Adventist Missionaries Meet King Frederik X in Greenland
2 May 2025 |
On April 29, 2025, Adventist missionaries had the opportunity to meet royalty in Greenland. Lasse Bech, the executive secretary for the Danish Union of Churches, reported that the king of Denmark, Frederik X, and the prime minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielson, were visiting the capital city of Nuuk and invited the entire town to come out to greet them. Among those present were missionaries Beryl and Joe Nyamwange, who were excited to meet the royals and the politician.
In a Facebook post, the Kenyan couple shared that they shook hands with the king, who asked them questions about their work and lives in Greenland. The Nyamwanges arrived in Greenland on March 23 to begin their missionary work, which is part of a collaborative effort led by the Danish Union of Churches in partnership with the Trans-European Division and Adventist Frontier Missions. Adventist Frontier Missions finances the project, covering costs such as housing, salaries, and other expenses to strengthen the church’s impact in Greenland.
Joe Nyamwang records that the king asked them three questions: “You live here?” “What do you do?” and “Isn’t it cold?” He adds, “Great day it was, meeting so many Greenlanders, including an amazing Greenlander photographer with a great sense of humor.”
While the territory has been an active mission field for centuries, Seventh-day Adventism was introduced in the 1930s when fishermen from the Faroe Islands brought Adventist literature to the region. The Danish Union of Churches, with support from the Trans-European Division, has been dedicated to supporting the small but resilient congregations in Greenland. Although the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark is the official church in the area, missionaries aim to be a positive influence on the population of approximately 55,000.
