Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2007

e a man’ - this evaluation expressed the prejudices of the time. Women were considered to be ‘weaker vessels’ for spiritual labour. Bertelson’s life showed that she was stronger than some of her male co-workers. However, Vosu’s expression also includes respect and shows that Bertelson was accepted by Vosu, who was himself a long time minister, as a ‘full weight’ labourer in the fields of God’s Kingdom. Bertelson also tried her hand as a Christian journalist. From 1927- 1935, in co-operation with a Swedish missionary in Narva, Nils Angelin, 78 she published two journals: Lanken (Link) in Swedish and Prizov (Call) in Russian. Lanken was sold mainly in Sweden and among Swedes in Estonia. Its purpose was to speak about missionary work in Estonia and to encourage readers to support this mission. Prizov, containing sermons, Bible studies and stories for evangelism purposes, was distributed among Russian-speaking people in Estonia. These journals, and the news about the mission efforts in Mustvee told from person to person, served as a means of ‘public relations’ for Bertelson’s ministry. Visitors from Sweden and Finland came to learn more about the work, and to help, either financially or with their labour. When a new church building was erected in Mustvee in 1937, there were a number of volunteers who helped with the building and with evangelism. A businessman, K.J. Solberg, made a donation for another prayer house to be bought. 79 Bertelson also developed social, charitable, moral and cultural life in the region. This was recognised even in the Estonian Parliament. Bertelson was also famous for her anti-alcohol stance, and that people in a Baptist church had to be non-smokers. 81 77 Peeter V5su. Uks paev Peipsi kalda todpollul [One day in the working field of Peipsi shore], in Teekdija [Wayfarer], 19 (1928), p. 222. 78 Kodu ja valismaa teated [Writings from home and foreign countries], in Teekdija [Wayfarer], 3 (1928), p. 35. 79 Lagergren, Forandringens tid Kris och fornyelse [Times of change-Crisis and renewal] (Libris. 1994), p. 188. 80 Karl Kaups, Mustvee todpollult [From the mission field of Mustvee], in Teekdija [Wayfarer], 3 (1937), pp. 45-46. 81 Richard Kaups, Karskuspaevilt [From days of abstinence], in Elukevade [The Spring of Life], 9 (1926), pp. 152-153. ‘She Worked Like a Man’ 19 In 1940 and 1941, when Estonia was occupied by Soviet troops and the Second World War reached this northernmost of the Baltic countries, religious life changed in Estonia. Bertelson continued her ministry in Mustvee, but all religious work now took place under atheistic pressures. In 1946, the prayer house in Mustvee was confiscated by the Soviet authorities, 82 Sunday School work became illegal and mission stations were closed. Support from Sweden was cut off. The phase of Emilie Bertelson’s life and ministry from 1940-1965, characterised by her faithfulness in spite of many losses and Communist restricti