The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1920, Page 62

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62

The Lutheran Pioneer.

oir the part of our elder missions to return the money
which had been invested in their church property.
Of course, this could not continue without event-
ually having a serious effect upon the progress of
the work. So we concluded that, if possible, we
would relieve the Mission Board of the burden of
another such investment. At least, an attempt
~would be made. With the Lord as our leader and
main dependence, we set out to raise a Building
Fund, hoping and praying that “some day” these
small beginnings would bring forth the desired re-
sults. Pleasant have been our experiences in this
undertaking. The most pleasing was that this at-
tempt at no time became a discouragement to the
members of our congregation, but, on the contrary,
it stimulated in them a deeper interest in their
chureh. Yes, our special efforts in this work even
attracted the attention of others and helped to draw
them within sound of the saving Gospel. No one
notices an inactive congregation. Of course, we had
to make personal sacrifices, but instead of these
sacrifices becoming a burden, our pleasure in mak-
ing them grew as we noticed our little fund grow.
And here I feel it my duty publicly to commend the
faithful members of this congregation for their con-
tinuous and cheerful sacrificing for this cause with
nothing in sight from year to year but reports.
However, the difficulties arose when the time came
to buy. The first “red tape” was that we must be
an incorporated church-body before we could own

' tax-free property. So we incorporated, and the
Board of Trustees was made the purchasing com-
mittee. Then came the long search for the proper
place, and the examining of numerous particulars:
Now, we know that there is ground all over this
world, and plenty of it. But when it comes to
finding the proper piece on which to place a chapel
in a compact city like ours, and at the same time
keep within the bounds of a mission congregation’s
pocketbook, it takes some mighty good looking about.
However, the place has been found. An ideal place.
At least we think it is. And the price is very
reasonable. So, that, the “some day” for which we
hoped and prayed years ago is dawning. That is
the reason why we are so happy. And because we
know that it was the blessing of the Lord alone
which has made this possible, we are extremely
thankful to Him.

Of course, our task is not finished. We must
now work for the building. Encouraged by the
blessings which the good Lord has bestowed upon
“us, we shall go about this with renewed interest and

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consecration. And it may be that that other “some
day” will soon dawn, when we can again call upon
you to rejoice with us over the fact that we have
sewed the sleeves into the coat. God grant it!

Yes, it.is a mighty fine feeling which comes over
a mission congregation when it has accumulated
enough to buy its own church property. It is a
feeling which is not easily explained. It does not
come from the mere fact that one has a church-
home. We have a very comfortable place of worship,
and we are thankful for it. That feeling lies more
in the realization of work accomplished ; in the fact
that we can leave this much to the future genera-
tions; and, above all, in the satisfaction in erecting
such a monument to the glory of our merciful God.
Only if you have had’a like experience can you
appreciate fully our joy at this time. If you have
not had such an experience, let me advise you lo
begin the work now, thal “some day” you may have
a full measure of that splendid feeling. Start a
Building Fund, and let your congregation experience
that most blessed period in the life of anything,
namely, the period of growth; the period of struggle.
It is quite worth while. Yours does not necessarily
need to be a young congregation withoul a church-
home. It may be that your congregation is one of
those for which the Mission Board has invested in
real estate years ago. Would it not be well for you
to “some day” release that investment, giving the
compound interest of eternal gratitude? And is it
not time that an effort should be made to thal end,
however small it might be at the beginning? And
tf the Mission Board deems it wise to pul this re-
turned money into a Mission Building Fund, it may
be that “some day”, we will be able lo build new
chapels without having to invest money needed for
other purposes. W. O. Hi.

Items of Missionary Interest.

Brruany, Yonxers, N. Y. — Our. Bethany
Church, Yonkers, Pastor W. O. Hill, has bought
a building lot, 75 by 85, at Willow.and Cottage
Places, in that city. A chapel will be built on this
lot as soon as building material and labor wilh have
reached normal conditions. In this connection we
wish to call the attention of our readers to the
article of Rev. Hill in this issue. What a fine thing
it would be if all our colored congregations would
accept the suggestion of Pastor Hill! Grace,
St. Louis, intends to do so.