Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 85

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Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1950 85

of Pastor Vandre. Pastor Kaufmann officiated at this service, which
was attended by Pastor Vandre, five Negro Lutherans, and friends.

The congregation was organized January 3, 1946, with 33 mem-
bers. In October of the same year a call was extended to the writer
of these paragraphs to become the first resident pastor. On Febru-
ary 7, 1947, the installation services were held at Roosevelt High
School, opposite the church property which had been purchased
to erect a building.

The present membership includes 63 souls and 39 communicant
members. Six adults are now under instruction, with a few pros-
pects in view. Lutheranism is not too quickly accepted because of
the loose doctrine and lack of discipline in the other Protestant
churches.

In 1946 four lots were purchased with the aid of the Lutheran
Women’s Missionary League of the Central District. A small chapel
with a seating capacity of 120 was built on this site in 1948. Since
moving into our own place of worship, the attendance has doubled
in the number of strangers. Our church sign: “We Preach
a Changeless Christ to a Changing World,” has gained several
members and led others to ask questions.

There is great need here for a parochial school. Last year the
local newspapers took note of such a need and encouraged it. We
are handicapped here by the lack of equipment for a kindergarten
and a qualified teacher for this important position. Plans are under
consideration to establish a parish school.

The field is white unto harvest. There are more than 30,000
Negroes in this steel city, with more coming in every day. Many
new homes are being built, and new communities are developing,
We have reached out into some of these by canvasses, but on
account of poor transportation we have had little or no results.
At present we are exerting our efforts in the immediate vicinity
of the church.

Our Savior, Indianapolis, Ind.
The Rev. F. S, Falkenroth, Pastor

Negro mission work in Indianapolis was begun by Pastor Henry
Scheperle, our institutional missionary. He held Bible classes in
private homes.for some months. A few services were conducted
by him in the Phyllis Wheatley Y.W.C.A. When a Lutheran
lady came to Indianapolis from St. Louis, Mo., the Negro work
received an impetus. In 1939 the Federation of Lutheran Churches
of Indianapolis temporarily called Candidate Edwin Heckenberg.
The first Sunday school was conducted on November 12, 1939, in
a small grocery store. The attendance on opening day was 20 chil-
dren, and the offering was 54 cents. On December 17, 1939, the
first divine service was held in this store, which was 36 by 20 feet
in dimensions and which had a family living upstairs. Seven chil-
dren and eight adults were in attendance at this service. On
December 15, 1940, nine adults were confirmed, thus becoming the
first communicant members of the mission,

After Pastor Heckenberg accepted a call to California in
September, 1941, the Rev. F. S. Falkenroth was installed. On
April 12, 1942, the mission was organized and was given the name
“Our Savior‘Lutheran Church.” In August of that year an ideal