Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 84

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84 Proceedings of the Forty-First Convention,

work and that the Missionary Board would consider taking over
after work was under way. ;

The Lutheran Missionary Association followed the advice and
called a missionary to start the work for the Synodical Conference.
Pastor Paul Amt of New York accepted the call extended unto
him to start a Negro mission, Arriving in Fort Wayne, Pastor Amt
followed his policy of integrating the colored people into the white
congregations. The congregations of the Missionary Association
accepted the policy of the open door to the colored man. ,

This policy was tried for three years and still is in existence.
In addition to this policy the city and institutional missionary, who
took charge of the work after Pastor Amt accepted a call to another
field, organized a neighborhood Sunday school for all races. This
plan was blessed so that the Sunday school has outgrown its first
and second quarters. The Sunday school, which was started with
five, has grown to an average attendance of approximately 85 in
four months. The Sunday school has expanded to such an extent
that regular services are conducted in connection with the Sunday
school. An evening service has been started since the first Sunday
in May. The peak attendance for the evening service reached the
number 37. The peak for the morning service reached the num-

er 113. .

The crowded quarters have compelled the Lutheran Missionary
Association to look for a larger building. On May 31 it was decided
unanimously to buy a brick church for sale in the colored area
for this missionary project. This larger building certainly is needed
for worship and Sunday school. No effort has been spared, under
the direction of the city missionary, to launch out into this new
missionary venture. At present we are hampered by lack of space,
but as soon as the church is available for Sunday school and
worship, new territories will be explored.

The Missionary Association has also purchased a church bus
to provide transportation, which proved to be an excellent mis-
sionary aid.

With the help of God and the continued prayers of the Fort
Wayne Christians we hope to succeed in establishing a church for
all races. May God bless this effort!

Good Shepherd, Gary, Ind.
The Rev. E. Robinson, Pastor

The history of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Gary, Ind.,
is very unique and begins with services held in Lake County T.B.
Hospital by the Rev. H. Vandre, who was institutional missionary
of the Calumet Region. While ministering to the patients of this
institution, Pastor Vandre became a very good friend of a Negro
from Gary. Having learned that Pastor Vandre was a Lutheran
pastor, this friend told of having met a Negro Lutheran living in
Gary. Contacts were quickly made, and a request for Lutheran
services was heard.

Pastor Vandre soon accepted a call to another field and was
replaced by the Rev. L. A. Kaufmann, whose call stipulated that
he investigate the possibilities of a mission in Gary among the
Negroes. A survey showed Gary a promising field, and on July 18,
1943, the first service was held in the real estate office of the friend.