OSKAR SIGURDSSON
PART 1of 3 parts
“I was born in 1971 on the Westman Islands, a small island community off Iceland’s mainland with about 4,000 residents, rooted in generations of Lutheran tradition. Iceland’s history blends pagan and Christian influences, with missionaries from Norway bringing the gospel around the year 1000. Since then, faith has often been practiced more as cultural tradition than personal conviction, though there were some true believers. Growing up in a loving family with two siblings, I experienced firsthand how church and government intertwine in Iceland, shaping both identity and daily life.
“In 1921 another missionary from Norway brought in the Pentecostal movement of God. The spirit of God began to move, and people started to leave the Lutheran church and join this move of God.
“My Dad and I were musical, and he had many instruments which gave me the opportunity to develop my gift. At the age of 12, I began forming ‘garage bands’ and playing music with others. At 16, I was a full-time musician playing all around the country. I carried a signed letter from my mom giving permission to enter establishments as an underage teenager. My focus was playing with the best, for the best, and I was exposed at a very early age to amazing places but also the secular world. It was around this time; I laid eyes on the girl who would one day be my wife. In a moment, I knew. Young as we were, something in me settled. I would wait for her, no matter how long it took.
“I was always a seeker. I wanted to know the truth. Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going? These 3 questions bothered me. It didn’t make sense to be on earth if there was no reason. I always believed there was something bigger.
“When I was just 6 years old, I had an incredible encounter with God. I’m uncertain if it was a night vision, or a dream, but I found myself in hell. I was led down a corridor by 2 extremely disgusting creatures, one on each side. There was no language; nothing was said. But I knew I was there, and there was no way out. As I walked down the corridor, I could see on both sides' cells, with people in them. They were chained and waiting to have the same experience I was having. They would be taken out of there, seperated from God and carried toward a place of eternal damnation (2 Thessalians 1:9) Everything was red including the walls; it was awful and horrific. The smell and the heat were disgusting and so dirty. Without words it was communicated to me that I could never get out of there. In my mind, I was thinking it cannot end this way. I thought in the dream, there must be a way out of this. When I woke up the dream was so real, I was devastated for days and still remember every detail.
‘One year later, I had another profound experience. The eastern sky over the island rolled back and I looked up into the heavens to see Jesus standing in a brownish cloak, very humble, with 2 angels kneeling at His side. All Jesus did was spread out His hands to me and somehow, I knew for sure this was the answer to the former dream. He looked me in the eye and as I looked up, and I just knew.
“I carried on living my life which wasn’t good, drinking and living for pleasure. I had studied Eastern religions Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and wondered why people devoted their lives to these beliefs. Why does a person leave society to pray or meditate and drink tea all day. Why commit to this? There must be something there, peace, tranquility? I wanted to know the answer. I concluded Christianity was the only religion that offered forgiveness of sins, without me having to do something or earn it.
“I felt dirty and unclean. I acknowledged there were things I had done I was not proud of and were not right which plagued my conscience. I didn’t know then the Holy Spirit was leading me down this path and convicting me of sin. I felt comforted to know Christianity was so simple and offered me forgiveness and a way out.
“As my journey continued, I was sitting at home unable to find work in the recession. Life was miserable with no money and so many questions. I found a Bible and started to read. Something began to happen. Something in the Bible caught my attention. Even though I didn’t understand it, I felt I was answering the questions I didn’t know to ask. My partner was seeing changes in me, and I was having meaningful conversations with people of faith.
“My life was so changed. Friends started asking questions thinking I was weird or strange – or both! Something happened in my life that just changed me. The drinking lifestyle and pubs all seemed so fake, and I didn’t like it. It was not real, and I didn’t want it.
“At 22 as a long-haired muso with a bottle of Jack Daniels beside me, I played my last gig. I rose to my feet and looked over the thousands before me, wondering, Lord, what is this? Suddenly as in the twinkling of an eye, the veil lifted just as scripture says. “Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed” (Luke 8:7) I saw the spiritual battle behind the scenes, the arguing, the infidelity, the schemes of the enemy (Ephesians 6:12) The revelation was unmistakable, and I knew I wanted nothing to do with darkness, only the light that is in Christ.
“You can never cleave if you don’t leave. You have to draw a line and make a decision. I started to go to our little Pentecostal church on my own island. In a small community, it was a very small church with only 3 families and not my family. I turned my back on my fame and lifestyle, friends and all I had known. People thought I was crazy. It was a big deal in my community and even in the church. They knew about me as a musician and wondered why I was there. But I felt a desperate need to be there. I felt so ugly and the other people seemed so pure. I felt I needed to be washed and made clean. I felt a deep Holy Spirit conviction. I needed a Saviour. I broke down, cried, sobbed and asked the Pastor to pray for me. He prayed a simple prayer, and I felt the burden was lifted off me. All the things I felt were gone. I couldn’t wait to be Baptised. My partner of many years didn’t understand, and we grew apart until she also met the Lord, and we joined the church together. I lost all my friends and my family. But later lots of people came to Christ including my sisters and Mom. One after the other. I wanted to be Baptised, but the Pastor said we needed to be married first. So, the day after we were married, we were both Baptised.
“One Saturday morning two years later, we woke early with our firstborn son between us, to pray and read the Bible. Suddenly, it was as though I was caught in the spirit. I was still in my body, yet somehow, I was not there. I felt myself carried to Calvary. I couldn’t see Jesus, but I knew deep in my spirit He was there. I was at His feet, and He towered above me, so much greater, more majestic than I had ever imagined. Nothing on earth can describe what I experienced. It changed me forever. For years afterward I could not speak of God’s presence without breaking down. My wife sat beside me, watching as I wept and wept for days. The love and grace of God so overwhelming I could hardly comprehend it. My prayer life and worship forever changed.
“That experience led to a bold step of obedience. I sold our newly renovated home, left my job and travelled to America to study in a church ‘organisation’ that resonated with my spirit. My heart cried out, even if it costs me everything, I want this word. It was the same deep yearning I had carried since childhood. In due course we returned to Iceland to serve as youth pastors but then the Lord called us to Romania to shepherd a church as senior pastors for five years.
PART 2 of 3 posted next Wednesday