While Franklin Graham was in Oslo, he visited with Swedish midwife Ellinor Grimmark, whose story appeared in the June 2017 issue of Decision. The Grimmark family moved to Norway after Ellinor was blacklisted by Swedish clinics because she did not want to be forced to participate in abortions.

The family expressed thanks for Franklin’s help. After he posted on Facebook about the family’s plight this past summer, churches and individuals in Sweden began to stand up for and support the Grimmarks as they worked to pay some $200,000 in legal fees.

Now living in Norway, where Ellinor is working without fear of having to participate in abortions, the family reports that the transition has been positive. “Being here is so much better, in many, many ways,” said CJ Grimmark, Ellinor’s husband. “For the kids growing up in Sweden, especially teens, the secular agenda is really strong. Being in Norway is much more relaxed, in that sense.”

The family has found a church home and says their new neighbors generally respect them for their Christian faith.

CJ sees their experience as an impetus for positive change back in Sweden. “I think what Ellinor has been going through is part of bringing change to the country,” he said. “It seems like people are gathering and daring to stand up for certain things in a better way than before.”