The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1927, Sheet 181

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

11S

people offer objections, it will be best to do all one
can not to be side-tracked by entering into an argu-
ment with them. State the facts. Prove the facts
from Scripture. By your arguments you may show
your brilliancy of mind, but the chances are that
your arguments will not open, but rather close, the
heart of him whom you would win for Jesus. Paul
wrote to the Ephesians that the “sword of the
Spirit” is “the Word of God.” It is such still
to-day. Meet the objections presented with a verse
of Scripture; drive home your presentation of facts
and your appeal with the Bible.

These last remarks bring us to the mental
equipment of the personal worker. He who would
bring people to the Savior ought to have a knowl-
edge of Christian doctrine, of course. This every
Lutheran has acquired before his confirmation. To
this should be added a selection of Bible verses
which will enable him to meet the objections of the
children of the world. Outright unbelievers and
skeptics will have objections which the indifferent,
thoughtless, and pleasure-loving will not offer. The
self-righteous, who feel no need of a Savior, will
have things to say which will not enter the minds
of those in doubt and perplexity. The personal
evangelist should have Bible verses at hand to
answer those who say that they are kept from
church by the lives of some professing Christians
or by the fear that they might not prove faithful.
Scripture should be at hand to answer the man who
admits the need of coming to Christ, but feels that
he need not be in a hurry. So, too, the personal
worker should be able to answer from the Bible the
man who thinks that he does not need the Church,
but can be a good Christian without being a member.
The Word of God also has passages that are adapted
to the needs of those who have backslidden. A little
study of our Catechism with its rich store of Bible-
texts will furnish the soul-winner with a verse to
meet practically any objection that may be offered.

F. J. 1.

St. Philip’s Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Chicago, III.

God’s kindness to St. Philip’s at Chicago has
been unbounded during the year 192%. God has
blessed the untiring efforts of Pastor Carter to such
an extent that our membership has shown a mar-
velous increase. Altogether, twenty-six adults were
confirmed, seventeen persons were baptized (five
of those baptized were also confirmed), and seven
have been accepted by letter of transfer.

\

XN

We had two confirmation classes this year, a.
spring class and a fall class. Our spring class was.
confirmed on Palm Sunday. Our little church was.
quite filled with members and friends. <A gorgeous.
array of flowers helped to enhance the beauty and
solemnity of the occasion. The firm, unwavering
responses of the confirmands, the happy satisfac-
tion that radiated from their countenances, con--
‘vinced the most skeptical that here indeed was a
group of people who had dedicated themselves to-
abide by the pure Word, to remain steadfast in.
the faith.

Our fall class was confirmed on October 16..
This day was the first anniversary of our work in
this edifice; it also commemorated the fiftieth
anniversary of Lutheran work among Negroes in
the United States. On this occasion every available-
seat was occupied, and still there seemed scarcely
enough room to accommodate the assemblage.
A list of the confirmed follows : —

Misses Odessa Cave and Ruth Trevan; Mes--
dames Margaret S. Chase, Laura B. Brooks, Beatrice-
H. Willis, Nettye Irene Bekedam, Hilda Bass,
Wanda May Stubbins, Nettye Walcott Sanders,
Grace Luella Stevens, Sarah J. Clark, Eloise-
Frances Cole, Hazel Louise Johnson, Florence
Watson.

Baptized: Mr. Kirk Garrett,* Misses Odessa.
Cave,* Ruth Trevan,* Alice Brooks, Mabel Rivers,.
Mrs. Hazel Johnson,* Mr. Robert Stubbins,* Jewel
Cave, Mary Jane Watson, Dora Grace Walker,.
St. Clair Clement, Cornelius A. Charles, Winifred
Jane Cole, Eloise Elaine Cole, Andrea Ruth John--
son, Josephine Carrington, Vernon Carrington, and.
Gladys Wilson.

Received by letter: Miss Wilma Towles, Mes-
dames Leona Charles, Emma Daly, Gladys Everett,.
and Rebecca Gullet; Messrs. Edgar Charles, Thomas.
Peters, and Leonidas Tervalon.

During this year we have given one hundred.
and ninety-two individual communions.

We have had two burials this year: Mr. Kirk:
Garrett, who was confirmed in spring, and Miss-
Wilma Towles, recently received by letter.

Finances. — Sunday-school collections: First.
quarter, $24.37; second quarter, 23.93; third quar--
ter, 20.56; month of October, 8.18. Total, $77.04.
Church collections: First quarter, $262.96; second
quarter, 229.39; third quarter, 175.04; month of
October, 99.44. Total, $766.83. Total collection.
for both church and Sunday-school, $843.87.

* Also confirmed.