Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2007

ons, is outside the scope of this paper. Conclusion Emilie Bertelson was a missionary, but an exceptional missionary. Though her dream was to devote her life to preaching the gospel to Russians in Russia, her ministry in St Petersburg was comparatively short. She became a missionary in her own country, Estonia, where she worked both among the Estonian and Russian-speaking population near Lake Peipsi. In her ministry she had to fulfil not only preaching tasks, but, if needed, pastoral and counselling roles, not forgetting the roles of fundraiser and organiser. Perhaps it was the context that made her exceptional, too. Some of the roles she had would have been normal for a female missionary in some far-away country, but were not usually fulfilled by a ‘sister’ in her home- country. Bertelson, no doubt, had a firm character, extraordinary commitment to the cause of God’s Kingdom, and natural intelligence. She was able to gain respect in Mustvee and its surroundings, being highly regarded by the Baptist Union pastors and church members who knew her. She was also well known within the Estonian Parliament because of her great work. Bertelson had leadership skills, including faithfulness, and an ability to work together with different personalities. She successfully evangelised in a field that was exceptional in Estonia - the community of Old Believers, though in the region there also lived Orthodox and Lutherans. Her example has left a lasting impact on the Baptist work in Estonia. Emilie Bertelson gave all her energy to the ministry that she believed was God’s calling for her. She endured hardship. She was able to create a team of co-workers. She was persistent in her tasks. She had compassion 82 Toivo Pilli and Tonis Valk, Uhest ateistliku too meetodist: evangeeliumi kristlaste-baptistide palvemajade ja koguduste sulgemine Eestis 1945-1964 [A method of atheistic work: closing prayer houses and churches of the Evangelical Christians and Baptists in Estonia 1945-1964], in Toivo Pilli, ed., Teekond teisenevas ajas: peatiikke Eesti vabakoguduste ajaloost [Journey in modifying time: Chapters from history of Estonian free churches] (Tartu: Korgem Usuteaduslik Seminar ja Sonasepp, 2005), p. 94. 20 Journal of European Baptist Studies towards people. She trusted God. She worked like a man; or, rather, accepting her identity and style, she worked like a woman. Daily Adam is from Estonia and is studying at IBTS for an MTh degree in Baptist and Anabaptist Studies. The life and legacy of Strahil Grozdanov 21 The life and legacy of Strahil Grozdanov (1920-1997) - leader of the Macedonian Baptists in socialist times, 1950-1980 Introduction In this paper I will look at the life of Strahil Grozdanov, the Baptist preacher and leader of the Baptist movement in southern Serbia and Macedonia during the communist era. The emphasis in his early life will be placed on formative events, which contributed