Iceland by J. C. RAFT

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 18, 1915

Iceland

By J. C. RAFT

(Concluded)

J. C. RAFT

OUR missionary work in Iceland has passed through hard trials and has been exposed to much disrepute. The young preacher who pioneered the way sadly betrayed the confidence of his brethren. Instead of devoting himself wholly to the preaching of the truth, he entered into various speculations. He took an agency for a life insurance company in Copenhagen. He was also engaged in real estate business, buying, building, selling, etc. Of all this his brethren in Europe were ignorant. During his visits at our yearly meetings he presented stirring reports from Iceland. Of the real truth we were not informed. This state of things continued until, in 1909, he suddenly disappeared. To escape prison for financial obligations, he had to flee to America. This came to us like a thunderbolt from a blue sky.

From America he wrote letters expressing sorrow for his sins and promising to reform. We felt sorry for our brother, and pitied his family. To save him from criminal proceedings we had to pay the insurance company quite a sum of money. Under such conditions we could not, of course, permit him to continue public labor as our representative, and he was requested to retire for the time being. This he thought was fair and correct, until we had helped him so that he was no longer in danger of legal prosecution. He then returned to Iceland, again acting as if he were our representative. When we could not approve of his way of doing, he was greatly offended, and tried to turn the church from us.

Much time was devoted to efforts to relieve the situation and to help the

brother, a visit to the island being made in 1911. At that time Brother Olaf J. Olsen was appointed superintendent of the mission. At last the crisis came to the church in Reykjavik. But in spite of it all, the truth triumphed. The number of church members at that time was forty-four, three of whom were in America. Twenty-three remained loyal to the truth; whereas twenty-one, the three in America included, sided with our opposer. Fortunately, the twenty-three loyal ones constituted the strength of the company.

Then followed a hard battle. Our opposer, with some of his followers, sought to circulate the grossest falsehoods about us in order to crush the work in Iceland. The promise, “For we can do nothing against the truth,” stood its test, and for this we praise the Lord.

When I visited Iceland in 1912, it was apparent that the victory was already gained; and this was yet more evident on my visit to Iceland last summer. The force of the opposition was completely broken, and our denomination had gained greatly in the estimation of the public because of the severance that came.

In 1912, after the division, our church in Reykjavik had a membership of twenty-three. Brother Olsen was young and inexperienced, and unacquainted with conditions in Iceland. Not having full command of the language, he was unable to hold public lectures. But he did the best he could, trusting wholly in the Lord. Our faithful brethren stood firmly for the truth, and God blessed them. The Lord heard the earnest prayers that ascended to him. Now the church has more than fifty members, and many are deeply interested. The last two years we have sold about ten thousand copies of “Christ Our Saviour,” and we have just printed eight thousand copies of another book of a little larger size, called “A View of Our Time.” Considering the fact that Iceland has only about ninety thousand inhabitants, I think the results must be considered quite good. Several ministers of the established church buy our books, and at times even read portions from them in public. A number of persons are interested, and Brother Olsen is receiving letters from many who have been reading our books, requesting him to come and instruct them more fully.

Iceland is an interesting mission field; and now that our work is upon a good foundation, the truth will certainly make more rapid advancement in that far-away island. By the grace of God we have succeeded in regaining the confidence of the people. The Icelanders are honest; and if they find that a man is dishonest and not to be relied on, they lose confidence in him and in the cause he represents. Statements made by several of the more prominent men of Reykjavik go to show that our work in Iceland now has a good standing. Brother Olsen has a full house at his meetings, and the interest is good. During my visit to Iceland the past summer, one of the most widely circulated dailies of Reykjavik (the capital of Iceland, a city of about thirteen thousand inhabitants) contained an appreciative article about Seventh-day Adventists. Concerning Brother Olsen the paper stated: “Mr. O. J. Olsen has been in this country for three years. He has been learning Icelandic, and speaks it very well. He is smart, of quiet manners, and has won the confidence of the city.” After having told of our work — both the gospel work and the book and health work — the editor has this to say about the Seventh-day Adventists:—

“Judging from the progress they have made the last two years, it appears that they have gained a firm foothold in Iceland.”

These words still hold good. The Lord is faithful to his promises. He never forsakes us. Before him, the greatest antagonist can do nothing. His truth is always victorious, but “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Our coworkers as well as our brethren and sisters in Iceland are bravely laboring on, and God is blessing them. Many difficulties which we do not have to meet, they must encounter, and they need our prayers and are worthy of our sympathy. The Icelanders like to hear of the progress of the message in the rest of the world, — it can almost be said that they live in a little world by themselves, — and they enjoy speaking of the great and glorious meeting when all the hosts of the redeemed shall be assembled, not in a land of cold and snow, but in the glorious paradise restored, that place of bliss where all speak the same language, and where all sin is forever past. Please remember to pray for Iceland.

Copenhagen.