Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1958, Page 57

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Lutheran Synodical Conference, 1958 57

But it’s like ringing the bell. People are coming to see. We
know that they will find more than they are looking for — the pearl
of great price—and something they are not looking for — the
treasure hid in the field.

Hospital work netted one adult, who died and was buried, and
much publicity for the church. A. Dominick

Bethel, Point Clear, Ala.

Pastor: A. Dominick Teacher: Miss Katie Ghaskin

Year organized — 1951 (Dec. 30)
Baptized membership, end of ’57 73

Communicants enna _ 29
Voters _..__..-.--- 8
Pupils in Christian day school 16
Pupils in Sunday school ...... 40
* Baptisms (* ’56: 6) —~.... 3
* Confirmations (* °56: 3) _ 1
Comme annie nee eee 236
Midweek Bible instruction average attendance 22
Total offerings, excluding tuition $1,007.14
Disbursed for missions and education ........... 218.80

Bethel, a rural congregation, is holding her own. Church
attendance is good, averaging 45. The average Communion attend-
ance is 8. Offerings are good under the circumstances. About
22 per cent of the income goes for missions and education. The
congregation is paying its building debt regularly.

The school for the present is small, but will increase. The
policy is firm, pointing parents to the altar for their children at the
outset. If they are not interested, they are not enrolled. And by
and large, the people in the community are not interested in the
Lutheran Church. Why let them get all the advantages of our
day schools, and when their children will have gone as far as they
can, then they forsake the church? Or still not even join? — Many
little children within the church will be attending soon.

We do not want to bend over backward, but are looking for
mission opportunities in the community. But the masses are not in
the rurals. They are in the cities.

Brethren, pray for us! A. Dominick

Concordia, Montrose, Ala.
Pastor: A. Dominick Teacher; Miss Thelma Flowers

Year orgamized enna eee eee een 1931
Baptized membership, end of ’57 - a . 137
Communicants —.. . 7
Voters oe 28
Pupils in Christian day school .. 32
Pupils in Sunday school —.... eee 52
* Baptisms (* ’56: 2, plus 1 request of parent) ... 4
* Confirmations (*’56: 3 children, 5 adults) —... 8
Communed, 757 oe a 280
Midweek Bible instruction average attendance .- _ 18
Total offerings, excluding tuition, ’57 wn $1,257.54

Disbursed for missions and education —................... 300.14

Like so many rural churches, Concordia has members scat-
tered hither and yon, more than 40 per cent of the communicant
membership being away. Some are at points north, with only a few