Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2007

e. 35 After the war poverty affected the population; many able preachers and leaders were sent out of the country, migrated to Southern Russia or never returned from the war. Many church members left the church and lost their faith. Bertelson was one of the key figures who helped to ‘build up’ the church again. This took much of her energy, especially as for a while V she was practically leading the church work. Later, Ivan N. Shilov moved V to St Petersburg and became pastor in the House of Gospel. Shilov and Bertelson worked together, and their efforts began to bear fruit. By 1920 the church had grown to 250 members/ There were signs of new hope. Between 1920 and 1922 there was a break in Bertelson’s work in St Petersburg. She travelled to Estonia and Sweden, with the aim of speaking about mission work in Russia and to fundraise for the support of Christian ministry there. Bertelson planned to be away from St Petersburg for four months but in reality the trip lasted two years. She was successful in fundraising, travelling from town to town. She was also able to collect clothes, food and medicine. There was another important outcome of her 31 Mcmopufi EeamejiCKux Xpucmuau-Eanmucmoe e CCCP [History of Evangelical Christians and Baptists in the USSR] (MocKBa: fh/iaiiHe Bcecot 03 Horo CoBeTa EBaHrentcKHX XpHCTiiaH-EanTHCTOB, 1989). p. 550. 32 Lagergren, Framgdngstid med dubbla fortecken: Svenska baptistsamfundet dren 1914-1932 , p. 134. 33 E.J. Dahl, Emilie Bertelsoni elu ja Mustvee tbopold , p.4. 34 Emilie Bertelson, in Lanken [Link], 6 (1930), p. 42. 35 Angelin, Ett ‘Ebeneser’, p. 6. 36 Ibid. 12 Journal of European Baptist Studies trip. She found Karin Falen from Krylbo, Sweden, a trained nurse, who felt 'in a call to join Bertelson in her work in Russia. With Falen as a co-worker, the next stage in Bertelson’s mission in Russia began. After their arrival in St Petersburg in 1922, the two missionary ladies rented a large room for worship services in one of the main areas of the city. The rent was fifty million roubles per month, a figure which gives some idea of how high inflation was in post-revolution Russia. 38 The situation in the country was difficult and problems also arose V in the church. Flowever, Shilov was a capable pastor and the number of church members increased. When Emilie Bertelson left St Petersburg in 1924, the congregation had 630 members and the increase continued. 40 N/ Bertelson became critical of Shilov’s decision to expand the number of paid staff to include two secretaries, three evangelists and five other workers. The staff were paid with food that came from America and Sweden as social aid. Bertelson was concerned that if a considerable amount of this social aid was used to pay the staff, then many poor people were left without help. Nevertheless, Emilie Bertelson and Karin Falen continued to work together with the congregation. 41 While among Ru