The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Page 27

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

27

and praying with her, which gave her so much com-
fort and happiness. She often told us after you had
gone how much your words had cheered her.

“The most beautiful and thoughtful words
which you spoke at our dear mother’s funeral are
remembered by us all. Our family wishes to thank
you for your kind sympathy and for the service
shown us in our sad hour of bereavement.

“You will find enclosed a token for you, in ap-
preciation for your most valued services and kind-
ness to us.

“Again thanking you, we remain sincerely,

“THE RepDForD AND RoBerts Famity.”

0. W.L.

Open-Air Services in the Upper
Michigan Peninsula.

On June 17, 1928, the undersigned conducted
his initial outdoor service at Fort Wilkins, Mich.,
or Copper Harbor, as it is often called. This beauti-
ful summer resort, where many tourists camp for
months and where hundreds of cars are found every
Sunday, is approximately thirty-eight miles from
Laurium. A week before the first service I placed
many posters and placards throughout the park, an-
nouncing the service. On June 16 I also put two
paid advertisements in our local papers, announcing
the service and bidding the public a cordial welcome.

The first service was attended by over 200 people ;
more than half of these people were strangers to me.
My Walther League Girls’ Sextet rendered several
sacred selections. A violin solo and a vocal solo
were also given. The topic of the sermon was
“Jesus, the Friend of Sinners.” The pulpit from
which I preached (and which I used every Sunday
thereafter) is about 7 feet high and seven feet in
diameter. About 30 feet behind the pulpit is a
beautiful lake, while to the left, right, and in front
are various buildings which were formerly used by
the state militia. Park benches were used by the
greater part of the audience, while many people
remained in their cars, from where they could hear
every word of the sermon. Cars can drive right up
to the pulpit. After the service I announced that
the free-will offering would be used exclusively to
purchase tracts, Bibles, and religious literature,

which would be distributed free of charge to all —

people at the services and to such churchless people,
patients at our local hospitals, and others as the
pastor would meet on his missionary visits and calls.
The people contributed willingly and freely.

Ten services were conducted. The attendance
varied from 200 to over 600 people. We also had
congregational singing. I printed about 400 pro-
grams on my Rotospeed. On one side of the pro-
gram sheet I printed hymns, and on the other
I had various Bible-passages, information about
our church services, the Sunday-school, the summer-
school, and our church organizations. Vocal and
instrumental solos, duets, ete., were rendered. When
I would arrive at the park, many people, after seeing
me arrive, would assemble near the pulpit. Others.
would be notified by having the Sunday service pro-
gram handed to them by the ushers. In a very short
time a large audience could be seen near the pulpit.
The audience was very attentive. Many people even
remarked to me about the very good behavior and
conduct of the audience. Simple Gospel sermons
were delivered. Some of the topics were: “Jesus,
the only Savior,” “Salvation by Faith in Christ,”
“The Bible, the World’s Greatest Need,” “Why
I Am a Christian.”

Over 2,000 copies of the various books of the
New Testament in seventeen different languages
were distributed; over 3,000 religious tracts, plus
hundreds of programs made on my Rotospeed, were
always given away free. Many old volumes of the
Walther League Messenger were distributed.

Some readers of this article may say of the
undersigned: “Your service is too much like a re-
vival; it is too sectarian.” Some may state that it
is not “Missourian.” Whether you consider it Mis-
sourian or not, I believe it is “Christian.” What
does Jesus mean when He says, “Go! Preach!’?
Does He mean-that the pastor or the missionary is
to walk from the parsonage to the church or chapel,
have service there, and call it “a day’s work well
done”? No, Jesus wants His disciples to preach
God’s Word wherever and whenever they can do so
for the welfare of immortal souls and for the glory
of God. If my services at parks are looked upon as
“revivals,” would it not be a blessed thing for our
Church and for our Synod to encourage and sup-
port such revivals? If this were done, our com-
municant membership would not be only 676,000;
no, it would be more than doubled. You must admit
that many will be drawn to such services who cannot
be persuaded to come to a church service. If you
doubt this, just try it. What better church publicity
is there than such services? Advertise the Gospel,
preach it, and people will come to hear it. Our
Laurium church has experienced this blessed truth.
It is a common thing for us to have from 100 to 200
strangers at our Sunday evening services.