Difference between revisions of "Jim Palosaari"
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| − | One of the leaders in the [[Jesus Movement]] of the late [[1960s]] and [[1970s]], pastor | + | One of the leaders in the [[Jesus Movement]] of the late [[1960s]] and [[1970s]], pastor and evangelist, '''James Michael "Jim" Palosaari''', a second generation [[Finn]], was born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and grew up on a goat farm near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Palosaari spent his early adult years in the Chicago theater, and eventually became a Christian through the late 1960s Jesus movement in Seattle with his future wife, [[Susan Palosaari Cowper]]. Together, they helped form [[Linda Meisner]]'s Jesus People Army and were discipled by her. After Meisner had the Jesus People Army joined up with the [[Children of God]] Jim, then living in Wisconsin, flew out and tried to dissuade her, but was unsuccessful. |
| − | Jim and his wife Susan went on to start a number of | + | Jim and his wife Susan went on to start a number of communal ministries, including ''Jesus People Milwaukee'', which dispersed to become "Christ is the Answer" under Bill Lowrey, and ''Jesus People USA'' in Chicago under Dawn and John Herrin, and Jesus People Europe. With 30 members of the original commune the Palosaari's flew to Sweden as guests of the ''Full Gospel Businessmen's Association'', and there made a decision to continue traveling the next six months through Western Europe, including countries of Denmark, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands, eventually invited to Great Britain by Kenneth Frampton as part of an expose of the cult, Children of God. |
| − | ''Jesus People Europe'' included many new converts who joined along the way as well as the commune's first band, "The Sheep". During the Milwaukee period, Jim's wife, Susan, had edited the commune's paper, "Street Level," and this eventually became the magazine, "Everyman" when the group settled in London. In Europe, "Sheep" eventually became the back-up band for Jesus People Europe's rock musical, with stories made from testimonies of the original group, "Lonesome Stone," financed by UK millionaire, Kenneth Frampton. This musical, opening at the Rainbow Theatre in London, eventually toured Great Britain and many air force bases in Germany, as well as touring Canada and the upper Midwest before it closed. Together with a British national the three started the largest Christian music festival in the world, "Greenbelt Festival", which still | + | ''Jesus People Europe'' included many new converts who joined along the way as well as the Milw commune's first band, "The Sheep". During the Milwaukee period, Jim's wife, Susan, had edited the commune's paper, "Street Level," and this eventually became the magazine, "Everyman" when the group settled in London. In Europe, "Sheep" eventually became the back-up band for Jesus People Europe's rock musical, with stories made from testimonies of the original group, "Lonesome Stone," financed by UK millionaire, Kenneth Frampton. This musical, opening at the Rainbow Theatre in London, eventually toured Great Britain and many air force bases in Germany, as well as touring Canada and the upper Midwest before it closed in 1996. Together with a British national the three started the largest Christian music festival in the world, "Greenbelt Festival", which still is operating into the early 21st century. |
| − | Back in the [[United States]], the Palosaaris formed a second commune in BC, Canada, | + | Back in the [[United States]], the Palosaaris formed a second commune in BC, Canada, the "Highway Missionaries," which traveled around North America evangelizing, calling the church to repentance, and living communally. They began showing the movie ''Brother Sun, Sister Moon'', the life of Saint Francis of Assisi with whom Jesus Freaks greatly identified. An abortive record company and the rock band ''Servant'' came from the Palosaari's efforts, and was the first Christian rock band to use lasers and have an extensive light show, eventually producing 6 records and traveling throughout the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain. They in turn gave ''Petra'' their start. Eventually this group settled in Grants Pass, Oregon, on land next to the Applegate River, where they honed their deepening interest in Christian community, and were supported through farming, tree-planting, and a small school started by Susan [palosaari cowper]. |
| − | In 1981 the Palosaaris' suffered a vital blow to their family and ministry when their eight year old son, Seth, died in an automobile accident with two other members of the community. Two years later, the | + | In 1981 the Palosaaris' suffered a vital blow to their family and ministry when their eight year old son, Seth Blessed, died in an automobile accident with two other members of the community. Two years later, the Palosaari's and their two remaining sons took themselves out of ministry to study and work with YWAM on the island of Hawaii. Returning to the mainland after one year, Jim lived in Texas with Bill Lowrey's group while Susan stayed another year in Oahu. The pair separated at that time, after the birth of their last child, Sophia Grace, divorcing in 1992. Jim continued to promote other Christian rock groups, such as ''PID'' and ''Whitecross''. He later remarried, as did Susan, and lived in CA until his wife's [Susan] death in 2008, when he returned with his son Jedidiah to Oconomowoc, WI, where he now resides and continues to speak about the Jesus movement. |
| + | |||
| + | Susan Palosaari Cowper and her husband Larry and daughter Sophia live in Ashland, OR. Jedidiah now teaches in Morocco. Cody James, their 3rd son lives in LA. | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 03:59, 9 September 2009
One of the leaders in the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and 1970s, pastor and evangelist, James Michael "Jim" Palosaari, a second generation Finn, was born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and grew up on a goat farm near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Palosaari spent his early adult years in the Chicago theater, and eventually became a Christian through the late 1960s Jesus movement in Seattle with his future wife, Susan Palosaari Cowper. Together, they helped form Linda Meisner's Jesus People Army and were discipled by her. After Meisner had the Jesus People Army joined up with the Children of God Jim, then living in Wisconsin, flew out and tried to dissuade her, but was unsuccessful.
Jim and his wife Susan went on to start a number of communal ministries, including Jesus People Milwaukee, which dispersed to become "Christ is the Answer" under Bill Lowrey, and Jesus People USA in Chicago under Dawn and John Herrin, and Jesus People Europe. With 30 members of the original commune the Palosaari's flew to Sweden as guests of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Association, and there made a decision to continue traveling the next six months through Western Europe, including countries of Denmark, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands, eventually invited to Great Britain by Kenneth Frampton as part of an expose of the cult, Children of God.
Jesus People Europe included many new converts who joined along the way as well as the Milw commune's first band, "The Sheep". During the Milwaukee period, Jim's wife, Susan, had edited the commune's paper, "Street Level," and this eventually became the magazine, "Everyman" when the group settled in London. In Europe, "Sheep" eventually became the back-up band for Jesus People Europe's rock musical, with stories made from testimonies of the original group, "Lonesome Stone," financed by UK millionaire, Kenneth Frampton. This musical, opening at the Rainbow Theatre in London, eventually toured Great Britain and many air force bases in Germany, as well as touring Canada and the upper Midwest before it closed in 1996. Together with a British national the three started the largest Christian music festival in the world, "Greenbelt Festival", which still is operating into the early 21st century.
Back in the United States, the Palosaaris formed a second commune in BC, Canada, the "Highway Missionaries," which traveled around North America evangelizing, calling the church to repentance, and living communally. They began showing the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon, the life of Saint Francis of Assisi with whom Jesus Freaks greatly identified. An abortive record company and the rock band Servant came from the Palosaari's efforts, and was the first Christian rock band to use lasers and have an extensive light show, eventually producing 6 records and traveling throughout the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain. They in turn gave Petra their start. Eventually this group settled in Grants Pass, Oregon, on land next to the Applegate River, where they honed their deepening interest in Christian community, and were supported through farming, tree-planting, and a small school started by Susan [palosaari cowper].
In 1981 the Palosaaris' suffered a vital blow to their family and ministry when their eight year old son, Seth Blessed, died in an automobile accident with two other members of the community. Two years later, the Palosaari's and their two remaining sons took themselves out of ministry to study and work with YWAM on the island of Hawaii. Returning to the mainland after one year, Jim lived in Texas with Bill Lowrey's group while Susan stayed another year in Oahu. The pair separated at that time, after the birth of their last child, Sophia Grace, divorcing in 1992. Jim continued to promote other Christian rock groups, such as PID and Whitecross. He later remarried, as did Susan, and lived in CA until his wife's [Susan] death in 2008, when he returned with his son Jedidiah to Oconomowoc, WI, where he now resides and continues to speak about the Jesus movement.
Susan Palosaari Cowper and her husband Larry and daughter Sophia live in Ashland, OR. Jedidiah now teaches in Morocco. Cody James, their 3rd son lives in LA.
