Eric Olson, an American missionary in Europe from 1958-1996, with Bible Christian Union (later amalgamated with TEAM), came from Sweden to England in 1971. He came with his wife Edith and four daughters, as the result of a conviction from the Lord to ‘enlarge the place of his tent’ (Isaiah 54.2).
After settling in the village of Send, Surrey, a Sunday school was started in their home. At the same time, quite independently, Paul Bassett, then pastor of Horsley Evangelical Church in Surrey, also felt convicted to begin gospel work in Send based on Isaiah. 54.2. This resulted in Paul Bassett leading a weekly evangelistic Bible study in Eric and Edie’s home.
In the providence of God, a disused Congregational church came up for sale in the village and, by faith, nine members of the Bible study group covenanted to purchase it. The re-opening service and induction of Eric took place on May 27 1974 and with the Lord’s blessing, the church grew with up to 70 people in attendance by the end of Eric’s five-year pastorate. During these years, Eric valued fellowshipping with ministers in the Surrey Auxiliary of the FIEC and attending the Westminster Fraternal, as well as many conferences in the UK. Later, his role as Northern European Director of BCU took him on tours to Europe and Scandinavia and he became a great personal friend and brother to many hundreds of believers.
