# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1954_S132
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

182 Proceedings of the Forty-Third Convention,

municant membership through our day school and Sunday school.
This has been slow, since our day school is small. At present we
are conducting a campaign to go out into every home that will
accept us in the community for Bible classes. Matt. 28: 19. This
has brought amazing results. What such a program will lead to,
only the Lord can tell. Our communicants have already increased
from 49 to 60, and we now have fifteen adults in our Bible class,
whom we hope soon to confirm. Our contributions have also in-
creased. In 1948 the congregation contributed $30 a month toward
the pastor’s salary. Today the members give $45. We have $1,000
in our building fund. Our plans are to build a more adequate
church building, which we need very much. C. L. GRAEBER

Peace, Maplesville, Ala.

Peace Congregation was originally a rural church located two
miles out of Maplesville. All the members moved away except
three; there were no prospects for the growth of the congregation
in this area; the building was sorely in need of repair. Finally it
was decided to move into Maplesville, but we did not know how
we would be able to buy land on which to build. Supt. Ellwanger
called on a leading citizen of the town, Dr. Nix, and talked with
him about our problem. The result of this visit was that Dr. Nix
presented the congregation with a very desirable plot of ground
on the hill overlooking the town. For five years we held our Sun-
day school and our church services under an oak tree on this
plot of ground, but today, by the prayers and gifts of friends and
by the faithful help of our superintendent, we have a beautiful
chapel, which was dedicated on April 25, We have good prospects
for growth in membership. It is our plan to have Bible classes
in the homes of this village for the purpose of carrying out our
Lord’s command. ' CC. L. Grarper

St. John’s, Joffre, Ala.

St. John’s is strictly a rural congregation, and is located seven
miles from our Bethlehem Congregation at Holy Ark. Nearly all
the young people have left the community for residence in larger
centers, Since it is our plan to build a church at Holy Ark on
a new site which will be nearer to St. J ohn’s, the members of the
congregation have decided to consolidate with Holy Ark Congre-
gation. C. L. GRAEBER

Trinity, Selma, Ala.

Pastor: Wm. H. Griffen Teachers: Mrs. Emma Hunt e
Miss Wincie Jackson
Mrs. M. Johnson

Trinity Congregation is located in Selma, the county seat of
Dallas County. It was organized in 1922 in a dwelling house at
825 First Ave., which house also served as the first classrooms for
the Alabama Lutheran Academy, founded in the same year. For
twenty-nine years the congregation has had its services in the
chapel of the Academy, where we worship with the students. Seats
are usually at a premium in the Sunday morning services.

The present pastor has been with the congregation since July,
1952. He succeeded the Rev. R. F. Jenkins. During the past five
years, 80 children have been baptized and 30 have been confirmed.