Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 69

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Ev, Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1950 69

during these years, brought under the influence of God’s Word at
this place. Despite faithful work and an expenditure of many
thousands of dollars the visible results after nine years were not
impressive. This was due, no doubt, to two major factors. The
_- one was the lack of facilities —a dilapidated store front, the only
_ thing available, and rented at a very high cost, was the place where
the work was conducted until the fall of 1947. The other major
factor contributing to the non-development of this work was the
continual change of personnel; in nine years no less than eight
missionaries were in charge of the work.

As a result of these and.perhaps other unfavorable factors,
only twelve of the present communicant membership were mem-
bers when the undersigned took over the work in September, 1947.

In the spring of 1949, lots were purchased at the corner of Lake
Park Avenue and 37th Street. On November 13, 1949, a church,
designed by Architect Charles Stade and built by his father, Christ
. Stade, the head of the Stade Construction Company, was dedicated.

With the prospect of more stability, the mission — now known
as the Lutheran Church of Christ the King — enjoyed a slow but
steady growth from 1947 to 1949. The dedication of the new church
opened up a new and all but limitless harvest in this fruitful field.
At this writing the communicant membership of the congregation
totals 64, the baptized membership 165. During January, 1950,
33 children were baptized. Nine more were baptized on Easter
Sunday at vespers. Another group of children will, D.v., be bap-
tized soon. In April, 13 adults were received into communicant
membership. About 25 adults are at this writing receiving instruc-
tion. The average total Sunday attendance at worship is at this
time about 120. The Sunday school enrollment is 118. Seventeen
adults attend the Sunday morning adult Bible class. __

A permanent pastor is being called to this parish. Some time
after his arrival the missionary will move farther south on Chi-
cago’s South Side to another promising field, Princeton Park, where
ground work has already been done. ANDREW SCHULZE, Pastor

THE NORTHWEST DISTRICT
By the Rev. Emil G. Jaech, Chairman of Mission Committee

In recent years, particularly during the war years, the Negro
population in the Northwest has been increasing. This is especially
true in the larger cities, such as Seattle, Portland, Tacoma, and
Spokane. By way of example, in 1940 Seattle had less than 4,000
Negroes, while today it has approximately 15,000.

Our Lutheran Church has not attempted to work among the
Negroes in this area. A few of our congregations have a family
or two in their membership, usually received by transfer from
some other part of the country. Some of our Sunday schools have
a few Negro children attending. With the exception of Trinity
Church in Seattle, our congregations are not located in the areas
where the Negroes live, and the District has not felt justified in
using mission funds for a Negro mission when there are still many
larger areas without a Lutheran church. As the Negro population
increases, however, we must not fail to open missions among them.

At present the Lord is giving us a splendid opportunity to make
a beginning. Our oldest Seattle congregation, Trinity, is relocating.