Riverside, Calif., September, 2000--Bjarne Christensen passed away at his home in Maryland on Sept 3 following a six-year battle with melanoma. He was 51. Known to everyone by the first two letters of his first name, Bj had been the administrative assistant to the president of the North American Division since 1997. He will be remembered for his deep love of Christ and the church. He also will be remembered for his wise counsel and effective church leadership, as well as for his mentoring hundreds of church leaders and members. To the hundreds of people he has worked with over the years, he was a friend first and then a church leader.

Bj was born in Denmark and came to the United States with his parents when he was 9 years old. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from La Sierra University and a master's from Andrews University. He served as a pastor and departmental director in Oregon, then as secretary of the Potomac Conference, and president of the Illinois and Southern California conferences.

A memorial service is planned for Sabbath afternoon September 9, at the General Conference Auditorium. The family has asked that, in place of flowers, gifts may be made to a memorial fund for youth and young adult ministry, in care of the North American Division office. He is survived by his wife, Judi; daughter, Heidi Hickok; and son-in-law, Dr. Brian Hickok; parents Viktor and Vera Christensen; and sister Berit von Pohle.

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