Pastoral Vitae
Hans Jacob Grøgaard Krog was born in Flekkefjord on June 10, 1845, to his parents, Johan Fredrik Vilhelm Krog and wife, Charlotte Lovise Amalie, née Grøgaard.
He completed Flekkefjord’s grammar school and Stavanger’s Latin school and began his study of theology soon after passing the “Examen artium” in 1863 and two further examinations in 1864. He had taken up his studies in that field without being fully committed, and it did not take long before he began to doubt his decision. Troubled by such misgivings, he abandoned his studies and his intention to become a pastor.
He applied for and received a teaching position, first at one of Kristiania’s Latin schools, and later at Trondheim’s grammar and middle school, while eagerly pursuing his interest in the living language. His path led him during this time further and further away from God and His Word, and more and more into the darkness of unbelief. He attended worship service and Holy Communion less and less, and became more and more indifferent to the study of the Bible. But thanks be to the Lord, who overcame his resistance and led him to reflect on his ways. After living for a longer period of time in the house of a Christian association he finally reached the decision to once again take up his study of theology, and it soon became his most passionate pursuit. One of the reasons for returning to his studies was his desire to journey to America as pastor and help his fellow countrymen living there. In November, 1872, on the advice of Pastor Ottesen, he departed for St. Louis, with the intention of completing his studies there, but by Easter, 1873, he had left due to illness. Later, he resided at the homes of a number of pastors of the Norwegian Synod, where he assisted them in the performance of their duties and continued his studies. After receiving a call from the congregation of Our Savior’s Church in Minneapolis to serve in the absence of Pastor Stub, he took his theological examinations in Decorah on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of March, and today he is to be ordained into the holy office of pastor. As he prepares now to embark on his important life’s work with its many responsibilities, he is more aware than ever before of his own frailness, and from the bottom of his heart he asks the congregation to pray for him. At the same time he is convinced that the same Lord who called and led him to serve His church in this country will also give him the courage and strength to remain a steadfast toiler in His vineyard. It is now and will forever remain his prayer, for as long as the Lord allows him to remain in his calling, that his life’s work be to God’s glory and to the true benefit of his fellow man.
