Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2007

ssian Baptists the women’s role was downplayed in later development, in the early stages of this movement women had significant roles. Among the Pashkovite movement, which later developed into the Evangelical Christian strand of the Russian Baptists, there were several noblewomen who were key-people in these early stages. Bertelson and Falen were also allowed a significant role in St Petersburg, though it may have been partly because of their foreign identity and because they were perceived through their missionary rather than pastoral tasks. The years in Russia broke the health of Emilie Bertelson. She had a serious problem with inflammation in one hand. Lack of food and extremely miserable living conditions made things even worse. The nerves of the missionary were always tense because of constant attention from officials and persecution, continuously raising difficulties. Karin Falen was very worried about the health of her co-workers and in December 1923 she wrote that ‘Emilie Bertelson is completely stressed out’. 4 ’ Nevertheless, her health situation was no reason for Bertelson to give up her work. Trusting God she continued. 37 Ibid. 38 Lagergren, Framgangstid med dubbla fortecken: Svenska baptistsamfundet dren 1914-1932 , p. 135. 39 Ibid. 40 E.J. Dahl, Emilie Bertelsoni elu ja Mustvee toopold , p. 4. 41 Lagergren, Framgangstid med dubbla fortecken: Svenska baptistsamfundet dren 1914-1932 , p. 136. 42 H.J. Dahl, Emilie Bertelsoni elu ja Mustvee toopold, p. 18. 43 Lagergren, Framgangstid med dubbla fortecken: Svenska baptistsamfundet dren 1914-1932 , p. 136. ‘She Worked Like a Man’ 13 Bertelson’s time in Russia was drawing to an end for other reasons. Though Evangelicals, unlike the Orthodox, had relative freedom in the 1920s, they did have some difficulties. In 1923 the House of Gospel was taken away from the congregation, though it was given back later. In 1923, V fifteen ‘brothers’ were arrested, including pastor Shilov. The reason for their arrest was probably their anti-militarist stance. Division occurred about this issue, especially after Ivan S. Prohhanov, an outstanding Evangelical Christian leader, wrote an article where he encouraged believers not to refuse military service. This irritated Baptists according to Karin Falen. 44 However, there were some joyful events for believers. On New Year’s Eve 1923, eleven people were baptised. The worship service, with 2000 people present, lasted six hours. 45 In the summer of 1923, Emilie Bertelson reported, with a note of optimism, at the Baptist World Alliance Conference in Stockholm: 46 ‘People still become Christians and persecution is not so strong in St Petersburg and in European Russia, although sometimes is very difficult. It is not possible to travel freely and an anti religious attitude from the government is perceptible in every moment.’ 47 But Bertelson had to face another blow. She lost her co-worker Karin Falen as