Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1958, Page 53

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Lutheran Synodical Conference, 1958 58

The way for more intensive mission work in the city of Bir-
mingham was opened to us last November when St. Paul’s Lutheran
Congregation of the American Lutheran Church invited us to come
and preach. This congregation had lost its pastor in May 1957.
In November, the Rev. Richard Fenske, deputy executive secre-
tary of the Board of American Missions, American Lutheran
Church, informed the undersigned that his board had decided not
to send another pastor to this congregation. He asked whether the
Synodical Conference would be interested in serving this congre-
gation and doing mission work in this area. Arrangements were
made for a meeting with the congregation. In agreement with the
representative of the American Lutheran mission board, we were
permitted to use the church and facilities. Upon invitation of the
group assembled, and following approval by the Missionary Board
of the Synodical Conference, the undersigned began preaching
services the first Sunday in Advent.

The next step in this new field consisted in reviewing funda-
mentals of Christian doctrine with individuals who were interested.
Particular stress was laid on our teachings on lodgery and on
unionism. On February 1, 1958, twenty-seven were received into
Synodical Conference membership by confession of faith, and our
first Communion service in St. Paul’s church was held. This num-
ber has now grown to forty and to the praise of the Triune God
the way has been opened for us to do more intensive mission work
in Birmingham.

The quarterly report of St. Paul’s for January, February, and
March is as follows:

Total church attendance: 773, average: 59

Total Sunday school attendance: 571, average: 44

Total offerings: $351.10

An indebtedness of $22,000 remains on the church and prop-
erty, which includes a parsonage. The church was dedicated in
1954 and is a well-planned structure located on a busy boulevard
in rich mission territory. The congregation is putting forth much
effort to raise $1,000 as a payment on the church, and with a loan
from the Church Extension Fund they look forward to taking title
to the church and property in December, when the option on
purchasing expires. The field missionary is now serving this con-
gregation. They hope soon to call a pastor.

In Montgomery, services are being held in rented quarters near
a housing project where 500 families.-have their home. Here preach-
ing services are conducted by a vicar, Littleton Beauford, with an
average attendance of 40. Sunday school has an average attendance
of 50. The kindergarten and a Christian day school, grades 1—4,
have a total enrollment of 90. In this capital city a site is to be
purchased and a church-school built as soon as a missionary is
available.

In the Gadsden-Ashville area, Rev. Simon Bodley has been
serving since June 1957. Gadsden is the fourth city in size in Ala-
bama. It has been a fast-growing city on account of thriving in-
dustrial plants. At present effort is being made to procure a desir-
able site for a church and school in a newly planned housing
project area. At Ashville, work has been begun on the foundation
for a church and school.