Background
He was born in Kristiania as a son of Aksel Magnus Sendstad (1872–1922) and Magnhild Erika Valen (1880–1959).
He was born in Kristiania as a son of Aksel Magnus Sendstad (1872–1922) and Magnhild Erika Valen (1880–1959).
He finished his secondary education in 1934 and graduated with the candidate.theol. degree from the MF Norwegian School of Theology in 1940. He was a bible school teacher and principal in Stavanger and Stjørdal, before being hired as vicar of Lund in 1957. He chaired the school board there from 1959 to 1965.
In 1965 he became vicar in Randaberg, where he was a school board member from 1966 to 1968.
From 1968 to 1980 he was the secretary-general of the Norwegian Missionary Society. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany he was imprisoned in Åkebergveien from 13 to 17 February 1943.