Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2007

wrote about this event in her diary 62 o years later. For years Bertelson kept in her Bible the dried flowers she had picked in the Kehra church yard on the day of her ‘new birth’. 4 Sudden (and often dramatic) conversion, which transferred a formal faith into a personal experience, was considered a norm in Estonian Baptist churches. This model motivated and inspired Bertelson later in her work as an evangelist. 1 Harald Viktor Dahl, ‘Olemasolu lopetanud kogudusi’ [Churches ceased to exist], in Richard Kaups, (ed.), 50 aastcit apostlite radadel: 1884-1834 [50 years on the paths of the Apostles: 1884-1834], (Keila: E.B.K. Liidu kirjastus, 1934), p. 92. 2 Emilie Bertelson, ‘Mor har gatt hem till Gud’ [Mother went to another home with God], in Ldnken [Link], 9 (1931), p. 72. 3 Emilie Bertelson, Dagbok [Diary], 20.05.1957-10.12.1962, entry 07.07.1962. The original document is owned by Mustvee Baptist Church 4 Hildegard Tuulik to Daily Valk, (14.05.1999). Private letter. The original document is owned by Daily Adam. ‘She Worked Like a Man’ 7 Emilie Bertelson was baptised on 1 September 1900 in Tallinn’s bay by Hans Krabi, a prophetic figure from a Revivalist church (Est. priikogudus ) background, 5 who led the Tallinn Second Baptist Church, which can be characterised by its enthusiastic spirituality. 6 In Naissaare, a small department of Tallinn Second Baptist Church was established, consisting of converts baptised by Krabi. 7 An independent Baptist church in Naissaare was registered in 1906. 8 This church had a short existence. When the tsarist government started to build fortifications on the island, all the inhabitants were evacuated and the church was closed. A number of the members of this church joined Tallinn First Baptist Church. 9 On 25 th March 1925, Emilie Bertelson joined the Mustvee Baptist Church in East Estonia, where she stayed till the end of her life. 10 The mission-minded spirituality and eager expectation of the Spirit of God to move and work left its mark on Bertelson’s later years and ministry, even if she cannot be described as an emotional or enthusiastic type of Christian. Feeling a calling to Christian ministry, Emilie Bertelson wanted to become a missionary in Africa, where Hindrek Tuttar had worked from 1903-1907. 11 Tuttar was a Lutheran who briefly, after his return from the mission field, became a Baptist, and propagated mission ideas in the Estonian Baptist journal Teekdija. 12 In the early twentieth century, becoming a missionary was the most logical way for a woman to fulfil her calling for ministry, which included teaching, preaching and serving. However, in 1907-1908, Bertelson had the possibility to travel in Russia, all the way to the Black Sea. This was a life-changing event. She saw poverty and spiritual blindness of the local people, and this was such a profound experience for her that she decided to become a missionary to the Russian people. From tha