Frederick William Baedeker (1823–1906) was an evangelist known for proclaiming the gospel to prisoners across Russia. This year is the 200th anniversary of his birth.
He was born on Aug. 3, 1823, to William and Frederika Baedeker in Witten, Germany. At the age of 23, he joined the German army but was discharged because of poor health. He earned a doctor of philosophy degree in philosophy from the University of Freiburg. He married in 1851, but his wife died three months later.
After traveling across Germany and to Australia, he returned to France and finally to England. He became a British citizen and settled in Weston-super-Mare.
In 1862, he married a young widow, Harriet Ormsby, who was the mother of a young boy he was teaching. They had a happy marriage.
Later decision
Baedeker did not become a Christian until he was 43. In 1866, he was invited to attend a series of evangelistic meetings in Weston. He said of his conversion: “I went into the meeting a proud rebellious infidel and came out a humble believing disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.” He not only had a spiritual reformation, but also a physical one. His poor health improved so much that he was able to make perilous journeys.
After God called him to become an evangelist, Baedeker studied the Scriptures for 10 years while also preaching. He then made annual visits to Russia. At the age of 67, he traveled across Russia, a distance of 5,000 miles.
After receiving access to all the prisons in Russia, he evangelized prisoners and distributed Bibles. He started by train in March 1890 from Berlin to St. Petersburg and then by steamboat to Perm. He continued by train across the Ural Mountains into western Siberia. From there he crossed by steamboat to Tomsk. The next 1,000 miles he journeyed by road in a primitive covered wagon and then another 1,000 miles to Stretensk. By steamer he sailed 1,800 miles to the coast and then to Sakhalin Island to preach to the worst criminals.
He returned to England in December. Despite attacks by robbers, extreme cold, uncomfortable travel and unsanitary places, he testified that God had preserved him.
He made a second journey through Russia like the first one. He also preached in other European countries. He once said, “To visit the prisons and to minister to the poor souls, who are under the awful power of sin and darkness, is better to me than angels’ food.”
Baedeker was greatly mourned following his death on Oct. 9, 1906.
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