Preaching in the Faeroe Islands

In May of that same year, 1954, two special pioneers were sent to the Faeroe Islands, a small group of islands in the North Atlantic between Iceland and the Shetland Islands. They were not the first publishers on the islands, however. As far back as the summer of 1935, two pioneer sisters had traveled there. During their three-month stay, they managed to distribute a large number of books and booklets. The clergy, though, succeeded in getting the pioneers expelled. From 1948 some preaching had again been done on the islands, but various kinds of hardships limited the work.

Now the two special pioneers, Svend Aage Nielsen and Edmund Onstad, were to get the work better organized. They soon found an apartment in the main town, Thorshavn, on Strømø, the largest of the Faeroe Islands, where they arranged a room as a Kingdom Hall. After preaching throughout the town, they next targeted the smaller settlements.

As a whole, the Faeroe Islanders reflect the severe nature of the islands​—being a little reserved, hesitant, and somewhat distrustful of strangers—​so it took time and patience for the pioneers to get close to them. The pioneers often were faced with closed doors. It was only after they would “disappear” from the territory for a while and then begin preaching again that it was possible to make contact, since the people then thought the “danger” was gone. Fear of man was great. Literature placed was often returned; sometimes it was even waiting for the pioneers at the post office in Thorshavn when they returned to the town.

Another problem was the impossibility of finding lodgings in the villages. This meant more sailing because only one-day trips from Thorshavn to the villages were possible. And only Brother Nielsen had a good stomach for the sea. But a solution was found. A brother from Denmark who had joined them in the pioneer ministry had a tailor shop, and by pooling their resources and efforts, they managed to make a tent. Thus, toting knapsacks, sleeping bags, preaching bags, and a tent, they could hike over the hills from village to village and not have to worry about finding shelter for the night.

He also made regular visits to the small, newly established congregation at Thorshavn and to Brother Onstad, who was preaching on the southern island of Suderø.

[Pictures on page 111]

Svend Aage Nielsen and Edmund Onstad hiked over the hills on the Faeroe Islands. To be sure to have shelter for the night, they pitched a tent they had sewed