by Kay Wible

Bethel University’s history would be incomplete without the commitment and generosity of strong, Christ-filled women. National Women’s History month provided an opportunity to reflect on and honor faithful women who have helped Bethel grow through the years. And the legacy they leave lives on.

Athletics

Ten acres off of Old Snelling Avenue. Six tennis courts. A fast-pitch softball diamond. Two soccer fields. Ona Orth built much of this herself…financially. Orth worked for 30 years for the Union Gospel Mission in the Twin Cities and had a 20-year second career as a nursing home administrator. Though she never attended Bethel, Orth considered giving to athletic facilities (she also made a sizeable donation to Hargis Park, Bethel’s baseball field) in keeping with her commitment to youth ministry.

Her legacy lives on. This summer, Bethel will host more summer camps and hundreds of youth will take to the fields or courts that Ona helped provide.

Prayer

In 2004 Former Director of Church Ministries Marie Schultz established and co-led Bethel’s National Prayer Initiative. Within one year, 35 prayer teams around the country were meeting regularly to intercede for specific needs at Bethel. Schultz’s successor, Judy Moseman ’65, also has an influential history with Bethel: she first joined the college staff as part of the faculty of the English department in 1981 and retired as vice president for student life in 2007.

Schultz’s legacy continues. More than 1,000 Bethel friends are committed prayer partners through the NPI.

Nursing

Mary Jo Monson received her R.N. degree at Mounds Midway School of Nursing. When Mounds Midway closed in 1983, they contributed funds to help start the nursing program at Bethel and establish an endowed scholarship. Today more than 90 students are enrolled in Bethel’s thriving nursing program. A nursing endowment and the new Mounds Midway Room in Brushaber Commons, which honors the heritage shared by Bethel and the Mounds Midway School of Nursing, is made possible through the generosity of Mary Jo.

Her legacy lives on. Today more than 90 students—a number quickly growing—are enrolled in Bethel’s nursing program.

Academics

Women were part of the teaching staff very early in Bethel’s’s history, and they had a significant impact on those who followed. In 1924, Esther Sabel was hired to head up the Bible and Missionary Training School, the first woman to be part of the full-time faculty. A year later, Effie Nelson joined her as a language teacher. For 34 years, Esther taught Greek, Bible, hermeneutics, and Christian education at the college and seminary while Effie taught German, English, history, economics, and served as the first dean of women (1937-1962) and as the school librarian during her 41-year tenure at Bethel.

Their legacy continues. Bethel has 571 women teaching and working in a variety of areas across the university.

Missions

Olivia Johnson, Bethel Academy’s first foreign missionary, was sent by the Women’s Foreign Mission Society to the Philippines in 1913. She died just a few years later, from influenza, but inspired The Olivia Johnson Memorial Missionary Movement, a Bethel organization in the 1920s and ’30s that encouraged active support for missions among the student body.

Her legacy continues. Today, hundreds of Bethel women are making a difference through missions in nearly every country of the world, as teachers, nurses, evangelists, and in many other roles.

Ministry

Evelyn Christenson (’61) married fellow Bethel alum Harold Christenson, and the two of them pastored BGC churches in Minnesota and Illinois. Evelyn founded United Prayer Ministry, became a sought-after conference speaker, and authored many books. In recognition of her ministry, Evelyn received the 1976 Bethel Pacesetter Award and the 1996 Bethel Distinguished Alumni Award. She and her husband established the Evelyn and Harold Christenson Scholarship in Evangelism for students.

Her legacy lives on in the countless number of Bethel women who are using their unique spiritual gifts and demonstrating their passion for Jesus Christ through public and private ministries in communities across the globe.