# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1958_S76
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

76 Proceedings of the Forty-fifth Convention

High School badly in this area. Many of our children would be-
come preachers and teachers if we could keep them long enough.
We might add that the Parent-Teacher Association has been quite
active this year. The organization presented the school with $559
with which to-paint the classrooms.

The Ladies’ Aid, the Altar Guild, and the Walther League have
also been busy. Each organization has a project. We are happy
to say that it will not be long before our congregation may declare
itself “SELF-SUPPORTING.” May God continue to guide us!
We pray that many more souls will be added to His kingdom
through Bethlehem. We ask the prayers of our brethren as we
prepare to celebrate our 70th anniversary.

THEODORE W. Cooper, Pastor
Concordia, New Orleans, La.

Concordia Congregation numbers some 125 souls. We are
happy to report that the services for the last six months have been
well attended. We might add that a number of persons within the
congregation have shown a growing interest in the work that has
to be done. The undersigned has served as pastor of Concordia for
the past seven months and it has been a pleasure. God has blessed
the congregation to receive a loan from the Missionary Board for
the sum of $24,000. This money will enable the congregation to
build a much needed house of worship. The congregation will also
receive the services of a vicar for one year.

There is much to be done at Concordia. This could only be
done if the congregation had a full-time worker. We are happy and
we thank God that a vicar has been assigned to this field. The
field is white unto harvest. We feel sure that the Lord will guide
the work as He has in the past. We are also confident that with
a new building and a vicar who will be able to go around daily
and “COMPEL THEM TO COME IN,” much will be accomplished.
The congregation has received many memorials from friends and
congregations who loved Pastor Kramer. All of this will enable the
congregation to carry on in its fight to spread the Word of God.
May God continue these blessings. The church will need pews
and other furnishings. We feel that many will want to help. Two
adults have been received into membership in the past two months.
We hope that this will continue. Please pray for us. We build in
the name of the Lord. TuHEopoRE W. Coorer, Pastor

Calvary, Baton Rouge, La.

During the years 1956—1957 we experienced no sizable increase
in membership. There were during this period 3 baptisms among
children and 1 adult confirmation for a total gain of 4 members.
This brought our total from 29 to 33. At present we have a total
membership of 38, of which 25 are communicants.

Other blessings coming to us during this period included the
gift of several pews (10), which we have substituted for the old
ones we had. The congregation also purchased a piano during this
period. Just recently the frame end of our chapel was painted
by the members themselves.

During this period the congregation also saw fit to raise its
portion of the pastor’s salary from $15 to $25. This became effective
in May of 1958.