Salvation & Calling
Phyllis
Salvation:
My name is Phyllis, and I grew up in Germany. I did not grow up in a Christian home and had hardly any knowledge of Christ or the teachings of the Bible. When I was 17, I moved to Iceland. I was a teenage girl who was feeling lost, broken and had already made many mistakes. I knew that something was missing in my life but did not know what it was or where to look for it. Ever since I was a young girl, I believed that there was a Creator and had a strong desire to start attending church. I even really wanted to read the Bible. However, I did not know Christ. I also did not know anyone who faithfully attended church or regularly read the Bible to have encouraged me in that direction.
After I moved to Iceland, I started working at a hotel, where one of my jobs was to serve coffee. One day a guy about my age ordered a coffee and started telling me about the First Baptist Church that he had attended a couple of times. I immediately asked him if I could join; so he and some other friends started picking me up for church on Sunday mornings. I did not yet understand most of the teachings that were being imparted to me. However, I was overwhelmed by the incredible kindness, overwhelmed at how I was treated every time I entered church, especially by the Weimer family. Even though I was not sure about the faith, I kept attending church, just trying to figure out why people were so nice to me there. “They must see that I am broken,” I thought, “Why would they be kind to me?”
I started attending church around January 2018. In February 2018 I received my first Bible. I started reading the Bible almost every day, even though I did not understand it. Inspired by Pastor Patrick Weimer’s preaching of the truth and for the first time hearing the Word of God, I started praying that God would help me understand and that he would save me. I did not yet realize what salvation or being saved meant, but I knew that I needed help.
On Easter Sunday of 2018 at the end of the sermon, our pastor asked whether any of us had trusted that Christ had died on the cross for our sins. In that moment I knew that what Christ had done was done for me; Christ wanted me to have life, life more abundantly. I did not understand at the time that trusting Christ meant my eternal salvation, nor did I understand the full extent of my sin. But I knew that Christ was and is my only hope. From that day on Christ has held my hand every step of the way, creating in me a clean heart.
Calling:
Through reading the Bible, the Lord had already been showing me that He wanted me to share his word more. These verses especially convicted me about this – “[4] And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. [5] Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. [6] Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee” (Isaiah 12:4-6).
However, even though it seemed like God was calling me to share not only his word but especially what he had done for me, I was very scared. I continued praying, thinking to myself that – if the Lord wanted me to work more in the church or even go into missions – he would make it obvious. At this point, I had already been serving at the First Baptist Church for 4-5 years in different positions. When William Weimer and I started courting he showed me in God’s word that he was called to be a missionary. I then started praying more specifically about being a missionary, because I did not want to marry him if we did not have that same calling.
One of my main concerns about going into missions is that I do not think myself to be capable. I do not have the education, nor any other qualifications that would assist me in becoming a missionary. However, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 says, “[5] Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; [6] Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” God used this passage to show me, that even though I do not have the qualifications and am not capable in and of myself, my sufficiency is found in Him.
Another concern of mine was that I have stage fright and find it very hard to talk in front of people. God then reminded me of Moses, “[10] And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. [11] And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? [12] Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Exodus 4:10-12).
As I continued praying and asking God for direction, He gave me an answer to all my concerns, showing me clearly that He was leading me towards going into missions. I believe that God wants to use me and my story to make himself known. I grew up in a world where He was not spoken of and was amidst people who had not heard – “But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand” (Romans 15:21). I believe that God wants to use what He has done for my soul so that others might get to know him – “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16).
William
Salvation:
As a young boy, around five years old, I made a profession of faith. I was sincere and desperately wanted to be saved, so I spoke with my father about salvation. However, while I genuinely desired to believe, I did not fully understand the need to personally trust Christ.
For several years afterward, I doubted my salvation. I told others I “got saved” when I was five, but internally, I struggled with fear and uncertainty. Everything changed when I finally began a personal relationship with Christ. Alone in my room and frustrated with my fear, I recalled Acts 16:31 in Icelandic – “En þeir sögðu: ‘Trú þú á Drottin Jesú, og þú munt verða hólpinn og heimili þitt.’” (English: “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”)
For some reason, the word “trú” resonated with me more deeply than the English word “believe.” I finally grasped the verse’s meaning – I needed to trust Christ. So I did. That’s how my relationship with Christ began, and since then, God has continually transformed and impacted my life.
Calling:
While visiting supporting churches with my family in 2015, I began actively seeking God’s will for my life. I believe that if God is powerful enough to speak the world into existence, and if the Bible is His word, then He can use it to reveal my purpose. With this foundational belief – that God’s word can guide me – I diligently studied Scripture to discern His calling.
In time, God led me to several passages directing me toward ministry. The verse I hold as my personal calling to ministry is Psalm 96:3, “Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.” I am convinced that when God inspired the authors of Scripture to write that verse, He had me in mind. Without a doubt, God has called me to ministry.
Although God had made my calling to ministry clear, the specific capacity, form, and location of my ministry remained uncertain. Several years passed as I continued to serve Jesus in Iceland, worked my way through college, and interned at a few churches in the U.S. Near the end of 2023, as I approached the completion of my degrees, I continued seeking God’s guidance, particularly concerning whether or not to remain in Iceland.
While studying the Scriptures, I encountered several passages that seemed to confirm God’s will for me to minister in Iceland. The verse I hold as my calling to Iceland is Isaiah 42:12, “Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.” I am confident that this passage reflects God’s calling for my life on the island of Iceland.
Weimers in Iceland 