Virginia church sends missionaries to Iceland

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Ten years ago God began to burden Bill Jessup with the country of Iceland. He began to pray and look for ways to be involved with taking the Gospel to this people who are still influenced by a belief in Thor and the power of elves.

“I came up with this idea,” Bill said. “Why not rent an apartment in downtown Reykjavik near the university and rotate families 3 months at a time and try to plant a church?”

After presenting his idea to his home church, Stafford Baptist in Stafford Virginia and confirming their support, Bill met with International Mission Board (IMB) personnel in 2005 and prayer walked the city of Reykjavik, In September of 2006 Clint Clifton, his wife, and three children under the age of five became the first family to move to Iceland. “We shipped them off and rented them a furnished apartment near the university,” Bill said. “Colby and Annie Garmin were next, followed by myself and Justin, an intern. Eight months later we had a home bible study with about 30 in attendance and had helped start 2 others.”

The next step was a longer-term commitment. Stafford Baptist partnered with IMB to become the Strategy Coordinator church for Iceland. They became the point people for Southern Baptist ministry there. They also agreed to send families as short-term missionaries. Colby and Annie Garmin were to go first and plant themselves for three years in Iceland. They ended up having to return due to medical issues, but Bill and his family will now take their place. They hope to hit the ground in October of this year and stay until April of 2016.

God has a heart for Iceland and is working there to bring people to Himself. Even years ago, God was planning the work that is going on now. In fact when Bill first went to Iceland he found an old report by a Southern Baptist worker from the late 90’s. Larry had seen the need and promised to come back. When Bill visited Iceland in 2005, he met some Assembly of God missionaries, Mike and Sheila Fitzgerald, who said, “Do you know Larry Bruce? He said Southern Baptists would be coming to Iceland and we’ve been waiting for you ever since.”

Mike and Sheila are the longest standing missionaries there, probably because Mike is Icelandic and has a natural affinity for the people. He has been highly encouraged by Stafford’s involvement in Iceland.

“Your team didn’t come in arrogant and bully everyone around and tell us what to do but you lifted up some very tired arms of believers and brought a sense of renewal,” Mike told Bill, and then encouraged him in return. “A lot of people come and go but I’ve never seen any group whom God has given more favor at the University.”

God has done amazing work through Stafford’s involvement at the University, which has a theology department but only one professor who is a believer. This professor and his sons are helping Stafford focus on students. They have begun a campus ministry called Gladius that is recognized through the University and is using a Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) template to reach University students.

In addition to campus work, God has used Stafford in other venues over the last decade. They have begun new Bible studies and seen them multiply; shared the Gospel with hundreds of Icelanders; cast a vision for national believers to reach their own people which has resulted in them renting out clubs to host outreach events; helped further the ministry of a Christian radio station; and helped plant a new indigenous church called SALT. They have also seen their own local church plants in Virginia, Pillar and Quantico, get involved in the work, sending volunteers and offering support. Four Southern Baptist churches and one university have also partnered to send workers to Iceland and 80 churches participate in a prayer network focused on this ministry.

Stafford has undertaken quite a large task, but God has been faithful to send co-laborers. In one 30-hour period, Bill was contacted by 3 men who want to be involved in Iceland: a man from Saddleback church who works for an Icelandic company and visits five times a year; a professor from Southern Seminary whose student was just accepted into graduate school in Iceland; and a young man named Brandon who found Bill’s blog about Iceland and wants to come and join the work. In addition, two other families are moving there as independent missionaries and a returning Journeyman has been burdened for Iceland and plans to work there after he finishes seminary.

Stafford Baptist is just one example of churches that are leading out in missions. There are still 500 unreached, unengaged people groups (UUPGs) in Europe. It’s time for your church to embrace one of these with the Gospel. To find out more about how to do this, visit our Embrace page and plan to attend an Embrace conference this fall.

Bill said that one of the things that really encouraged him was some of the IMB leadership who partnered with him in reaching the people of Iceland. They are ready to partner with you too. Please pray through the 5-week prayer guide and plan to attend an Embrace conference (7.4MB PDF) to help us reach the UUPGs of Europe.

Posted by Karen Pearce on Aug 9, 2011