History
Greenland is one of the largest islands on earth. Located in the frigid
waters of the North Atlantic, it is also one of the most uninhabitable places
on earth. A Norseman, Erik the Red, father of Leif Erickson, first explored
it. Norse settlers established a few colonies along Greenland’s coast
in the 10th century but contact with those colonies was lost some time later.
English explorer John Davis rediscovered Greenland. Henry Hudson and William
Baffin further explored and mapped its coastline.
Denmark claimed Greenland as its own territory for many years. But a 1979
referendum in Greenland gave the country self rule, with Denmark retaining
control over external affairs. During World War II, the United States Coast
Guard protected Greenland from Nazi intrusion, and later handed over several
military facilities to Denmark. American civilians, military and Danish
personnel still maintain a small presence there.
Church
History
Lutheran missionaries tried to establish a church among the people of Greenland
in the 1800s, but the Danish government resisted their attempts to “westernize”
the island. Denmark forbade foreign missionaries from visiting Greenland
until the 1950s. Scandinavian missionaries were the first to arrive there.
Nine churches or missions’ houses were established in this time. From
June 1975 to November 1982, Agnes Rodli, an Assemblies of God missionary,
traveled to Greenland once a year to help and encourage the Pentecostal
churches. Finally, in 1989, the Assemblies of God were able to send its
first resident missionaries to live and work in Greenland, Alan and Karen
Algee, although they are no longer serving there.
The
Movement Today
The Algees helped establish the Inuit Bible Institute to train and strengthen
believers in the national church. Today, the Assemblies of God in Greenland
report the following statistics: two ministers, 7 churches and outstations,
300 members and adherents. Jan Berthelsen, an Inuit Pastor, is in full-time
traveling ministry with The Inuit Bible Institute. Today it is very easy
to gather a thousand people together for evangelistic meetings all over
Greenland. Meetings and campaigns are being held across Greenland. The Assemblies
of God is working with the Free Pentecostal Church and a Danish missionary,
assisting the development of these ministries.
Additional
Facts About Greenland
Official Name: Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)
Capital:
Nuuk (Gothab)
Area:
840,000 square miles
Population:
56,385
Languages: Greenlandic, Danish and English
Ethnic Groups:
Greenlander (87 percent), Danish and others
(13 percent)
Industry: Fishing, seal hunting, fur trapping, handicrafts
and some shipbuilding |
