Evangelist took part in revival movement’s birth

Published 10:24 pm Saturday, September 29, 2007

As an evangelist, pastor, Bible study leader and mentor, Levi Larson lived a life that was as deep in faith as it was in compassion for his fellow man.

Larson was born on Dec. 12, 1906, and grew up in Lake Stevens. At the age of 16, he was saved while attending Swedish Mission Church in Everett, afterward becoming active at the Bethany Temple, which would later be known as Bethany Christian Assembly. There, he served as a worship leader and as a Sunday school teacher.

Larson, then 19, left the state to visit his sister in Los Angeles, where she was active at the Angelus Temple. While there he witnessed much of the revival movement, a historical moment in America’s Christian heritage.

Larson returned to Washington to work for Puget Sound Power and Light and later started his own pie-making business. He watched the dream crash as his baking became work.

Unsure of his future and with his fledgling business in dire straits, Larson took some time for himself and wandered Seattle to pray on what God would have him do next.

As he trudged thoughtfully down a particularly rough neighborhood, he happened upon a Christian street meeting. Recognizing the speaker as someone he knew, Larson stood in the back and listened.

It didn’t take long for the speaker to recognize him, and suddenly Larson found himself pulled up to the front to share his testimony. The woman in charge asked him to come and speak at the mission later that night, and he agreed.

Invitation led to invitation as Larson accepted every request. Soon enough, he found himself in regular speaking engagements, sharing his life and his faith.

It was at that time that he accepted the call that God had put on his life, and, at age 25, Larson threw himself into full-time ministry.

Larson took a church in Enumclaw in 1932, serving for two years and leaving to evangelize for the next nine years around the country.

While on the road, Larson met his future wife and after marrying, started a ministry in Tacoma in 1943 during World War II. While in Tacoma they ministered to thousands of servicemen at Fort Lewis, living a modest life while sharing their faith.

One particular story shared by his family was when the young couple did not have enough money for rent, needing $300 to keep their apartment and evangelism center. Not one to beg or complain, Larson prayed that God would help them in their time of financial need.

Later that night, a knock came at the front door of the evangelism center that they ran. Thinking a drunk had come to his door, Larson came down the stairs and opened the door to a white envelope. Curious, he opened the envelope to find another envelope, and yet another envelope inside that until all that was left was a crumpled, dirty envelope with a barely legible scrawl across the top that read, “tithe.” Still thinking it was a prank, Larson opened it up to find not a joke but an answer to prayer: $300.

After the war, they started what would become a legacy of warm and vibrant ministries in Snohomish County and the Northwest. They left Tacoma and returned to Bethany Temple in Everett, then on to Marysville at Marysville First Assembly, then on to Anacortes and then to Salem, Ore., where he eventually became the secretary for the Assemblies of God denomination until 1959.

He eventually resigned, but continued to evangelize, never truly retiring as he returned to Snohomish County and regularly spoke in Sultan, Monroe, Everett and Marysville.

Larson was a vibrant speaker and a passionate man of faith even at 100 years of age, leading meetings and ministering to all with his personable wisdom and joyful love of God.

On the morning of Sept. 5, Larson, 100, died.

His wife, Esther, died in 2005. He is survived by his four children and their spouses: Judi and Norman McAlexander, Dale and Phyllis Larson, David and Lynette Larson, and Brenda and Ken Sanders.

Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.