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Anskar: Miracle worker and missionary to Denmark, Germany, and Sweden.

Anskar led millions from Idolaty to Jesus.
February 3 is Anskar's feast day for Anglicans and Lutherans.

I discovered Anskar while researching SPIRITUAL LIVES.


  • God spoke to him in visions and sent him to the hostile heathens.

  • Facing fierce oppostion, being often expelled, Anskar never faultered.

  • As a result all of the north of Europe turned from their idols to Jesus.


Is Jesus calling you today? Obey His call!


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Anskar was born in 801, the year after Charlemagne* (742-814) was crowned

Emperor. But at this time, the Dark Ages were still very dark. To the north

and west of Charlemagne’s realms lay vast lands where paganism still was

practiced among the fierce Barbarian tribes.

An asterisk* after a name means the person is in SPIRITUL LIVES.


Inspired by the work of Boniface* (675 - 754) he believed God called him

to preach the Gospel to those who were lost. He began having visions

when he was 5 years old, which continued throughout his life. Their

content provided the direction of his evangelizing work.


Before he began his mission to pagans of the north, he heard a voice

responding to his question: " Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? Go and

declare the word of God to the nations."


Anskar began his work in Denmark, working with the king to preach

the Gospel to the Danish people, still steeped in pagan worship. The

journey and country were then so dangerous that he could find only one

man to go with him, but they went and began their work by training 12

boys to become evangelists.


But the Danish people were hostile to the Gospel and revolted against

their king and Anskar was forced to leave, and his work was incomplete.


He immediately focused his efforts on the Swedes, traveling to Birka

(Sweden's oldest city) in 829, establishing a small Christian community there.

After two years, he returned to report to the Emperor, who made him bishop

of Hamburg, a town founded by Charlemagne in 808.


From there, Anskar sent his nephew Gautbert ( 800?-864)) to Sweden, where he ministered until he was driven out by the heathen in 845. The same year, the Northmen overran

Hamburg. They devastated the whole country, destroying almost all the Christian churches.


Anskar sought to overcome desolation for several years, and in 849

became Archbishop of Bremen, receiving King Eric of Jutland's (9th century) permission

to resume missionary work in Denmark. There, he built a church at Schleswig and sent Ardgar to Sweden, where he evangelized for 10 years, Anskar joining him in 853.


While he was away, fighting in Denmark destroyed King Eric and his Christian supporters, and pagan warlords took charge of the country. They wiped out Christian worship at Schleswig and carried off or sold many Christians into slavery. Anskar went to the pagan

chiefs and negotiated the release of the captives but was very distressed that

so much of his work of the Lord had been set back.


True from an earthly viewpoint, but the heavenly view in brighter:


"Counting the number of those healed by his prayers and anointing is impossible. For according to the statement made by many persons, sick people came eagerly to him, not only from his own diocese but from a great distance, demanding from him healing medicine.
He, however, preferred that this should be kept quiet rather than that it should be noised abroad." – Adam of Bremen. (1050? - 1085)

Anskar died on February 3, 865, at the age of 64, more than half his

life having been spent in missionary work in Denmark, Sweden, and

northern Germany. Today, he is honored as "the Apostle of the North" in

Germany and Scandinavia. How much more will Jesus say, "Well done,

though good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:23


Go Ye Into All The World And Preach The Gospel,


Far, far away, in heathen darkness dwelling,

Millions of souls forever may be lost;

Who, who will go, salvation’s story telling,

Looking to Jesus, heeding not the cost?

Refrain

“All power is given unto Me,

All power is given unto Me,

Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel,

And lo, I am with you always.”


See o’er the world wide open doors inviting,

Soldiers of Christ, arise and enter in!

Christians, awake! your forces all uniting,

Send forth the Gospel, break the chains of sin. Refrain


“Why will you die?” the voice of God is calling.

“Why will you die?” re-echo in His Name;

Jesus has died to save from death appalling,

Life and salvation, therefore go proclaim. Refrain


God speed the day, when those of every nation

“Glory to God!” triumphantly shall sing.

Ransomed, redeemed, rejoicing in salvation,

Shout “Hallelujah, for the Lord is King.” . Refrain


James Mc¬Granahan, 1886


Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe

all things whatsoever I have commanded you:

and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end

of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19



Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.


If you're going through hell, keep going.


You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.

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