History
The small, island nation of Iceland was probably reached by Irish monks
sometime around 800 AD, but its first permanent settlers were Vikings led
by Ingolfur Arnarson. Other Viking settlers soon came and the Althing, the
world’s oldest surviving parliament was established. After 300 years,
however, Lutheranism was forced upon the people by arbitration. The people
later succumbed to foreign rule by Denmark in the 1660s. Denmark outlawed
the Althing. However, after several revolutions on the European continent
removed absolutism, the Althing reconvened and began working to regain Iceland’s
sovereignty and international trade influence. English soldiers were present
on Iceland during World War II, and the nation declared independence from
Denmark in 1944. Since then, Iceland has elected the first popularly elected
female head of state, Vigdis Finnbogadottir (1980), and earned international
recognition as a sovereign nation.
Church
History and the Movement Today
Viking paganism was the religion of the Icelandic people until foreign influence
came from the European continent. Lutheranism was forcefully imposed upon
Iceland’s people hundreds of years ago, and the people eventually
grew to accept it. Today, almost 96 percent of its people claim connection
to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, but most rarely attend church. Religious
freedom exists, and a small percentage of Icelanders claim to be Roman Catholic
or of other denominations.
Norwegian missionaries first brought the Pentecostal message to Iceland
in 1922. In March of 1995, the Assemblies of God in the United States and
the Pentecostal Church of Iceland partnered to open a gospel radio station,
Radio Lindin (The Spring). It broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week
under the direction of Assemblies of God missionaries Mike and Sheila Fitzgerald.
Additional
Facts About Iceland
Capital:
Reykjavik
Area:
39,800 square miles
Population:
280,798
Urbanization: 98 Percent
Language: Icelandic (Islenska)
Agriculture:
Potatoes, turnips and livestock
Industry: Fishing, mining, wool products, textiles and
aluminum |
