Fredrik Franson

He was accompanied by his parents, a brother August, and a half-sister Anna; the group traveled with Lutheran minister Olof Olsson.

Franson's evangelistic endeavors were broadened to include members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who had recently settled in Utah Territory.

In 1880, he worked with Leander Hallgren to establish a number of evangelical, non-denominational churches in Nebraska with an emphasis on setting aside denominational differences.

[4] During this extensive ministry in Europe, he heard noted missionary statesman Hudson Taylor (1832–1905) challenge people to go to China with the gospel.

His desire to motivate others for cross-cultural missions led him to form a training class in Brooklyn, New York.

His first class on October 14, 1890, is recognized as the "birthday" of TEAM, although the early name for the agency was "The Scandinavian Alliance Mission."

This name reflected Franson's vision to bring churches together into an alliance enabling even small congregations to have a part in sending out missionaries.

[6] Photographs of these early missionaries depict a dedicated group of people who chose to live and dress as the Chinese did.

[4] In 1908, following one of his lengthy trips to the fields, Franson took several days off to rest at the home of some friends in Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Services were held at the Presbyterian Church in Colon, Nebraska, and burial was in Estina Cemetery, south of Leshara.