Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 72

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72 Proceedings of the Forty-First Convention,

NEGRO MISSION WORK IN TEXAS
By the Rev. W. H. Bewie, Field Secretary

After one or two isolated attempts had been made among the
Negroes in Texas, it remained for Rev. R. Wiederaenders, at that
time pastor of a church at Bammel, in Harris County, to begin
a mission a few miles from his home. This was in 1938.

About the same time it was found that a few Lutheran Negroes
from Louisiana had moved to Houston. A mission was begun with
these Negroes as a nucleus. Several consecrated Houston laymen
banded together. Real estate was bought on Nagle Street, and
a chapel was erected. The man called to work in this area was
Rev. Lang. He then took charge also of the Negroes at Bammel.
When he resigned from the ministry, his brother, W. Lang, was
called. So far this was a private enterprise.

There had always been an interest in the Negroes of Texas
by our people, but the Texas District hesitated to enter the Negro
field, because it was felt that this was really the province of the
Synodical ‘Conference. But when it became apparent that the
Synodical Conference could not carry a heavier financial load,
certain members of the Texas District brought in an overture to
the District in 1945, petitioning that work among the Negroes be
undertaken by the District. The following resolutions were adopted
by the District:

“That the Texas District petition the Synodical Conference for
sanction to carry on mission work among the Negroes in Texas,
under the auspices of the Texas District Mission Board;

“That the Texas District include the Negro mission work in
its annual budget; °

“That the Texas District Mission Board request the Synodical
Conference to reimburse the Texas District with an annual sum
as deemed necessary.” ;

Thus it was that the work among the Negroes was undertaken
by the Texas District.

The mission at Houston, together with the group at Bammel,
was now taken over by the District Mission Board. By an under-
standing with the Missionary Board of the Synodical Conference
the latter subsidized the Houston mission to the amount of $50
a month.

Soon after this the mission at Bammel was removed to Acres
Homes, a suburb of Houston, populated entirely by Negroes. Lots
were purchased and a barracks building acquired, which was then .
converted into a chapel.

Holy Cross, the mission on Nagle Street in Houston, acquired
a parsonage and a school building. At Holy Cross a school is
being conducted and at Acres Homes a kindergarten. Statistics:
‘Holy Cross: Souls, 114; communicants, 61; Sunday school, 40; day
school, 30. Bammel: Souls, 36; communicants, 18; Sunday school, 6.

About the time the Texas District took over the Negro work,
a group of ladies of our Dallas churches petitioned the Mission
Board to begin a mission at Dallas, this being the city with the
second-largest group of Negroes. The Mission Board went to
work at once, but found it very difficult to get a worker. Finally
the Rev. P. J. Klenk, who had been pastor of the church at Olney
. for 35 years, was found willing to undertake the work in Dallas.