Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 71

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Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1950 71

publicity gained through the attractive program of the Interracial
Vacation Bible School (Zion Lutheran co-operation) and the visual
aids used in Sunday school; also because of the foothold gained
in Berkeley. ‘
San Francisco and Its Future

The most promising mission field in the Bay region, however,
is to be found in San Francisco. In 1945 Pastor J. Johnson assisted
the pastor in canvassing the Fillmore District intensively. Since
this district was overchurched, a spot canvass was made near
Hunter’s Point. Half of the people contacted were unchurched.
Only two churches were ready to serve 11,500 people. Three more
have come into the district, but haven’t even scratched the surface.
Pastors J. Johnson and H. Ottemoeller each spent a year in San
Francisco with little success because of the impossibility of finding
a meeting place. To remedy this situation, the Missionary Board
bought a piece of property for about $4,000 in 1946. The Board
set aside a grant of $10,000 for a building recently. $1,500 has been
gathered by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of the
District (California and Nevada) to furnish the chapel. A pastor
is being called to serve full time in San Francisco. That such
a worker is needed is evidenced by the fact that 30 people from
San Francisco were in the Oakland church on Easter morning.
(Transportation costs cut this down to a weekly average of six.)
At present five adults are being instructed in three homes, which
will yield 11 children for the Sunday school. With a building,
a good program, and an energetic worker our San Francisco mission
will grow very rapidly. CHARLES CLINE, Pastor

THE MINNESOTA DISTRICT (Wisconsin Synod)

St. Philip’s, Minneapolis, Minn.
The Rev. Julian G, Anderson, Pastor

In 1946 a survey was made by some returned Lutheran service-
men in the south town area of Minneapolis under the direction
of the Rev. Roman Palmer, and a promising field was indicated for
work among the Negroes occupying this section. Soon plans were
drawn up and two lots purchased for building purposes. On
October 31, 1948, the chapel for which the Missionary Board had
advanced the funds was dedicated to the service of the Triune God.

Pastor Anderson has worked faithfully in order to organize
a congregation. During the summer of 1949 he conducted a vacation
Bible school. This school served to deepen the interest and loyalty
to St. Philip’s on the part of the present membership. Pastor
Anderson wrote the Missionary Board about the school. He said:
“We had originally planned for a crowd of about 20 to 30; however,
the Lord blessed us far beyond our fondest dreams. He sent us,
72 children to whom we could teach the Word of God. At the
closing exercises 68 children and 38 parents were present.”

The statistical report for the year 1949 reads as follows:

Baptized Members ........-2---222.--2---c-e-e-cececeeeceeeeeeeeee reece 8
Communicant Members 5
Voting Members ............ 2
Vacation Bible School 72
Adults Confirmed ....2.0..2--2.--.---- 4

Contributions and Collections ......0W......--..-. $ 188.77
Total Amount Used for Home Purposes ...............-.-.--- 1,507.86