Answers to Prayer

1 Missions vision is small, but growing, despite Iceland's geographical and cultural isolation

Challenges for Prayer

1 The majority of Icelanders are only nominally Christian

2 The Lutheran and smaller, but similar, Free Churches are often compromised by liberal theology and practice; many are opposed to the preaching of the true gospel

3 Evangelical believers number only about 9,000

4 KSF(IFES) work among the 3,000 university students is proving fruitful, and there are many encouraging signs in the evangelical youth movements

5 The Bible Society published a new Bible version in 1999

6 Christian Radio

Geography

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Area 103,000 sq.km. A volcanic island in the North Atlantic; mountainous, largely barren with many large glaciers.

Population (2000) 280,969 +0.92%AGR

Capital Reykjavik 105,487.

Peoples

Icelandic 95.9%; Other 4.1%.

Literacy 100%. Official language Icelandic. All languages 2. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi.

Economy

The fishing industry has been the largest income source, but conservation measures limit this. Unemployment 3.9%. HDI 0.919; 9^th/174. Public debt 45.5% of GNP. Income/person $27,580 (87.9% of USA).

Politics

The world's oldest parliament, established in 930.

Religion

The Lutheran Church is still recognized as the State Church, but there is religious freedom.

Churches in Iceland

Missionaries from Iceland

31 in 7 agencies to 7 countries.

Missionaries to Iceland

16 in 8 agencies from 4 countries.

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