Ulf Ekman

== Conversion ==

During his Sunday service on 3 March 2013, Ekman informed the assembly of a major change – he, its founder and its pastor for 30 years, would resign in May and be succeeded by Joakim Lundqvist, the up-to-then youth pastor of the congregation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ulfekman.org/default.aspx?idStructure=8758 |title=Ulf Ekman Ministries – Word of Life |website=ulfekman.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514134136/http://www.ulfekman.org/default.aspx?idStructure=8758 |archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref>

On 9 March 2014, Ekman announced his and his wife's leaving Livets Ord with the intent of joining the [[Catholic Church]].<ref>[http://www.dn.se/debatt/darfor-lamnar-jag-livets-ord-och-blir-katolik/ ''"Därför lämnar jag Livets Ord och blir katolik"'']</ref><ref name="catholic">{{cite web|url=http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/church-ministry/19936-ulf-ekman-converts-to-roman-catholicism |title=Ulf Ekman Converts to Roman Catholicism |date=9 March 2014 |publisher=Charisma Magazine |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="catholic3">{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/march/sweden-pentecostal-converts-catholicism-ulf-ekman-word-life.html |title=Sweden's Pentecostal Megapastor Converts to Catholicism |publisher=Christianity Today |access-date=11 March 2014}}</ref> The couple described the split as mainly amicable, and Ekman explained their decision in a lengthy sermon, claiming Jesus' appeal, in [[1 Corinthians]] 1:10, for unity among Christians, as well as growing and more enthusiastic theological closeness to Catholic doctrine – including during a lengthy stay in Israel, where the couple took up residence in the early 2000s – as the main reasons. Earlier harsh condemnation of the Catholic Church made the decision controversial both among the Christian community and in national debate, where Ekman's firebrand image had been debated for decades.

He indicated, that he received a confirming word of prophecy ahead of his decision from a pastor that just had attended Kenneth Copeland's Charismatic Evangelical Leadership Conference in February 2014,<ref>Ulf Ekman says Prophetic Word Confirmed his Catholic Conversion</ref> {{citation needed span|a Conference to which Pope Francis sent a video message through [[Tony Palmer (bishop)|Tony Palmer]].|date=March 2021}}{{dubious|date=March 2021}}