Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 50

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50 Proceedings of the Forty-First Convention,

In this area is also a prospective outlet for Lutheran teaching.
Repton, 14 miles from Evergreen, was visited by the superintendent
of the Gulf Coast. 22 attended the night session, of which 14 were
adults. The reception was a good one. Those present desire
a Bible school and also a Sunday school.

Hospital Work on the Gulf Coast

Hospital work is carried on in the Mobile area. Some years
ago, in 1941, work was voluntarily carried on in the Mobile
Infirmary, the Marine Hospital, the Convalescent Home, and the
Old Folks’ Home. This work has continued without interruption
to the present time. The work is conducted by Pastor Jones
(serving the Old Folks’ Home and the Convalescent Home) and
by Pastor Dominick (serving the Mobile Infirmary and the Marine
Hospital). Many contacts are being made weekly. One cannot
value the great good done to the many patients who are brought
the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who would not otherwise know it.
Pastor Dominick gives the following report of the work under his
jurisdiction:

“For at least three hours weekly the lost and the backsliders
are sought, and the neglected may take advantage of the pastor’s
visitations.

“The lost are invited to come to Jesus. The wayward are urged
to return unto Him who smites, but who also heals. Sunday school
leaflets are distributed as well as the Missionary Lutheran. This
literature is taken home by those who get better, and it is highly
prized by the children and adults everywhere. One of the girls
who is employed at the hospital always asks for a leafiet with a song
and notes. When asked why, she said, ‘We use them in our choir.’

“Names of prospects are filed away; and, as time permits, those
in the locality of our churches are looked up. Scores of copies of
the Missionary Lutheran are sent out monthly by Faith Congre-
gation to prospects scattered here and there. Thus several have
been saved, and others have been reclaimed by the Church.

“Bere is an old man who left the Church 25 years ago. He
appreciated the words urging him to return unto the Lord accord-
ing to God’s way — repentance and faith — and the good news that
the Lord will under no circumstances cast out such as come to Him.
John 6:37: ‘Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.’

“Here is a woman patient smoking a cigarette. As the pastor
reaches for his literature, she deftly hides the cigarette and then
listens. She has been out of Church for four years.

“Who is your pastor?’ a man is asked.— T don’t have a
pastor,’ comes the reply.— ‘Never had one?’ — ‘No.’ — Then Mark
1:14-15, all about the kingdom of grace and truth, and how to get
into that kingdom.

“In this room is a man who left the Church a year ago.

“Down the hall is another who left during the days of the
depression, the early thirties. — “What happened?’ asked the
pastor. — ‘Well, Rev., the pastor wanted to make the impossible
possible. He wanted to tax all the men $15 and all the women $10
for a rally. That meant $25 for my family. But I was working on
the WPA, making $13 every two weeks. When he posted the names