LUNDBERG
Carl Lundberg
China, 1893-1900
Carl Lundberg
Carl Lundberg was born in Bersebo, Tjkstads Parish in Ostergotland,
Sweden on February 27, 1867. His parents Carl Adolf Lundberg and his wife were
farmers. His father perished by drowning in the Hmmern Sea on March 11, 1874.
His mother died on January 25, 1881.
Carl became a painter’s apprentice and continued in that profession for several
years. During the winter of 1890/1891 God laid his hand on his heart and he
accepted Jesus as Savior. In his hunger to learn more about the Bible, he joined
the “Holiness Alliance” and took the fourth Bible course given by Smeastorp in
1891. After this he worked with several Holiness Alliance evangelists, mostly in
the dark neglected districts in urban Sweden. In the autumn of 1892 he studied
at The Missionary Ransoms Bible Course in Jonkoping. During this time he met
Rev. William Emannel Fransen, who was gathering some Swedish missionaries that
the Christian and Missionary Alliance of the United States was funding to
minister in China. There were over 200 Swedes that had volunteered to go to
China under this program. Of these Carl was selected to go with the first
twenty.
In China, he and his wife were assigned in the city of Chonguei in Kansuh
province. While there, he and his wife met much resistance. The Chinese had
never seen any foreigners and they had a mutual distrust of anybody that wasn’t
from the local area. After many difficulties, they were able to open a crude but
effective missionary station. After much work and ministry, they were able to
gain the confidence of the local population. The mission became a place where
local people could go for healing. They did not report many conversions to
Christ.
After about two years work, they had to leave Kansuh Province, and they were
assigned to another station in Kueihuacheng. This station was centrally located
in the district, and it became the home for missionaries from other places to
come for conferences, language training and other occasions. It was noted in the
Alliance Witness that Missionary Lundberg was God-fearing, joyful, and easy to
communicate with. It was noted that he and his wife were very popular as with
his Chinese Christian comrades.
Carl Lundberg is probably best known for his letter of August 16, 1900 in which
he detailed the impending doom from the army which was beginning an attack on
his small missionary station. This last letter was a witness of boldness among
enemies. During a Boxer attack on his station he laid down his life for his
King. In his last letter he wrote to his Alliance comrades in the South of China
“We will meet with Jesus—will you also meet him there? When it becomes calm
again, then send out more witnesses to China so that the fallen places will
announce God’s mighty deeds.” This was his last wish.
Translated from Swedish article into English.
Augusta Lundberg
China, 1893-1900
Augusta Lundberg Augusta Brolin was born September 5, 1872, in Sundsvall, Sweden.
She was won to God in the winter of 1891. She, along with her family attended a
Holiness Alliance church. She had a heart to become a missionary and attended a
meeting held by Rev. William Fransen, who was recruiting missionaries to China
to be funded by the Christian Missionary Alliance of the United States. She
volunteered and was selected to go to China with the second group of Swedes.
She arrived in China in the beginning of 1893. It was noted that she was one of
the fastest to pick up a command of the Chinese language. While single, she
worked for 12 years with Augusta Solberg, then Mrs. Koren, in Pehkehtsi, where
God was with them and blessed their work.
While on the China field, she met and married Carl Lundberg. After her marriage
they opened a station in the city of Chonguei in Kansuh. Similar to her husband,
she was blessed with a cheerful and God-fearing character and performed an
extraordinary mission work.
The Lundbergs and two small daughters, Axelina, born in the Spring of 1897, and
Ebba, born during the escape, were taken along “where no enemies or needs will
be found.” She, her husband and daughters all perished on August 22, 1900,
during a Boxer Rebellion attack on their station.
Her marker states, “We rest in blessed peace from troubles, needs and pain and
see our gentle Savior, as bright as he is.”
Translated from Swedish article into English.
Letter from Mr. Carl Lundberg
from Kwei, Hua-Cheng sent to the Holy Union Mission in Sweden. Dated August 16,
1900.
Dear Pastor Kilstet,
How wonderful is the Lord in all His doings! Who is able to understand His ways?
Dear Mission Friends, you have probably heard how the storms of persecution have
broken out in China, and have also reached up to Shansi to your field of labor
and ours of the C&MA, and the C. I. M. have also gotten their share of it. After
Mr. Lundeberg told how the ten missionaries of the Holy Union Mission were
killed, and amongst them Mr. and Mrs. Forsberg, of our mission, and their
child—the missionaries were stoned and the child torn in pieces. The riot began
in Kwei-Hua-Cheng where we were, so we left the place and thought to go to Urza,
and over to Russia, but when we were two days journey from Kwei Thea, all of our
things were stolen from us, the robbers attacking us eight times. They took some
of our clothing from our bodies so we had to suffer both hunger and cold. Four
Catholic missionaries at that place heard about us and sent messengers after us
to bring us here. The last messenger found us and we have been here eight days,
but here also there is great danger. The Boxers are coming to destroy the place.
Many Catholic settlements were spoiled and thousands of Chinese were killed and
our station we know was destroyed.
We do not know anything about the other missionaries, but with us here of the
C&MA Mr. and Mrs. Emil Olson and their three children, Mr. and Mrs. Edvin
Andersson, and their two children, Miss Emilie Erickson, and Mrs. Carl Lundberg
and their children. If we should not come out with our lives then please send
our last message to all mission friends. We live and die for the Lord and China.
The way to the coast is not open. We have not heard anything from Peking for
nearly two months, but the way to the Lord is open, thanks be to Him. Let not
your hands fail and do not lose your courage. What we sow shall bear fruit in
its time. When the storm is over send out other witnesses to China to proclaim
the great act of the Lord. I do not regret that I came to China. I know the Lord
called me here, and his grace is enough for me. The way he leadeth is the best,
His will be done. We shall meet at his right hand.
August 22, 1900
Now the soldiers come and they are going to attack us here today. The Catholics
are going to defend themselves but it seems of no use, we do not want to die
with weapons in our hands. If God permits they may take our lives. We die with
faith in the Lord and know that He can save our souls without trusting in the
Catholic Church. The priests asked us yesterday if we were willing to enter or
be connected with the only saving church, and if we were not afraid if we had
gone wrong, and should not be saved, but we all answered that we know in whom we
believed, and that we were not uncertain and that we would die as protestants,
yes, as Christians. God bless you all. We will meet with Jesus.
Yours, happy in Jesus, Carl L. Lundberg.
http://www.cmalliance.org/about/history/in-the-line-of-fire/lundberg