Pedersen, Jens Christian, 1856-1940.

Jens Christian Pedersen was born January 24, 1856, in the parish of Skoldberg, in the Danish province of Jutland. He began attending country school at seven and continued until he was fourteen. He spent the next two years as a tailor's apprentice and continued his studies privately. A group of Christian men and women later provided him with financial support, enabling him to stop working as a tailor and devote himself full-time to his studies.

Jens Christian Pedersen's first missionary work was in Australia, in 1880. In 1887 he returned to Denmark on furlough. In January 1891 he set sail for Europe via South America, where he spent time in Chile and Argentina. He learned of an epidemic of yellow fever and traveled to the affected region, staying for three months to comfort the sick and dying. He finally arrived in Denmark in 1894.

After hearing of a need for Danish pastors in the United States, Pastor Pedersen emigrated to the United States in 1895. In 1907 he accepted a call from the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States (GS), Board of Foreign Missions, to work in its mission field in Liberia. He arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, on April 23, 1907. He started a station at Kpolo Pelle in 1908. Poor health necessitated his leaving Liberia in 1916.

Pastor Pedersen received a call in 1918 to work in the United States' Virgin Islands. He remained in the Virgin Islands until 1923 when it was discovered he spoke Spanish. He was then asked to assist with mission work in Puerto Rico, and did so until 1927, with his official resignation occurring in 1930. He died July 11, 1940, in St. Thomas and is buried there.

From the description of Jens Christian Pedersen Papers 1881-1940. (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 50237859