Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 55

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Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America, 1950 55

Rather than split and ruin the fine Sunday attendance by intro-
“ducing another Sunday service, St. Paul’s is planning on enlarging
the present church building. It is a problem since the present
church building is hemmed in by a neighbor’s fence on the one
side and by one of our buildings on the other side. To lengthen
the building would mar not only its outward, but also its inward
beauty. It would be a long and narrow church.

Since St. Paul’s has acquired the church and school buildings
(four in number), this congregation has spent much money for
paint and repairs, and many people who pass by our church prop-
erty remark that the buildings are kept up well. Within one year
St. Paul’s has spent more than $1,400 for paint and repair work.

The congregation has not had any fairs to raise money. All
_. moneys received — about $5,000 yearly—have been given freely

and out of love for the Savior and His work. Besides the money
for all painting and repair work, the congregation has also given
$150 annually for a needy student at Greensboro, N.C.; she has
paid all of the pastor’s salary, pastor’s house rent, telephone bills,
a portion of the car upkeep, and the congregation’s share toward
the Pension Fund. The congregation has also paid almost $400
yearly toward the salaries of the teachers. The congregation has
also contributed toward mission work to the extent of $200 and
more for the year.

There is life at St. Paul’s. The Holy Spirit has His work in
the hearts of many. For His gracious work we are very thankful
to Him. May He continue to cause His Word to prosper among us
and in our entire mission to His praise and glory alone!

The congregation now numbers 711 baptized members; 384 con-
firmed members; and 41 voting members.

Our Christian day school has an enrollment of 95 children.
They are taught by Mr. Herrington Rivers and Mrs. Mercedes
Vanderhorst. All of the children are well behaved and come to
our Sunday school regularly. About one third of the children in
our day school are Lutheran children.

We ask the Lord’s continued blessing on St. Paul’s and on all
our ‘congregations throughout the land.

E. H. Witperuse, Pastor
Mount Zion, New Orleans, La.

Under God’s benign providence 72-year-old Mount Zion Con-
gregation has in 1949 made a sharp turn toward self-support,
despite the shifting population of a growing city, more demolition
and rebuilding between S. Rampart and Claiborne, and the enlarged
Calliope project from Derbigny to Dorgenois.

The turn for Mount Zion seems to have been made when its
pastor inadvertently walked into an overhead sill in the school
basement, bringing on an abscess at the base of the brain and
a six-month vacation. In this emergency Pastors Kramer and Wild-
grube took over Sunday and midweek services, while members
rallied and brought increased contributions. Then the Missionary
Board supplied a vicar for three months in the person of student
Geo. R. Wyatt from Immanuel College, who organized a choir and
led in the purchase of a Hammond electric organ, $1,200, which
the congregation paid out by the end of the year, some individual
members giving musicals, etc., to raise extra funds.

Encouraged by the Lord’s blessings, the congregation resolved