Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 60

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60 Proceedings of the Forty-First Convention, |

for Sunday school, ladies’ aid, young people’s activities. Our chapel
measures 1833. With 50 Sunday school pupils divided into
three groups and housed in so small a space, our efforts are rather
noisy and sometimes just a little less effective; hence our greatest
physical need here at St. Philip’s is money for this necessary
addition. If we can get the funds, we believe that we can handle
the construction. Money for both materials and labor, however,
would be much better.

We feel that our prospects for the future are good, but our
efforts with the children must be more effective if we are to build
a solidly Lutheran congregation.

It might interest those concerned to_ know that the white
Baptists, the white Presbyterians, and the Catholics in and around
Jackson are “falling over backwards” in their missionary efforts
among the Negroes. And their efforts are paying off, at least in
numbers gained. It is not a good idea for us to let our efforts in
and around Jackson become stunted or die of neglect.

B. L. THompson, Pastor
Holy Cross, Shreveport, La.

The mission was begun as a preaching station by Pastor A. E.
Behrend of St. Paul’s about the fall of 1944, Services were held
at various hours during the week and at various places.

Noble assistance was rendered by Pastor Behrend’s congre-
gation, St. Paul’s, and certain members individually still take an
active and financial interest in our group. Pastor Behrend moved
to Ponca City, Okla., in January, 1949. A new pastor, Lothar Klein-
hans, is revamping the schedule of St. Paul’s, so that this congre-
gation is pretty well occupied with internal affairs. However, both
the pastor and individuals have promised that Holy Cross would
retain a place in their plans and soon again financial aid would be
forthcoming. One of the members regularly aids financially in
publicizing our services in a local journal. The local chapter of
the L. W.M.L. promoted a fund-raising project for the district
organization so that we could obtain $3,000 for a chapel. According
to recent information’ almost all of this money has been raised.

Our membership has grown from our original “six” to 12. We
have gained 17 persons and lost 24 by transfer, removal to parts
unknown, and a few by indifference. We have three adult cate-
chumens. Two marriages in one week recently promised members
for an adult class in the fall. Our latest catechumen was a promi-
nent member of the largest and oldest Baptist congregation in
Shreveport. She “dropped in.” She stayed. Now she testifies
eloquently to all regarding her present church affiliation.

This is important because not the least of our obstacles is
the fact that this is a Baptist stronghold — colored as well as white.
Opposition to such as attend our services is bitter. Gradually this
opposition is being worn down because of the testimony of our
members; our popular “Church Messengers”; our hospital calls
at the Pines T.B. Sanatorium—-and wherever our attention is
directed to a suffering soul; also by the fact that we go quietly
on, carrying on our program regardless of lack of numbers.

Shreveport is a difficult field. It is well churched, although
there is much dissatisfaction with present church organizations.
However, if we get our chapel in the near future, it is the confident
expectation of the pastor and others that we can and will grow.