Dear Friends,
Greetings in the Lord. We hope and pray you are well and the Lord is keeping you in perfect peace. This past month, our Gospel Expeditions have taken us to the frozen landscapes of Greenland, where we find ourselves deep within the Arctic Circle during the heart of winter. The stark beauty of this remote land has captivated us — from towering icebergs drifting silently through fjords to the resilient faith of believers who gather in churches built by the first missionaries centuries ago. As we trace the footsteps of Hans Egede and the Moravians who brought the gospel to these shores, we’re reminded of God’s faithfulness across generations. In addition to our current expeditions, we are also hard at work producing new episodes featuring the Philippines and Indonesia. We believe these upcoming series will inspire a new generation of missionaries to take up the call and carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. Now, as we prepare for further expeditions in Greenland and into other Arctic regions in the months ahead, we ask for your continued prayers — for open doors, open hearts, and more opportunities to share the message of Christ Jesus with those who are ready to hear. Your partnership through intercession and financial giving enables us to press forward, bringing the light of Christ to all mankind. Together, we can make an eternal impact!
This month, we would like to share a message about the history of Greenland and a message called — Adventure in Missions.
The Call to Adventure: Hans Egede’s Mission to Greenland
In the early 18th century, a young Norwegian Lutheran minister named Hans Egede became captivated by a haunting mystery. While serving in Lofoten, he heard tales of the lost Norse settlements in Greenland, communities that had vanished into silence after flourishing for nearly 500 years. These Norse settlers, who had first arrived under Erik the Red’s leadership in 985 AD, had established a significant presence with over 620 farms across three settlements, supporting a population that may have reached several thousand. The mystery of their fate stirred Egede’s heart. By 1711, driven by concern for their spiritual welfare, he began petitioning King Frederick IV of Denmark-Norway for permission to mount a mission. His primary goal was clear — to find these lost Norse Christians who, he feared, had either remained Catholic after the Reformation or completely lost their faith. In 1721, after securing funding from Bergen merchants and royal support, Egede set sail aboard the vessel Haabet (“The Hope”) with his family and forty colonists. However, upon reaching Greenland’s shores, his carefully laid plans encountered an unexpected reality. Instead of finding Norse settlements, he discovered only ruins and a thriving Inuit population. This moment of revelation showcases the true spirit of Christian adventure — the ability to adapt when God’s plans differ from our own. Rather than abandoning his mission, Egede demonstrated remarkable resilience and flexibility. He established Hope Colony on Kangeq Island and redirected his efforts toward learning the Kalaallit language and sharing the gospel with the Inuit people.
His journey was far from easy. The colony faced devastating challenges, including scurvy outbreaks that drove many colonists to return home. Yet Egede persisted, and by 1724, he celebrated his first baptisms of Inuit children. His dedication bore fruit in unexpected ways — two of these converts would later travel to Denmark and inspire Count Zinzendorf to launch the Moravian missions. Despite numerous personal tragedies, Egede continued his work, eventually becoming Greenland’s first Lutheran bishop and establishing a legacy that would profoundly impact the region’s spiritual landscape. Hans Egede’s story reminds us that true adventure in God’s service requires both vision and flexibility. While his initial quest to find lost Norse Christians remained unfulfilled — those settlements had disappeared in the 1400s for reasons that remain debated — his willingness to adapt to circumstances led to the establishment of Christianity among the Inuit people. His mission, launched 300 years ago, teaches us that sometimes our greatest adventures begin when our original plans fall apart, and that faithfulness often means being willing to embrace the unexpected paths God sets before us.
The Moravian Movement: A Legacy of Bold Faith
When the first three Moravian missionaries — Christian David, Matthew Stach, and Christian Stach — arrived in Greenland in 1733, they faced what seemed like insurmountable odds. The harsh Arctic winter had triggered a devastating smallpox epidemic that was decimating the Inuit population. Rather than retreat, these brave souls chose to stay and minister to the sick, even at the risk of their own lives. The Moravians’ commitment went far beyond conventional missionary work. They lived among the Inuit in sod houses, learned to hunt seals, and adopted local survival skills. At Neu-Herrnhut, their first settlement near present-day Nuuk, the Moravians established a pattern that would define their ministry: complete cultural immersion combined with unwavering gospel proclamation. They mastered the complex Inuit language, translated scriptures, and composed hymns in the native tongue. Their approach was revolutionary for its time — they saw the Inuit not as savages to be civilized, but as people to be loved and served. The Moravians’ success in Greenland wasn’t measured just in conversions, but in transformed communities. By 1800, they had established six thriving missions stretching from Neu-Herrnhut to Lichtenau in the south. The motto of the Moravians’ — “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love” — wasn’t just a saying but a lived reality in the frozen landscapes of Greenland. They remind us that the greatest adventures for God often require us to lay down our preferences, our comforts, and sometimes even our lives for the sake of the gospel. Their legacy challenges us to ask: Are we willing to commit everything to follow God’s call? The Moravians didn’t just talk about adventure — they lived it, embracing hardship as part of their journey with Christ. In doing so, they left footprints in the snow for future generations to follow, showing us that the most meaningful adventures are those undertaken in complete obedience to God’s leading.
Experiencing Greenland: A Land of Beauty and History
Following in the footsteps of the Moravians nearly three centuries later, we’ve embraced the full experience of life in this Arctic realm. Here, massive icebergs drift silently past rugged shorelines, their ancient blue depths contrasting with pristine snowfields that stretch to the horizon. The Northern Lights dance across the sky at night — a vivid reminder of God’s artistry. There is nothing like hearing the cries of the sled dogs echo under the stars or feeling the bite of a fish caught from an icehole that leads to the dark freezing waters below. The glow of pink and deep blue light through the day as the sun hovers across the sky on its winter path. Church congregations have welcomed us like family and helped us along the way. Each moment and every interaction have been opportunities to experience life with people where they are, to share in their lives as Christ shared in ours. The winter darkness that blankets this land for months might seem oppressive to outsiders, but we love it. We love the cold, we love the crisp bite of clean air filling our lungs and the sensation of gliding across vast ice sheets behind a team of dogs. These moments remind us that adventuring for the Lord is always a gift — a chance to witness His creation up close while sharing His love with those we meet along the way. Like those faithful missionaries who came before, we find that when we embrace the fullness of life here — its challenges and its beauty — we discover God’s presence in unexpected places: in the crystalline structure of a snowflake, in the generosity of strangers who become friends, and in the resilient faith of a people who have found Christ amid the ice and snow.
As we reflect on our time so far in Greenland and the incredible stories of those who came before us, we are reminded that missions are the ultimate adventure. Whether navigating icy fjords, enduring harsh winters, or sharing the gospel in remote villages, the call to serve the Lord is an invitation to step into the unknown with faith. Like Hans Egede and the Moravians, we have seen that true adventure requires adaptability, perseverance, and a willingness to trust God’s plan over our own. At Travel the Road, we have always embraced this great adventure in the Lord. It seems like only yesterday we were setting out on our first journey back in 1998 — Bibles, backpacks, and a camera. We didn’t know what would happen, but we knew it was going to be good because God was with us (Romans 8:31). Now, 26 years later, we are still at it, and we thank God for all He has done. Now, as we press on in Greenland and soon to other Arctic regions, we thank you for your prayers and support. You are with us every step of the way, and we are deeply grateful for that. Every soul reached and every life transformed is a testament to the power of Christ as we work together. We live in changing times, and now more than ever, the church must rise up and boldly proclaim the Good News to every corner of the earth — from tropical islands to frozen tundras. Let’s seize every opportunity, reach every tribe, tongue, and nation, and live the great adventure in Christ. Peace be with you.
In Him,
Tim and Will