|
Rebecca Dahl Women's Missionary Fund, 1911
 Rebecca Oline (Lena) Gjersten Dahl
was the force behind the organization of the United Norwegian Lutheran
Church’s Women’s Missionary Federation. Described as a “loving and
sympathetic mother and a dutiful daughter,” Dahl nevertheless found the
time to become involved also in the expansion of the Luther League in
the 1890’s. She dreamed of a churchwide women’s society as early as
1898, telling her family:
“Friends, there is something brewing in
my mind—something new among our people. Mr. Dahl is the only one I
have mentioned it to. He thinks it would be a fine thing. I feel our
women should begin to plan for a mission federation. What other
denominations are doing, we can do for the grace of God.”
Although her idea did not catch on
immediately, in 1911 the formal organization of the Kvinderness Missions
Forbund (Women’s Missionary Federation) took place in St. Paul,
Minnesota. Dahl was elected president. Their first project was to build
lodgings for the missionary families on furlough in the United States.
During the first four years of the group’s work, four houses were built.
Also, a total of $3557.34 was donated to the Chicago Deaconesses Home
and Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Luther Seminary
Archives, St. Paul, Minnesota.)
|
