Lives lived: Bo Brekke

On September 27, 2007 the Territorial Commander of Pakistan, Colonel Bo Brekke was shot and killed. To read the official news release from IHQ, click here. To read the message to Army leaders from the Chief of the Staff, click here. See coverage of the murder by the Pakistan Christian Post, the Nation and The Pakistan Daily Times.

theRubicon asked Commissioner John Nelson (R) to remember Colonel Bo Brekke

The first in our new Lives Lived series.

I

first met Bo and Birgitte about 24 years ago on the THQ compound in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Their home was an apartment on the second floor of one of the THQ buildings and my guest room was nearby. They invited me in for supper and coffee. I will never forget my impressions when I stepped into their very humble dwelling – it was beautiful. They knew how to take the simple things of life and arrange them in such a way to cause you to understand that this was a special place.

Update 4 October 2007: The funeral for Col. Bo Brekke is scheduled for Oct. 9th - click here to read the General’s announcement.

As we shared a meal together our conversation convinced me that they were people of vision, compassion, sensitivity, hard work and a deep desire to build the Kingdom of God through the ministry of The Salvation Army. Family was also very important to them and their two young sons. By the way, the coffee was excellent. I learned that their family in Norway kept them supplied with ground Norwegian coffee and they knew how to make it in the authentic European style. Over the years I enjoyed many more cups of good coffee with the Brekkes.

Their time in Sri Lanka was a learning experience and the building of a foundation for further service in South Asia in the years to come.

After a brief stay in their homeland of Norway they were appointed in charge of the work in Bangladesh. They were excited to return to South Asia and because of their leadership capacity they soon began to make a significant difference in the work and ministry of this growing Command. All of the original traits that I saw during our first conversation together began to blossom and develop and it was something beautiful to behold. It was a joy to visit them on a regular basis and to share in the development taking place.

The acquiring of a new Command Headquarters was a strategic move to improve the image of The Salvation Army amongst the many NGOs that do business in Bangladesh. The Sally Ann program, where our people make quality goods and are paid at fair trade salaries, with the products sold internally and internationally, was established to help Bangladesh become self-supporting. Sally Ann has now developed into an international program. Bo Brekke received a fist-full of floppy discs from International Headquarters and when they were all downloaded, Bangladesh headquarters became the first international connection with International Headquarters using Lotus Notes. Many corps were opened and institutions established and with the transfer of the Training College closer to Dhaka, the work of The Salvation Army was consolidated.

Bo Brekke co-authored a book on fair trade - click here for a review.

We are the poor: an article written by Brekke in the April 2001 edition of The Officer.

 

After nearly ten years in Bangladesh it was wise for the Brekkes to gain some additional administrative experience in Europe and appointments as a Divisional Commander in Scotland and the Chief Secretary in Eastern Europe with Headquarters in Moscow quickly followed.

It was my privilege to be in Pakistan for three months in the summer of 2006 when the Territorial Leaders at that time were to retire and new leaders appointed. We were pleased when it was announced that Bo and Birgitte Brekke were to be the new territorial leaders for Pakistan. On the 14th of September it was my privilege to install them in their new leadership responsibilities with the rank of Colonel. The hall was packed to capacity, the singing and the enthusiasm was deeply moving and the response by Bo and Birgitte in sharing the word of God and their hopes for the future was sincere and very well received. I was due to leave the next morning for Canada and came away encouraged and confident that the Brekkes were the right people at the right time for Pakistan. Little did I realize that they would only have one short year in Pakistan before Bo’s tragic death. He had so much to offer and had accomplished so much even though he had only reached his fiftieth birthday.

Bo and Birgitte were a wonderful team. They were both strong and they shared in a unique partnership of leadership that is not often seen. They were truly international in spirit and experience and were blessed with God-given talents and gifts which they so generously used for the honour and glory of God.

The team has been broken! We salute the life and ministry of Colonel Bo Brekke and praise God for all he accomplished in the name of the Lord. He will be sadly missed. Our prayers are with Birgitte and the family that God will sustain them during these days. Birgitte’s future is in God’s hands and He has a ministry for her that will unfold in God’s good time. May God bless her.

We also pray for the Salvationists of Pakistan. May God give them wisdom as they work through the implications of all that has happened as a result of this tragic incident.

Respectfully submitted by
Commissioner John Nelson

Writer: Commissioner John Nelson retired from active service as a Salvation Army officer on August 31, 1997 after 45 years of service, thirty of those years spent outside of Canada.

After numerous corps appointments in Guyana, Jamaica, Canada and Panama, John was appointed as the divisional leader in Barbados and then in Jamaica. His final appointment in the Caribbean Territory was as territorial field secretary.

The next seven years were spent in Canada, first as assistant field secretary for church growth and evangelism and then as divisional leader of the Manitoba and NW Ontario Division.

In June of 1986 John and his wife Elizabeth were appointed as territorial leaders of the Pakistan Territory, where they served for five years.

His final active appointment was as the international secretary for South Asia with offices at IHQ. For more than six years the Nelson’s traveled extensively in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

John was a member of the High Council on two occasions to elect the Army’s international leader. For three years he was a member of the General’s Advisory Council.

Since retirement John and Elizabeth have had interesting short-term appointments. DSBA in the Manitoba and NW Ontario Division (Canada), divisional commander for BC South Division (Canada), territorial commander and TPWM for Sri Lanka, public relations officer for the Manitoba and NW Ontario Division (Canada) and chief secretary of the Pakistan Territory. John is presently the President of the Winnipeg Grace Hospital (Canada) and expects to remain in that position until the end of the year.

6 Comments to Lives lived: Bo Brekke

1. John,
   That is a beautiful, God-honouring tribute to a remarkable servant of God, whom I admired for his strength of character and his leadership gifts.I heard that at a recent meeting in Pakistan he said,”Yes, I am a Westerner, but I have an Asian heart.”

   What a loss to our Army. Inexplicable, but we trust in God’s ability to turn disaster into victory.

   I wonder if you will get the call to go and hold on at this difficult time for our officers and soldiers in Pakistan.
   God be with you,
   Eva
Eva Burrows on October 3rd, 2007

2. I never had the privilege of meeting the Colonel but was an admirer of his, and of course his wife’s, work from afar. Their work is an inspiration and shows how far the gospel can go in real life-changing situations. Thank you, for showing us something of the Bo Brekke you knew, and who is now safe in his Father’s arms.
Graeme Smith on October 3rd, 2007

3. Bo Brekke is a great servant of God, an excellent leader with many qualities. His creative and innovative style of leadership has brought advance in the extension God’s Kingdom.

   I was very priviledge to talk with him during lunch at the Officers’ Council at Swanick. His wealth of experience and knowledge is a blessing to officers. As officers we miss his leadership. We know he is with the Lord. As believers, let us uphold his wife and children with prayers. I know there is a global prayer for his family.

   We love you and miss you.

   John Umasanthiram
   Tunbridge Wells
   England
Major Umasanthiram on October 5th, 2007

4. It was great honor and pirvilige for both of us to meet and serve Lord under their kind, spiritual and encouraging leadership we will never forget their ever smiling faces at the time of re-dedication service of our salvation army church at our division in pakistan Our church members are deeply sad & mourning at this tragic point we have really lost our great spiritual leader The moments we have shared with our leaders are really unforgetful They both have always encouraged & guided spiritually (May God Bless Col, Birgette & Both sons and all family members with strength, courage and surround you with love & peace at this time of deep pain and sorrow) we love you and miss you always.
   Special prayer for Col.Birgette&Family

   Prayer:

   Loving Heavenly Father,

   Many times, I slip and fall in my life because of troubles, sufferings, trials and tribulations that I come across in my life. Fill my soul with Your Holy Spirit and comfort me. Fill my life with Your grace and let it hold me in times of trouble. I thank You that You will always be there for me. In Jesus’ matchless name, I pray.

   Amen.
Capts:Haroon & Jennifer, (Div Sahiwal Pakistan) on October 6th, 2007

5. We are speechless! words cannot express how sad we feel. We have lost our great leader and inspiration..,it was also a great privilage for us to work with him. Colonel was such a brilliant man. He was a man of dedication in his work and devoted to his beautiful family. It was an honor to work with them on many new projects for the economic betterment of the poor in Pakistan.

   Our prayers and thoughts are with his family. May God grand them comfort & peace.

   with affection and deep sympathy,

   Kamran Gill, Asher David, Lahore & Faisalabad TRC Staff.
(Projects Department) Pakistan Territory on October 8th, 2007

6. We were shocked to hear the tragic death of Colonel Bo Brekke. He was a great man. A good leader. He was highly respected by the people of Sri Lanka. He was a man always stood for his principle. He was the Matyr of this age. ‘ Servant of God well done’ our prayers and thoughts are with His wife and two sons.

   Majors Jaya & Chandra
Majors Jaya & Chandra on October 10th, 2007

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