“Sweden to USA: Faith and Adventure” is Bo Lange’s fourth book, but it’s his most personal one yet. His previous writings, “The Dividing Line,” which was written in Swedish; “Simple Faith;” and “Authentic Faith” focused on religion.

In his newest work, Lange revisits his own past, reflects on how early experiences forged his path and shares details from his unusual series of adventures.

Lange was raised alongside a sister, Gunilla, by parents who had lost their firstborn son in a tragic accident. A pained childhood drove Lange to seek comfort, love and laughter from friends and neighbors, and he found God while attending Sunday school voluntarily.

Becoming a Christian and learning more about the Bible had a powerful effect on young Lange, who decided as a teen that he would become a pastor.

An autobiographical book from Bo Lange -- Escanaba resident, pastor, Swede -- is for sale now.(Courtesy image)

“Since I dreamed of traveling, I was interested when I heard of a Christian organization, Operation Mobilization, that helps young people communicate the Christian faith,” wrote Lange in Chapter Five of his new book.

He traveled to Belgium, Austria and Italy through that program, visited a YMCA camp in England, and worked a a mess boy on an ocean liner that went to New York, Canada, Iceland and Denamrk before returning to Sweden.

Lange preached his first sermon at age 14, and by 19 he had a pastor job.

His path led to the United States while he was laid up in the hospital recovering from an injury that nearly destroyed his left eye. An American couple met Lange in the hospital and invited him to study at Florida Bible College — which he accepted.

His habit of saying “yes” to unique opportunities has led Lange to see much of the world, meet all sorts of people, become a leader and serve many churches.

Swedish immigrant Bo Lange, who has just produced a book about his life, smiles near a maypole while participating in a midsummer festival in Upper Michigan in 2003. (Daily Press archives)

While studying in Florida, Lange fell in love with a woman from New Jersey, Diana Duffield. Though he moved back to Sweden alone, the couple ended up getting back together and ultimately married.

Bo and Diana lived in a few different communities in Sweden, worked as missionaries and held various other jobs, and had three children.

But in the 1980s, returning to the U.S. appealed to the family. They first moved to Virginia for a few years, before Lange was hired to become the pastor at Bethel Missionary Covenant Church in Wallace in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Lange had long enjoyed singing, and he was able to continue doing so in the U.P.

“In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we found many Swedish American immigrants and their descendants,” Lange wrote. He became a popular figure, participated in local festivals and even recorded a Swedish CD.

A view of Stockholm, Sweden. (R. R. Branstrom)

After a few years in Watson, the Langes moved to Engadine, where Bo not only became the minister of a Methodist church but also worked as an emergency medical technician.

When the next move brought Lange to Escanaba, he found yet more adventures and opportunities. He was invited to visit Israel, where he performed a baptism in the Jordan River. Later, he was asked to be a travel guide in Europe for a group of tourists from Escanaba.

Lange made peace with his dementia-stricken father, who had always been distant, and his sister shortly before each of their deaths. Though the author described his childhood as unhappy, he expresses love for the encounters he’s had, his wife and his children.

“One reason I wanted to leave my home country was it is easier here in America to profess your Christian faith,” Lange admitted. “Sweden is one of the most secular countries in the world… And since my profession has been and still is about proclaiming God’s love, I am more settled here for now.”

Now 77 years old, Lange said that he was preparing for retirement before he coincidentally ran into the wife of the Cedar River Chapel pastor three days before they were to move away. They decided Lange would be perfect for taking over preaching at the Cedar River Chapel.

“It’s the best time I’ve ever had,” Lange said in regards to preaching in Cedar River for the last six years. “People from the community… come from different backgrounds, and they have this desire that I want to see among people.”

Lange said that part of his reasoning for writing “Sweden to USA: Faith and Adventure” was so that his family might understand him better. But there are other messages any number of readers might gather from Lange’s 53-page introspection.

“‘Sweden to USA’ will delight Upper Michigan readers with mentions of familiar places and references to Scandinavian heritage,” wrote Tyler Tichelaar of Superior Book Productions. “It will satisfy an audience of reader who enjoys hearing about others’ life journeys. Finally, it will intrigue adventurous spirits who enjoy or dream of traveling to faraway places.”

The book also contains the story about how Lange met someone in Escanaba who had been named after him after an encounter in a Chicago airport years prior.

“Sweden to USA: Faith and Adventure” was edited by Superior Book Productions in Marquette and compiled and printed by Poor Richard’s Castle, a publishing branch of Richard’s Printing in Escanaba. The book is currently sold at the Swedish Pantry at 819 Ludington St. in Escanaba and on Amazon.