To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

Revival in Iceland: "It's Like a Child Has Been Born"

Trevor Freeze : Oct 1, 2013  Billy Graham Org.

Despite a huge, concerted effort by homosexual activists to derail Franklin Graham's Festival of Hope, dramatic testimonies from thousands reveal tears, brokenness, salvation—assurance of a "new beginning" for Iceland.

Franklin Graham(Reykjavik, Iceland)—Last Sunday, as Icelanders came streaming down the aisle responding to a Gospel message from Franklin Graham, an emotional night left tears of joy and real hope for a revival to sweep this nation.

It normally takes a lot to move Skúli Barker to tears.

But what he witnessed on Sunday night in his country...

He'll be the first to tell you, that simply doesn't happen in Iceland.

"My wife was sobbing next to me," Skúli said. "And I started to cry. It's just amazing."

It started off as a few souls responding at the end of Franklin Graham's Gospel message and before he knew it, throngs were flooding the stage, elbow-to-elbow, hundreds of people packed in, aisles backed up.

People wanting to meet Jesus. And willing to say that out loud. Pray that out loud.

Skúli doesn't want to be overdramatic, mind you, but he's a native Icelander in his 40s now, and he's seen the state of Icelandic people when it comes to talking about God or anything spiritual.

"There's a joke here that we are the 'Frozen Chosen,'" Skúli said. "But it's really true. In Iceland, people don't show their feelings. So for Icelanders to come forward to receive Jesus…"

Skúli's voice went silent. His eyes turned red.

"It's just been a real fight here for Christians," he said. "And this gives us hope."

In one sentence, Skúli summed up five years' worth of prayers from a core group of pastors and business leaders. He managed to put into words what this meant to the Iceland Festival of Hope executive committee members who put in nine months of hard work.

Franklin Graham"It was like a child has been born in many ways," said Ragnar Gunnarsson, Festival of Hope director. "A tremendous experience. This is what we have been praying for."

And while nobody wanted to say it beforehand, Sigurros, an usher at the Festival of Hope, finally put into words what everyone had been thinking.

"I'm hoping," she said, "this will be the first step for revival."

Sigurros, a Believer for two decades, works for the government's environmental department. She signed up to be a Festival usher, but on Sunday night was called into emergency duty at Laugardalshöll arena after a counselor shortage on Saturday night.

Government worker by day, usher by night. And now counselor in a pinch.

"It's been very encouraging for my spiritual life," she said. "Such a blessing seeing so many people come forward."

On Sunday, Sigurros counseled Soffia, a mother in her 50s, and her teenage daughter, Sara. Both attended church "once in a while," not untypical in Iceland.

"They had both been exposed to the Gospel, but they needed a push to make the decision," Sigurros said.

Franklin Graham, preaching out of Luke 15 on the "Prodigal Son," gave a clear Gospel presentation, weaving in candid tidbits about his own rebellion in his teenage years: "If I embarrassed my parents, well, too bad."

"Both [Soffia and Sara] said they wanted to receive Christ into their hearts," said Sigurros, overwhelmed at how God used her. "It was just tears of joy; I was so happy.

"I was praying when Franklin Graham was talking that God would open the hearts of the people to hear the truth.

"He's a good preacher, that's all I can say."

After two powerful Festival of Hope nights—and nearly 6,000 in attendance—one question lingered as Icelanders filed out, spiritually charged from a weekend filled with a top-notch choir, a plethora of local artists, two Michael W. Smith worship concerts and hundreds of new Believers.

Is this the start of revival?

Perhaps the singer, himself, said it most succinctly on Saturday night, just before his final song: "He'll change a nation."

While only God knows the answer, the signs are already encouraging. Prayer for revival has multiplied in the Iceland evangelical churches. Many of the 41 involved churches at the Festival are now closely working together—with pastors praying together weekly.

"It means a lot for Iceland," Festival of Hope committee chairman Ómar Kristjánsson said. "This will be a new beginning. Something very big."

Kristjánsson—a humble businessman who five years ago simply followed a call from God to gather pastors and leaders and start praying for Iceland—was able to sum up the weekend in one word.

"Magnificent," he said. "We have no words to express our thanks and appreciation to Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association."







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

'100% Not Geological': Scientist Says Durupinar Formation Could Be Manmade Noah's Ark Site

Exposed: School District Used Secret Gender-Transition Database to Keep Parents in the Dark

Red States Combine Forces to Choke Off Abortion Pill Pipeline

If Democrat Socialist Policies Were Adopted: 10-Year Cost Could Hit $350,000 per Household, White House Says

Five Economic Facts Legacy Media Don't Want You to Know

Trump Said He'd Shrink Government: His Promise Kept Delivers Change Washington Hasn't Seen Since the 1960s, Saving Billions

Georgia Election Board Asks Trump DOJ to Declare Statewide Dominion QR-Code Machines UNLAWFUL Before Midterms

More Armed Iranians Rising Up against IRGC in Southeast Iran; What Mainstream Media Isn't Reporting

Signs of Spiritual Awakening? 800,000 Gather in Secular France for Historic Mass

Nebraska City Council Changes Homeschool Hiring Policy after Enormous Public Outcry

Hilton vs. Becerra: Top 3 Moments from the California Governor Debate (Videos)

GDP Revised Up for Both 1st and 2nd Quarters, Inflation Measures Lowered

True Colors: Senate Dems Block Congressional Insider Trading Ban from Becoming Law

The Real Battle Isn't Iran vs. the World; It's Iran's People vs. the IRGC

Israel Celebrates Return of Heroes, Passengers from Flight 1073; a Midair 'Miracle'

Netflix's Narnia is an Attack on Aslan's Christ Figure

Report: Churchgoing Couples Have Highest Rate of Marital Satisfaction

Senator's Roundtable Spotlights COVID Patients' Horrific battles over Medical Care [Video]

Revealed: Jack Smith Scooped Up Reporters' Phone Data in Trump Probe, a 'Massive First Amendment Breach'

Tech Leaders Agree to 'Self-Police' AI, Trump Renames AI 'Super Intelligence'



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



Subscribe to
Breaking Christian News


Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com