# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S88
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

88 Proceedings of the Forty-First Convention,

a suitable building for the school, which is conducted in the church
auditorium (necessitating the moving of pews every week) and the
basement, which is entirely inadequate for a schoolroom. And
a parsonage, located in the neighborhood of the church and of the
Negro population, would be very desirable both for economic and
psychological reasons.

When we see the grateful look in the eyes of our children and
adults alike as they realize that here is a Church that is interested
in them and not only in their money, we feel amply repaid for
our efforts.

The possibility for expansion here, as often also elsewhere,
is almost unlimited. Probably our rate of adult growth has been
retarded somewhat by the fact that the pastor doubles as a teacher,
but that does not decrease the potentialities.

Peace, Youngstown, Ohio
The Rev. R. H. King, Pastor

In 1946 the three Lutheran churches of the Missouri Synod
located in Youngstown, Ohio, and in Warren, Ohio, decided to begin
a Lutheran church in the interest of Negroes in Youngstown.

They therefore asked for a student to begin the work. Robert
Haertel of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was chosen and_ began
in January, 1946. By the grace of God he was successful in effecting
an organization from several Bible classes which he held in homes.
He labored faithfully and successfully in this field for about a year.
Donald Ryding, also of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, succeeded
Robert Haertel. He stayed with the mission from 1947 to 1948.
Then the writer of these paragraphs, a student of Immanuel Lu-
theran College, Greensboro, N.C., came and labored for three
months. William Griffin, also of Immanuel Lutheran College, fol-
lowed and worked for nine months until June 19, 1949.

Upon his graduation, Candidate King was called as the first
pastor of Peace Lutheran Mission. He was ordained and installed
on June 19, 1949. We started with six baptized members. Now
we have an organized congregation. There are 31 communicants
and 56 souls. The congregation was organized May 14, 1950.

The physical property of the congregation comprises an acre
lot and a chapel with a seating capacity of about 75. It is equipped
with an altar, pulpit, lectern, baptismal font, chairs, piano, sixty
hymnals, gas furnace and blower, fluorescent lights, and adequate
water and toilet facilities. The property was acquired with the help
of a loan of $3,000 from the Missionary Board, a donation of $2,000
from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of the Central
District, and donations from friends in cash and labor. Much of
the equipment was given by members of other congregations. The
estimated value of the property now exceeds $7,000.

On February 5, 1950, a mission was started on the south side
of the city. It was called Ebenezer Lutheran Mission. Services
were held in the home of one of the members. Three boys, three
girls, and three adults, who were not members of any church,
attended the services. The three little girls were baptized, and
one of the adults took instructions. It became evident that at
present there was too much to do in the parish of Peace Congrega-
tion, and it was decided to discontinue temporarily in the south