Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 61

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Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1950 61

Our message and ways attract the coming generation, the more
educated. But the question is: “You have a message, but where
is your building?” Recently, one of our members took the pastor
home in his car. He also carried a couple with whom he had an
engagement. Later on, he advised: “Don’t send them a ‘Messenger.’
They are just waiting for the church. Sending a ‘Messenger’ might
do more harm than good right now. They don’t want to be pushed
into rented rooms.”

The Free Methodist mission has been thoroughly examined.
A long discussion with its director and his wife indicated that they
are very much discouraged with the slow work. They do have
about 60 children in school. Most of them get to church off and on,
but “we have only about three old women who come to service
beside the children — and many of those still belong to other de-
nominations — though we are gaining among them.” Other small
organizations have been examined. All experience the same
problem.

From our investigations it can be said that work will continue
to be slow as long as we have no building of our own. When we
do get one, it will be highly inadvisable to put one off the main
streets. This is the Free Methodist mistake. If at all possible,
a school should be started. It will be a drawing card and a feeder.

We have spent hours attempting to work out a vacation Bible
school, but space is difficult to find unless one desires to start some-
thing far away from our present location, in a shack. The housing
project, recently started, has wiped out hundreds of homes, and
all vacant space is at a premium. We attempted religious instruc-
tion at the Day Nursery, in which we are holding services, but
the children were too small to work with at all. We discussed the
matter again with the director. She now has the Nursery on its
feet and has set an age limit because she has more children than
her charter allows. So we intend to reinstitute work among the
children: shortly.

Obstacles to our growth were change of location and hour of
worship. For a year we have now been in one location. If we can
retain it until we build, we shall be very fortunate and entrench
ourselves more firmly in the community. Other obstacles were
the constant worry of the missionary about his own housing con-
ditions, which were most unstable until recently. If a chapel is built
on a main street in the colored community, it is our opinion, after
much study of the matter, that a parsonage be located near by.
It is definitely feasible and advisable for the welfare of our work.
A car — toward which the pastor is working now — will be a great
help. Occasionally a car has been available, and four times as much
work was accomplished with half as much strain. Our’ trolley
transportation is far from the best.

Despite the many handicaps, we have $238.91 in our building
fund and about $75 in our Sunday school treasury and some $5.00
in a special fund. We have paid our own way in everything but
pastor’s salary and rent. Toward his expense account Holy Cross
has contributed, in the past year and a half, $10 a month. From
$5.00 a month we have jumped to $24 a quarter to the Missionary
Board, plus mission-festival offerings. Our good Lord blessing us,
we hope to build in this area as He gives us strength and ability.
For this purpose your prayers are entreated.

Geo. C. Derwic, Pastor