Fredrik Franson (1852—1908): Promoter of Mission in Southern Africa

Abstract

Fredrik Franson (1852–1908), a dual citizen of Sweden and the USA and an international revival evangelist, is among the most significant mission founders and mobilisers of the Holiness Movement during the last quarter of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Within 22 years he founded 15 faith missions, four free-church federations in Europe and North America and several independent churches in the USA, New Zealand and Australia. This article focuses on the episodes of his life relating to southern Africa, namely the sending of the first missionaries of the Free East Africa Mission, the Scandinavian Alliance Mission of North America, and the founding of the Evangelical Church in Swaziland in 1893. Furthermore, it deals with Franson’s evangelistic campaigns in southern Africa, his visits to mission stations, participation in mission conferences and his partnership with Andrew Murray, Worcester, between spring 1906 and summer 1907. The article closes with a brief reflection of the lasting impact of Franson and his missionaries in southern Africa.