The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Page 6

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6 THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

they were not looked up and invited to attend our
services. Then, environment is so different in the
city, and the allurements are’so enticing, that many
are not strong enough to withstand the temptation
to turn their backs upon their church., In my visits
I found a number of families whose pastors back
home seem not to have notified the proper persons
in the city of the fact that they had left their homes
to make a livelihood in the big city and with whom
the city church therefore- made no contact. We
know full well that these families should have
looked up their church in the city and made them-
selves known; but we also know that many will
not do this, and for this reason we should do what
we can to keep them with their Church... .
“What we need is a church-building, and we
need it badly. At present we are worshiping in
a vacant salesroom. While this room serves us quite
well, it is no church. A real church would prob-
ably invite double the number of worshipers we
have at present. Then, too, our present place of
worship is for sale, and if a purchaser should be
found, it would be a calamity for our little flock,
since in the whole territory not another place could
be found. “The King’s business requireth haste!’ ”
When we heard these facts stated by our mis-
sionary, we thought of the many other places in
our country where very similar conditions prevail.
Our rapidly growing industrial centers with their
many suburbs are a serious challenge to our Church.
The rapidity with which many suburban commu-
nities are growing is simply amazing. If we do
“ not wish to lose our opportunities, we must follow
these people to these suburbs and help them to get
churches. It is only the truth when we say that our
large cities with their suburbs have become our
_ most promising home mission fields. Our rapidly
_ growing industrial centers present the greatest mis-
 sionary opportunities. Our Church has no more
serious task before it to-day than the spiritual con-
quest of its industrial centers. The evangelization
of these cities, which have not within their borders
sufficient resources to supply their own spiritual
_ needs, is the supreme missionary task of the Church.
; 5 FJ. L.

Our Buffalo Colored Mission.

‘ The following is taken from the report of the
resident of the Buffalo Hospice Society, under
1 auspices Superintendent Wind is conducting

superintendent the statistics of this mission ought
properly to be included in this review.

“The worship of this little flock, which has
adopted the name of The Lutheran Church of Our
Savior, is still conducted in the building at Jeffer-
son and Woodlawn Aves. Here fifty-seven services
were conducted and fifty-one Sunday-school sessions
were held. The average attendance at services was
twenty-five people. The Sunday-school at the
present time has an enrolment of fifty-five pupils.
Thirty-five Saturday-school sessions were held.
This school has an enrolment of twenty. During
the summer months eight sessions of the vacation
school were held. Twenty-six Bible classes were
conducted in the course of the year.

“Mr. Dominick, the student pastor at the mis-
sion, visited 485 homes of colored people in this
section and interviewed 496 people.

“Fight children and adults were baptized in the
mission, and four were confirmed. Thirty-two
people communed. The mission now has a mem-
bership of twenty-eight baptized and confirmed
members. There is active social life among the
members of the congregation. A flourishing ladies’
aid society is maintained, which met fourteen times
during the year. Three meetings of the Sewing
Circle, sixteen meetings of the Girls’ Club, and nine
meetings of the Junior Guild complete the cycle of
meetings. There were eight entertainments and
socials, which were well attended, and special pro-
grams were rendered by the Sunday-school on Good
Friday, Easter, Christmas, Parents’ Day, Children’s
Day, Reformation Festival, and on the occasion of

_the installation of Mr. Dominick as student pastor.

“The prospects for the growth of this mission
are very good. A Chapel Fund was started in the
past year, which, we hope, will grow very rapidly.
The joint boards of the Buffalo congregations have
also taken steps to bring the needs of this mission
to the attention of the Church Extension Society.
We hope that the time will not be far distant when
the much-needed chapel for this mission will be
available.”

Immanuel Lutheran College Chronicle.

In November the engagement of Prof. Walter
H. Beck and Miss Ruth Smyre, a Greensboro Lu-
theran, was announced.

“I take pleasure in informing you that your
school has a rating of I—B,” a member of the State
Department of Education wrote on November 13.
This rating places Immanuel in the upper third