[work in progress]
Chronological overview of Flad’s life and ministry
Organised according to Flad’s centres of gravity and with cross-references to his autobiography, 60 Jahre in der Mission […] (Gießen: Brunnen, 1922)
CHILDHOOD AND TRAINING (1831–54)
[Cf. Flad, 60 Jahre, p. 24–40]
Jan. 1831: Johannes Martin Flad was born to a farming family in Undingen, Southwest Germany. His father died when Martin (his call name) was still very young. Due to financial restrictions, Martin had to learn a trade (saddler).
1849: Martin Flad worked as a craftsman in Winterthur (Switzerland).
1850‒54: During his study at the missionary training institute at St Chrischona, Flad and three fellow students were selected to work in Abyssinia. Before being sent to Jerusalem, Flad served as a preacher and catechist in South Germany.
- During the rise of Kassa Hailu (later Emperor Tewodros II), Bishop Samuel Gobat saw an opportunity to send Protestant missionaries to Ethiopia. To awaken and promote the Christian faith without causing a public stir, the craftsmen trained at St. Chrischona were to work in their profession and only witness and distribute Bibles privately.
First Stay in Abyssinia (1854–55):
SURVEY WITH KRAPF
[Cf. Flad, 60 Jahre, p. 40–84]
1854–55: Journey with Krapf from Jerusalem via Adwa and Gondar to meet Bishop Salama and King Tewodros II. Return to Jerusalem via the Sudan and Alexandria.
Second Stay in Abyssinia (1856–58):
Ministry in the Gondar area
[Cf. Flad, 60 Jahre, p. 84–96]
1855/56: Travel to Abyssinia with fellow missionaries Bender, Mayer and Kienzlen.
1856–58: Schools for boys, devotions and Bible distribution as well as outreach to Beta Israel in Gondar and surrounding. Due to serious health problems, Flad left Abyssinia in 1858.
Israel and Germany (1858):
Wedding [Cf. Flad, 60 Jahre, p. 96]
1858: Flad accompanied Bishop Gobat on a journey to Germany. Back in Jerusalem, he married Pauline Keller, a nurse and pharmacist.
Third Stay in Abyssinia (1858–63):
Ministry in _ _ _ [Cf. Flad, 60 Jahre, p. 96– _ __]
1858: The Flads and the new missionaries Saalmüller, Waldmeier and Schroth travelled via Nubia to Abyssinia.
1859: The Flads established schools for boys and girls in Amba Mariam (aka Maqdala) and distributed Bibles to visitors. Flad taught Zännäb English so that he could look up parallel passages in the Bible.
1860: Emperor Tewodros II transferred Flad and his fellow missionaries to Gafat (near Debre Tabor), where they built workshops and a school. Start of missionary outreach to the Beta Israel together with Henry A. Stern.
1861: Flad was passed on to the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews. Their mission station was in Jenda (near Gondar).
1863: The Emperor’s relationship with the Protestants deteriorates (p. 144)
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Picture
(photograph deposited in the Basel Mission Archives)
Further reading
» View bibliography with links