Truls has gone from being a well-known and widely respected local public figure — an uncontroversial atheist who worked professionally in brand management, marketing and sales — to becoming an outspoken Christian voice, challenging society’s rapidly changing views on gender, Pride, and the sexualization of children.
As a result, political opponents and liberal media outlets have portrayed him as “dangerous,” “hateful,” “outdated,” and other harsh labels intended to discredit, silence, and censor him.
By secular standards, Truls experienced a dramatic fall from grace. But in the loss of status, approval, and acceptance in the eyes of the world, he found something far greater: a higher calling, a deeper purpose, and the courage to stand for truth.
This radical transformation cost him friendships and career opportunities, but new friendships, responsibilities, and sources of income have taken their place. But what brought about all this change?
When Truls was 30 years old, he met Vegard (28), the newly appointed Lutheran parish priest. Vegard and his family were interviewed by a local newspaper and it mentioned some of Vegard’s hobbies. Truls realized they shared several interests, contacted him, and asked whether he would like to play “Magic: The Gathering.”
That invitation marked the beginning of a lasting friendship.
For several years, Truls and Vegard met regularly. They would play for hours, often sharing a few beers while their conversations continued late into the night. They spoke about meaning, morality, and the truth about sin, death, dreams, and life itself.
Over time, their conversations increasingly returned to the questions of morality and truth. Eventually, Vegard grew tired of answering what he described as Truls’ “childish questions” and challenged him to read the Gospel of Mark. So began Truls’ journey of revelation.
When he opened a Bible for the first time at the age of 33, Truls’ background in marketing, sales, and communication made the way Jesus used to communicate and spread His message especially fascinating.
He noticed, for example, in the account of the man healed from leprosy, that Jesus told the man not to tell anyone. From his education in marketing, Truls knew that such a prohibition often has the opposite effect: people become even more eager to share.
This observation made him curious about the text. He read the Gospel of Mark four times over a period of several months before its message truly began to sink in.
During his final reading, one truth suddenly became real:
“You are loved because God loves you — regardless of your achievements or success.”
Truls felt set free. At last, someone could see beyond the mask, beyond the achievements and outward appearance — someone who saw him as a whole person and spoke truthfully and lovingly to his heart.
Thus began a chain reaction of profound changes. Over the following years, Truls experienced freedom from many of the burdens, bondages, and destructive habits that a life without God can heavily lay upon a person.
In 2018, he entered politics through the Christian Democratic Party and quickly became a prominent local political figure. His national breakthrough came in 2019 during a public debate on gender. Truls was among the first politicians to openly challenge the emerging ideas surrounding so-called gender diversity and gender identity.
At this point many Christians also began to take notice. They welcomed him warmly and established a significant prayer effort for Truls and his family. This resulted in great fruit: breakthroughs, open doors, and ever-increasing courage and boldness.
Faith has also grown within Truls’ family. His wife and children have joined him in a life shaped by the Bible, prayer, and Christian fellowship. Jesus did not only enter Truls’ own life, but He also began to work in the lives of those around him. His greatest joy has been seeing his children also desire to walk with God.
Truls’ remarkable and distinctive journey of faith can be told in three hours, thirty minutes, or three minutes, depending on the level of detail, yet the heart of the story remains the same: a true story of transformation: lasting change; genuine freedom; genuine love; and genuine truth in Christ.
Faith has touched every part of Truls’ life. It has borne fruit in his home, in his politics, and among the people he meets — some of whom have themselves come to faith.
Truls regularly takes part in the work of Street Church (Gatekirka), an outreach ministry where he shares the Gospel with young adults. He chairs the church council of City Church (Bykirka), a local Pentecostal church in Hammerfest. Since January 2022, he has worked as project manager at Christian Resource Center (Kristent Ressurssenter) and serves as deputy leader of Conservative (Konservativt), a Christian conservative party on the political right in Norway.
Truls seeks to bring Jesus into everything he does.
For Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.