# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1954_S150
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

150 Proceedings of the Forty-Third Convention,

of a house located at 1129 Pierre Avenue. They had as their visit-
ing pastor the Rev. Lothar Kleinhans, who had taken them into
his charge.

The three adult members gave the new pastor a hearty wel-
come and said they were very happy to have him in their midst.
Even though many of the other members had strayed away from
the mission, one could readily see that the faith of the remaining
few was firm and could not be easily shaken. God had already
answered their prayers for a church building. The Missionary
Board had come to their aid with the purchase of a funeral home,
which was remodeled into a church building.

The little flock continued to worship in the house on Pierre
Avenue, and the new pastor began the task of seeking the members
who had strayed away from the mission, and of informing others
of his arrival. At first they were very slow in coming out to the
services. The Lutheran mission was not yet too well known by
the citizens of Shreveport. Realizing that more advertising was
needed, and with the advice of Pastor Kramer, the pastor began
a door-to-door canvass, which he is still carrying on in the interest
of the mission.

In December of 1952 our new chapel was completed. It is
somewhat small, seating only about 40 people comfortably. We
moved in. The chapel was empty. The Missionary Board had given
us only the building; we were to supply the rest. This we joyfully
did. On the 21st day of December, 1952, the undersigned was in-
stalled as the new pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The
members rejoiced greatly. At last they had a place of worship
to call their own and a regular pastor to attend to their spirit-
ual needs,

There is no school at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. However,
there is room for one, as the building is large enough to accom-
modate a school. If a grammar school could be established here,
the congregation would grow rapidly, as the Negro citizens of
Shreveport are very much dissatisfied with the overcrowded con-
ditions of the public grammar schools here. Many have long hoped
for a grammar school with religious instruction, such as the Lu-
therans are capable of giving to their children.

As we have already stated, the property of Holy Cross Lu-
theran Church in Shreveport was purchased by the Missionary
Board of the Lutheran Synodical Conference. Although the chapel
is completed, the rest of the building is not. This work has already
been favorably approved of by the Missionary Board and should
begin sometime in the near future.

The membership of Holy Cross Lutheran Church has now
reached the total of 36 baptized members and 14 communicant
members. The attendance at regular services during the present
new year is wonderful compared with what it was when we first
arrived in Shreveport. The flock has been gathered together again.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church is beginning to grow. The Negro
residents of Shreveport are watching its progress with keen in-
terest. Much of its success will depend, next to God, upon the
pastor and members as a whole, who are working hard to bring
the people who are sitting in darkness to the marvelous light of
the Gospel. Artuur N. Jackson, Pastor