Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 76

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76 Proceedings of the Forty-First Convention,

children are ready for Baptism. A building would be conducive to
faster growth.

Total contributions for 1949 amounted to $400, excluding $500
in the building fund. From the day of dedication this mission paid
its current expenses, such as fuel for church and parsonage, tele-
phone, light, water, minor repairs, and a portion of the pastor’s
traveling expenses. G. S. Roserts, Pastor

Nashville, Tenn.

The Negro mission in Nashville began in December, 1948.
The mission consists of eight souls, two of these having been added
in 1949.

Total receipts for 1949 were $48. Contributions from the con-
gregation and the Mission Board pay the pastor’s traveling
expenses, G. S. Roserts, Pastor

St. John’s, Kansas City, Mo.

The work here was begun as early as 1934. Lutheran Negroes
from Mississippi formed the nucleus of the mission. At first serv-
ices were held in various homes. In March, 1946, the Rev. G. A.
Groerich of St. Louis was put in charge of the mission, and since
September, 1947, the Rev. J. T. Roschke has been taking care of
the work. In 1949 the Lutheran Mission Association of Kansas City
bought a two-story house in 2446 Benton Blvd. and remodeled
the lower floor into a chapel, the congregation contributing $1,000
toward the expense. Dedication of the chapel took place on
December 11, 1949. The congregation numbers 34 souls, 19 com-
municants, and 7 voters. The members contributed a total of

$293.86 for all purposes in 1949. J.T. Roscuxe, Pastor

THE KANSAS DISTRICT
By the Rev. A. F. Meyer, Executive Secretary

In the summer of 1945 a missionary survey was made of north-
eastern Kansas City, Kans., under the leadership of the District
Mission Committee. The purpose of the canvass was to establish
the need for a Lutheran church among the large number of Negroes
living in this area. The favorable outcome of this survey caused
the Mission Committee seriously to consider the beginning of
a missionary project.

Step number one was to present a resolution to the District
Convention assembled at Winfield, Kans., in 1946 to the effect:
“That the Kansas District finance the erection of a Negro mission
chapel in Kansas City, Kans., and designate the Lenten season of
1947 for the ingathering of the funds.” This resolution, presented
by the Board of Directors of the District, received the wholehearted
approval of the assembled convention. During the Lenten season
of 1947 and since that time, approximately $15,000 has been gathered
for this purpose.

In the meantime the Mission Committee, in conjunction with
the Lutheran Missionary Board, proceeded to arrange for the call-
ing of a missionary for this field. In the summer of 1948 the Lord
led the Rev. Martin Nees, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church,
Denver, Colo., to accept the call. From here on we will let Pastor
Nees tell the story: ,