An EFCA Missionary Shipwrecked in China

You might think of the Apostle Paul when hearing the word “shipwrecked.” But have you heard about how an EFCA missionary survived a shipwreck and lived to tell about it? 

Hanna Hedstrom was the daughter of C.B. Hedstrom, a well-known lay evangelist and owner of a small chain of shoe stores in Chicago.  

Born in Sweden, she recalled attending a church service in Rattvig with her cousin, where the minister put his hand on him saying, “Someday you’re going to be a missionary,” but not doing the same for her, even though God was already calling her to missions. 

When the family came to Chicago in 1900, she was 18 and attended the Free Church Bible Institute. While in training, she felt God’s call to China to join a small team started by Hans Von Qualen. By 1905 she was on her way to China. 

After a few months of studying the language, she began ministry to women. The mission had a small boat called “The Morning Star,” and they traveled from one settlement to another, often staying a week at a time. Many women turned to the Lord and churches were planted. She continued a six-year term until illness from goiter and malaria attacks took her energy and some of her vision. 

In 1911, she set out to return to the U.S. leaving Hong Kong on the S.S. Asia. The route took them along the China coast, but near Taizhou the ship hit unknown rocks and foundered. Forty of the crew members were lost, but Hanna and other survivors were taken to a pirate-controlled island nearby. All but one trunk of her possessions was lost. She eventually made it to Shanghai and then to the U.S. on another ship. 

Her poor health stopped her return to China. She married Per Nelson Alfors and had four boys and four girls, some of whom became Free Church pastors and missionaries themselves. 

We praise God for early missionaries like Hanna who, despite illness and shipwreck, laid a solid foundation for EFCA missionaries today.