[2] Additionally, Lillenas was an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, author, song evangelist, poet, music publisher and prolific hymnwriter, who is estimated to have composed over 4,000 hymns,[3] the most famous being Wonderful Grace of Jesus.
According to Lillenas in a 1948 interview, it was shortly after the death of his mother, soon after moving to Astoria, one summer evening "he paused to listen to a street corner service.
[25] Soon he was "helping in the mission, singing to his heart's content, witnessing with joy to 'the wonderful grace of Jesus', and writing songs with increasing skill and volume.
"[26] In 1907 Lillenas moved to Portland, Oregon, where he worked with the Peniel Mission located at 247 NW Couch Street.
[27] Soon after, Lillenas testified that he believed he was called to be a minister of the gospel,[28] at which time he was appointed leader of the Portland mission.
[31] Soon afterward, Lillenas joined a vocal group associated with the Salvation Army called the "Charioteers' Brigade", which held street meetings and revival services throughout a large portion of California.
Hendricks, pastor of the Portland Church of the Nazarene,[32] in 1909 Lillenas was able to continue his ministerial studies at the Deets Pacific Bible College, an antecedent of Point Loma Nazarene University, located at the corner of San Pedro and East 28th Streets, Los Angeles, California.
[33] Additionally, Lillenas was able to secure part-time work to finance his studies, but by the end of the year accepted the ministry as the music director of a local church, and was active in songwriting and preaching.
[17] It was here that Bertha Mae died of cancer in March 1945, and where Lillenas and his second wife, Lola, lived until they relocated to Pasadena, California by 1955.
When they lived at Melody Lane, Lillenas was an active member of the Iberia Church of the Nazarene, where there is now a memorial stained glass window in his honor.
[47] When Mary Sirhan's husband abandoned her and her two sons, and returned to Jordan, Lillenas ensured that they were able to remain in the USA.
[50] Lillenas and Bertha Mae were both ordained as elders in the Church of the Nazarene on the Southern California District in 1912 by Dr. Hiram F.
During this pastorate, Lillenas took a two-year course in composition and harmony with Welsh singer and composer Daniel Protheroe (born 5 November 1866; died 25 February 1934)[52] and Adolph Rosenbecker[53] from the Siegel–Myers Correspondence School of Music in Chicago, Illinois.
[61][62] When Lillenas resigned from Indianapolis First Church to focus on his publishing house, Bertha became the pastor until they relocated to Kansas City, Missouri in 1930.
[44] For ten years Lillenas was a song evangelist, who traveled with Bertha Mae holding revival services.
[17] Lillenas indicated that soon after his conversion at the age of 21, that he began to increasingly write hymns and songs that expressed his faith and joy.
[40] Lillenas used many pseudonyms to compose his songs, including Virginia Rose Golden, Laverne Gray, Richard Hainsworth, Rev.
"[84] Lillenas' best known song is probably Wonderful Grace of Jesus, which he wrote during his pastorate at the Church of the Nazarene in Auburn, Illinois.
Having no piano at the time, and needing an instrument of some kind, I managed to find, at one of the neighbor's home, a little wheezy organ which I purchased for $5.00.
[88] On 16 October 1925 Lillenas Publishing Company opened the doors to their offices, which were located at 5921 East Washington Street (at the corner with Arlington Avenue).
[82] After his retirement from the Nazarene Publishing House in 1950, Lillenas and his second wife, Lola, traveled extensively, including three trips to his native Norway.
In 1941 Olivet Nazarene College awarded Lillenas an honorary Doctor of Music degree in recognition of his contributions to American hymnody.
[16] In 1982 Lillenas was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame,[93] in the same class as John T. Benson, Sr.; Thomas A. Dorsey; Charles H. Gabriel; Lowell Mason; B.B.
[94] In the Caravan scouting program of the Church of the Nazarene, the Haldor Lillenas Award is presented to outstanding fifth and sixth grade children.