The Minneapolis journal., 1906-05-20
MISSIONARY WORK
FOR For ScAND|NAV|ANS
REPORT -ADE BY REV. S. v. S.
FISHER OF MINNEAPOLIS.
Explanation Made at Eightieth Annual
Meeting of the Congregational Home
missionary Society of What Has
Been Accomplished in the Northwest
the Past Year. ..l

the = congreg5tionaI Home Home Missio6ary
society held May $40, at Oak Park,
ILL.,, Rev. S. V. s. Fisher of Minneapo-
lis, superintendent of the Scandinavian
department for the northwest, pre-
sented an interesting report covering
the past year. He says in his report:
In the Scandinavian department the
society has had, during the year. the
services of forty five missionaries. These
men have served fifty three churches and
score of outstations. and in the culti-
walton of the these fields have preached
5000 sermons, made thousands of prayer
meeting talks, thousands of pastoral calls,
and helped greatly to make the life bet
ter in scores of communities. Connected
with these churches are Sunday schools,
in which 1000 children are brought under
religious influences and taught Bible
truths. The pastors report 266 CONVEX
sions and 2S6 additions to the churches,
chiefly upon confession of Christ.
There have been four general mis-
sionaries in the field besides the super
intendent. Rev. John F. Okerstein works
in the interests of both the Sunday School
society and the G. H. M. S. His field
is Minnesota, tho he occasionally strays
over the border into western Wisconsin
and labors for the C. H. M. S. there.
few superiors He is very familiar with
his Bible, and has an unusual desire to
catch men, and an easy and convincing
way with those whom he addresses.
Rev. N. J. Lind spends his whole time
in central North Dakota, and finds a field
far too large for him to cover. He fire.
quently asks for reinforcements, and,
when his appeal is denied, he pluckily
addresses himself anew to the work, and
undertakes to add to his own the work of
an extra man. More calls come to him
than he can possibly respond to. He
takes long, tedious trips to make his
voice reach far as may be- Rev. A. p.
Nelson and Rev. Karl Newquist go out
from Minneapolis north, south, east and
west.
The society has made it possible to
employ two district missionaries In the
Norwegian work. One is Rev. Charles j.
Jensen, whose field Is in northern and
central Wisconsin, where there is a large
and increasing population of Scan
dinavians.
Southeastern Minnesota.
Christ Oftedal has spent the whole year
In fruitful labor in a district twenty or
twenty-five miles southeast of Wlnona.
Minnesota a district not far removed
from his home. There a remarkable
spiritual work has been in progress for
g. number of months, such an awakening
as has never been known in that region
before Mr. Oftedal has had the help
of pastors and of some evangelsts who
have been engaged in tent work among
their countrymen in southern Minnesota
: and in Wisconsin. There have been many
impressive instances of conversion people
reclaimed from notOriously evil lives con-
Tossing Christ and bringing forth fruits
meet for repentance. Rev. A. j. Andrew
son has gone to labor in this field, which
will need more than the services of one
man when this work shapes itself fo1
something permanent. Mr.. AndreWson
was formerly pastor in Maple Valley
and Racine, Wis.
The, progress of the sOciety's work 1r
Minnesota would be more noticeable il
our appropriation had permitted US tt
push the work more vigorously. We nave
been unable to enter the places opened
by our general workers. much to thel
regret and also that of the people II
whom they have awakened desire II
have a more. frequent ministry of th'
word When a missionary travels scores
of miles on foot, visiting from house t.
house where the houses are far apart
and by Bible reading, prayer and con
versa ton, has awakened considerable IN
terest in the district, 80 that the peopl
wish for better things it is not particu
larly encouraging to him to be admon1she
that he must not organize the work wit
the expectation that a pastor can be ma
to minister regularly to the increasing
need and desire of the nelghborhood
neither does it tend to the enthusiasm Q
the community
In Northern Minnesota.
Rev, N. j. Bolin has been working
large territory in Mile Laos county 70
three or more years. At times II ma
seemed to him that he must Withdraw
as the society was unable to do for MI
according to his need, and the peopl
were too Indifferent to the work Whic
he was doing; but he has held on faith
fully. and this year has seen results
his efforts. In one part of the field =
church has been organized, and mee
ing house is in process of erection.
The Swedish temple, Minneapolis, hs
made remarkable progress under tf
leadership of Rev. A. p. Engstrom. ne
Mr.. Engstrom came to the pastorate
the temple, a loan from the buildir
society of s5, 900 had matured. and near
S. 900 remained unpaid. This debt ne
been paid during the past year and tt
mortgage burned to the great satis1a
ton of the church. Not only so, put
fine parsonage has been built, joined
the house of worship, at cost of near
$4,000. The building society has gene
ously helped the enterprise with loa
of $1,000. The spiritual growth OF u
temple has kept pace with the materl
prosperity. There has peen cohllnue
religious interest thru the year, al
many have been added to the church, !
present there seems to be most e:
cellent outlook and a great promise +
this church. *
Minnesota Scandinavian churches see
to be doing we'll with two exceptions, al
these two may come to their own in t
course Of time. In Minnesota we have
force of thirteen men, three of who
are general missionaries, and one a di
trict missionary. Nine are pastors The
nine serve sixteen churches. and ha
other places where they preach. T
work might easily be greatly enlarged
The Progressive spiritualist society will hs
an interesting program at its service this ev
ing at X. Of P. hall, Masonic Temple.
and Mrs Maud Pratt Crane will have charge
the musical program and will give a vocal
also a whistIing solo, A lecture will be
lowed by ordination under the auspices
the Minnesota State Spiritualist ASSOCIATE
rs All are welcome.
The Christian Catholic Apostolic church