Seventh-day Adventist world church President Jan Paulsen responded this morning to United States President Barack Obama receiving this year's Nobel Peace Prize, calling the decision "surprising," yet "courageous."

Paulsen, a Norwegian, praised the Norwegian Nobel Committee, interpreting their decision as a "recognition of the signals that President Obama has given to rid the world of the threat of nuclear weapons."

Paulsen commented on the peace prize decision as a leader of a 25-million strong faith community committed to being peace-makers.

Paulsen said he thought the award was a "signal" from the committee, encouraging Obama to "stay the course" in working "collaboratively with multiple nations around the world in the interest of stability."

"For that I commend them and I congratulate him," Paulsen said.

Watch Paulsen's full statement here.