For Bill Ankerberg, the most important word in the Great Commission is its first one: “Go.”
“It does not say support. It does not say raise money for. It does not say pray for. It says, ‘Go ye into all the world.’ And it’s a command,” Ankerberg said.
This conviction led him to leave a successful and comfortable life in Southern California and become a global worker in a part of the world that at the time he’d only read about.
While pastoring Whittier Area Community Church for 18 years and seeing it grow from 800 to 3200 attendees, Ankerberg faced a choice: “Are you going to stay here or are you going to take a risk?” he said he heard God asking him. “And I said I am commanded to go. I have to do it.”
That decision set in motion a chapter of ministry that would profoundly impact Estonia, the Nordic-Baltic Region and the Converge movement. Ankerberg officially retired as a Converge global worker on April 30, but his mission continues. He still serves as Director of Church Strengthening for Converge Southwest, and his heart remains deeply invested in the people and leaders of Estonia and the Nordic-Baltic.
A New Field in Estonia
Ankerberg’s journey to Estonia began 27 years ago. At the time, Converge had only two missionary families in all of Europe. A colleague suggested that he look into Estonia, a country located in a part of the world that had long fascinated Ankerberg due to his interest in history and his Swedish roots.
On an initial trip with 10 people from his church, the group felt a unanimous sense that God wanted them there. This marked the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership. When he first arrived, ministry in Estonia faced significant challenges. The country was one of the least Christian nations in the world.
“During the Soviet era, they rejected communism at the end, but they embraced atheism,” Ankerberg said. “They just didn’t see a need for church.”
Churches that did exist had few resources, and there was a deep sense of poverty.
Instead of arriving with a pre-packaged American strategy, Ankerberg and Converge leaders took a different approach. They asked the local pastors a simple question: “What do you want to talk about?” This was revolutionary.
“They said they had Americans come over, but they never had an American ask them what they thought,” Ankerberg said.
This collaborative spirit changed the dynamic entirely, building trust and genuine partnership. It changed the DNA of the church leaders, creating a culture of warmth and mutual support.
“Estonian leaders will say this was the most important ministry Bill and Converge brought to Estonia,” said Jimmy Smith, who leads Converge’s Nordic-Baltic Region. “Bill laid a foundation for long-term impactful ministry in Estonia and beyond.”
A Heart for the People
Ankerberg’s ministry was never just about programs or strategies. It was about people.
“Bill not only cared about the ministry work, but he truly cared for people,” Smith said. “Bill is a pastor to pastors. He knew leaders well. He knew their families. He knew their kids’ names. He prayed for them.”
This personal investment yielded incredible results. A key breakthrough came with the youth. Ankerberg and other leaders in the region recognized a need for a safe space for young people who often faced opposition from their families due to their faith.
This led to the creation of the Refuge Center, a condominium in the city of Tartu. It serves as a discreet meeting place for youth groups, avoiding the stigma associated with a church building. Today, 14 different youth groups meet there weekly.
This past summer alone, 24 different camps led to over 30 baptisms, which is a significant number in a country of just 1.3 million people. The work Ankerberg and the team started is bearing fruit in a new generation of believers.
His love for Estonia is so profound that it has become a permanent part of his story.
“When I die, I want my children to take my ashes and go with (Estonian) Helari Puu, whom I’ve worked with for 27 years,” Ankerberg said. “Helari will know where to spread my ashes. But I want my ashes spread in Estonia, because this is where my heart is.”
A Legacy of Impact
Leaving a comfortable life to become a missionary was a significant leap of faith. But for Ankerberg, it was about more than a financial decision.
“I wanted to be the guy who wasn’t about the money and was willing to (leave behind the salary and convenience),” he said of following God when he felt the command to go. Twelve years later, he has no regrets.
“I have no needs,” he said. “God has cared for everything. I’ve done just fine. I don’t feel in any way, shape or form lacking over what I left behind. Trusting Christ was worth it for me.”
When he started his work in Europe, there were just two Converge missionary families. Now there are around 100 people. In Estonia, a once-uneducated clergy now have access to college-level and master’s degree programs in ministry. Estonian leaders are now taking on roles in the European Baptist Federation, extending their influence across the continent.
Though he has officially retired as a Converge global worker, his work is far from over. He continues to invest in leaders, travel to Estonia and serve Converge Southwest, where he has helped churches find pastors and contributed to remarkable growth.
Bill Ankerberg answered the call to “Go.” He traded comfort for a command and, in doing so, allowed God to use him in extraordinary ways. His journey is a powerful reminder that obedience and a genuine love for people can change lives, communities and even nations.
Thank you, Bill, for your faithful service and the lasting impact you have made in the Nordic-Baltic region and across the entire Converge movement.