Ole Opsund was married to Sally "Pearl" Fox at Silverton.   Sister Opsund had been born near Hickory, North Carolina, to David P. Fox and Linnie Elizabeth (Herman) Fox; her father being a descendent of a long line of Lutheran ministers dating back to the time of Martin Luther, and some had come to America as early as 1717.

     The Opsunds had one child, Arvilla Madaline, who was born October 3, 1906.   Arvilla had just finished one year in school when, that first summer, she took sick with a terrible fever.   The weather was hot, and they were far from any doctor, and only after several days, did the fever leave.   Then, they found that her mind had been irreparably damaged.   Always, she remained mentally, like a little child, but father and mother determined never to desert her, but to care for her to the end of their lives.

     The Opsunds were in the sawmill business near Silverton, Oregon, from 1903 to 1912.   Then, together with the John Fox family, they homesteaded six miles from Gateway, near Madras, Oregon.   In 1916, when Mrs. Opsund's mother suffered a stroke, they came back across the Cascades to care for her.   With the help of a brother-in-law, Edwin Hobart, they made their way by the Wapanitia Pass and the Old Barlow Road to the Fox farm near Molalla.   There, they helped with the ranch and cared for Mrs. Fox till she passed away in 1918, when they returned to Gateway.

     It was the spring of 1919 that Brother Opsund was born again.   He saw his need of a Savior as he was plowing in the field at their homestead, and there he was saved.   Mrs. Opsund was saved that very same evening.   They immediately began to study their Bible; a wedding present which they had received in 1903, and had lain in the top of their trunk all those years.   In one year's time they had worn that Bible out.

     They began going to the Mud Springs Baptist Church, a strict Landmark Baptist Church, and there they learned of Baptist truths.   But Brother Opsund's father was a devout Lutheran, and did not want his son entrapped by the Baptists.   He had the Lutheran pastor from Madras come and talk with him, but all this pastor could do was tell of their Lutheran heritage back to Martin Luther.   He could give no scripture proofs.   Brother Opsund's father was very disappointed in his pastor's presentation.   He said to his son, "How can you be a Baptist?   The Baptists don't even have a founder."   "That is why I am a Baptist," Brother Opsund replied.   "There is no founder this side of Jesus Christ."

     In 1922, the Opsunds again returned to Western Oregon, to care for Sister Opsund's father, the last seven months of his life, during which time he was bedfast.   They say Brother Opsund was a marvel, when it came to caring for the sick.   He was so tender and careful, when moving them was necessary, and he also gave them spiritual help.

     Back in Central Oregon, in 1923, Brother Opsund, Brother Elmer Mathers and two others came before the church for ordination.   Only Brother Opsund went on to preach the Gospel.   For a while he pastored the little church at Ashwood, Oregon.   Leaving there, and going out by faith, they visited us at Caldwell, Idaho, about 1928, and then went on to settle at Kinzua, a sawmill town in Wheeler County, Oregon.   Here, he carried on a mission work for several years.   About 1931 they moved back to Ashwood, where he pastored until 1934.   While there, their house burned down and with it, almost all their possessions.

     In 1934, the Opsunds moved to Portland to help run the East Side Mission, near the east end of the Steel Bridge.   The owner was a Lutheran lady, who had two paid solicitors for the mission, but the solicitors were taking their pay and more, so she was about ready to give up.   When Brother Opsund took charge, he let the solicitors go, determined to go by faith in God.   Their prayers were answered and all their needs supplied.

     In those days, many people were homeless.   Under all the bridges and along the gulch by the railroad tracks, were shanties made of old boards, packing boxes, and such, in which homeless men were living.   The missions of the city were packed with hungry people, and at the East Side Mission, no one was ever turned away.   Every evening, they fed from 125 to 200 men, with smaller numbers for the two other meals.   There was a Gospel message before every evening meal, and thousands heard the Gospel preached there.

     Brother Opsund continued with the East Side Mission until 1942, when, after the war began, all unemployment disappeared, and the Eastside Mission closed.   Before this, the Opsunds had purchased a large house, just to the north of the mission, which was made into a rooming house, with small apartments, and here they continued to live.

     In the fall of 1946, Mary and I came to Portland and rented an apartment from the Opsunds.   Antioch Baptist Church, on Lincoln Street, which had sent me to China ten years before, now had a convention pastor and showed every evidence of going into the Southern Convention, so I had moved my membership to Richmond, California, and returned as their missionary.   So we started regular services there at the Opsunds, in their sitting room and dining room, with various ones preaching.   November 27, 1946, the Bible Missionary Baptist Church was organized with eight members.   Brother O. N. Opsund was elected the first pastor.   Brother Opsund continued to pastor the church off and on for the next 20 years, and he remained a faithful member the rest of his life.   They continued to meet in the Opsund's home until 1950, when they completed the basement of the building on the Southwest corner of 108th East Burnside Street.   The upper part of the church auditorium was completed in 1955.   In all the building of this church house, you may be sure, Brother Opsund sacrificed much of his own money and labor, though he had very little.   They always lived by faith in God.

     Brother Opsund told of a time when they had no money at all, they asked the Lord to supply their needs.   When the mail arrived, it contained a good sized check.   It was payment for a load of hay, a man had bought from them so long ago that they had completely forgotten it.

     In 1962, the Opsunds sold their house at 966 North Margin to the Thunderbird Motel Corporation, and bought the little house across Burnside Street from the Bible Missionary Baptist Church, where it was convenient for them to attend church in their old age.   They lived there until 1967, when Brother Opsund suffered a stroke, and they had to move to a rest home in Silverton.

     Brother Opsund went to be with the Lord on July 30, 1970.   Sister Opsund followed him in 1972.   Brother Dale Carothers said, "Brother Opsund never complained, and would help anyone in need, and all those who wanted help.   He had family Bible study every evening.   He very seldom got angry.   He never failed to fill the pulpit when asked, unless he was too ill to attend services.   He was a faithful servant of the Lord's, even to the place of being tenacious, whenever the Lord's truths were at stake.   He never compromised with people when it came to God's truth."   That is the way we remember him.

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Tom Blalock Webservant edit@BaptistLandmarks.org