Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2007

hristian literature. The knowledge of different languages helped her to minister in multi-ethnic and multi-lingual settings in the Mustvee region in East Estonia with its Estonian and Russian speaking population. Also, her linguistic skills helped her to establish international contacts and to find supporters while serving as a missionary in St Petersburg (1918-1924) and in Mustvee (1925-1965). A Swedish-Estonian missionary in St Petersburg 1918-1924 Representatives of the Swedish Baptist movement were already in St Petersburg in the nineteenth century. One of the most influential among them was Oskar Elon Signeul. Signeul came from Goteborg and had a French ethnic background. He went to St Petersburg as a fashion designer, working in one Greek company. He became a Christian in 1882 when he was 24 years old. Two years later he was baptised by the leader of the German Baptist Church in St Petersburg, Adam Reinhold Schiewe. A David Lagergren, Framgdngstid med dubbla fortecken: Svenska baptistsamfundet dren 1914-1932 [A time of sufficiency and miraculous signs: Sweden Baptist Association in 1914-1932], (Libris, 1989), p. 135. “ 2 A. Ader, Eesti Usuajalugu: Laanemaa arkamine ja selle tagajarg [History of faith in Estonia: awakening in Westland and its results], (Typewritten manuscript, no place, no date), pp. 129-130. The original document is owned by Toivo Pilli. 23 H.V. Dahl, ‘Olemasolu lopetanud kogudusi’, p. 93. 24 Venestamine, [Russification], Online: URL: http://www.s-jaani.ee/okupatsioon.html, cited 27.09.2005. 25 Ilmar and Kethe Kurg to Daily Valk, (12.05.1999). Private letter. The original document is owned by Daily Adam. 10 Journal of European Baptist Studies Between 1890 and 1891 Signeul studied at Bethel Seminary in Sweden and went back to St Petersburg as a missionary. He became leader of the Swedish Baptist Church, working together with the German Baptist Church in this Russian capital. When the pastor of the German Church, A.R. Schiewe, was expelled from the country, Signeul became pastor of both churches. He was also responsible for the work among Finns and expanded the Baptist work to Finland (Pargola and Kuokkola). Signeul stayed in St Petersburg during the First World War, in spite of miserable working conditions and restrictions on Christian missions. When tsarism collapsed, there were hopes that new opportunities would open up for evangelism. Many missionaries in America and Sweden prepared for missionary work in Russia. However, there were also warning signs that the Bolshevik 27 government would be hostile towards religion. The work of Signeul in St Petersburg is only one sign of Swedish missionary interest in Russia. But in the changing political situation, many missionaries gave up the idea of going to this country. Emilie Bertelson, however, confirmed that her ministry should continue in Russia. In August 1918, the Committee for Foreign Mission of the Swedish Miss