The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Page 41

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

41

had your child been baptized yesterday, because
then you could be sure that its sins are forgiven and
that it is God’s child; for through Baptism God
would have kindled faith in Jesus in her heart.”
Mary was very disappointed.

Weeks and months had passed since little Nellie
had been ‘christened’ and since Mary had been so
terribly disappointed. But Mary did not quit
visiting her neighbor. She remanied Selina’s friend
in spite of the sore disappointment. One day, to
Mary’s great surprise, Selina came to visit her. It
was late one Saturday afternoon, and Mary’s hus-
band was home from work. Mary did not have to
wait long to find out why Selina had come.

“Mary,” Selina began after talking a few
minutes about other things, “Mary, I came to speak
to you about little Nellie. I have had no peace since
that day on which you reminded me that I had set
Jesus’ command aside. Mary, I came to tell you
that I want to do Jesus’ will. I and my husband
have decided to let little Nellie be baptized to-
morrow by your pastor. O Mary, I am almost
ashamed to ask this, but would you and your hus-
band please be the sponsors for little Nellie? I know
I could find none better.”

With a beaming face Mary placed her hands
around Selina and joyfully exclaimed: “Thanks be
to God, who has led you to do what is the Savior’s
will! Selina, my husband and I shall be delighted
to be the sponsors for little Nellie. God be praised
for His wonderful guidance in this matter!”

So it came about that little Nellie was baptized
in the Lutheran Church the next day to the joy of
her parents, but to the greater joy of Mary and the
angels in heaven. ;

a a co

The above actually happened in one of our
colored Lutheran churches in Louisiana. Does not
this story again show you that our work is not in
vain in the Lord? Every soul that is won for
Jesus becomes a missionary. Think now how many
missionaries we already have among the colored
people. All glory and praise to God!

E. H. WILpGRUBE.

A Paying Home Mission Investment.

The writer recently heard of a little, struggling
church whose history is a remarkable proof of the
truth that God can do great things with insignif-
This church is situated in a little
inland village, nine miles from the nearest railroad
station and eighteen miles from the county-seat. It

has never had a membership exceeding thirty com-
municants; at this time it has only twenty-one.
Ordinarily the pastor living in the county-seat
comes once a month to-conduct a service, and often
this service is held in the afternoon. But though
services can be held only once a month, the pastor’s
message has left a deep impress upon the people
and exerted a wholesome, blessed influence on them.

Of John the Baptist we read that he told his
disciples one day: “He [Jesus] must increase, but
I must decrease.” Thus is it also with this little
congregation. While its membership has decreased,
the kingdom of God has increased by virtue of the
life that has gone out from this little flock. This
congregation has furnished three foreign mis-
sionaries and has given no fewer than five ministers
to congregations in the homeland. Each one of these
eight workers in the Lord’s vineyard has had a fruit-
ful and useful ministry, and the life and work of
each has made a positively constructive contribution
to the work of the Church. Qj

This church has not only poured its life into the
Church, but it has also made its contributions in
money for the extension of the Lord’s kingdom.
It has always given in regular amounts through the
budget of the church to her causes, and recently an
elder of the little congregation made a generous gift
of ten thousand dollars to the missionary causes of
the Church. Have we not here a mighty testimonial
to the great value of the Home Mission work of
the Church ? Pe

The father and mother of three of the workers
that have gone out from this little congregation are
still living — the father in his eighty-first year —
and are seeing for themselves the blessings of the
work to which they have given the lives of their sons
and a good share of their money.

_ This church has also sent its sons and daughters
into various churches far and near. The church at
the county-seat, a strong church, received not a few
of its best members from this little Home Mission
congregation. Churches in cities farther off have
been strengthened by members from this source, so

that a constant stream of life has poured into the

pews of many churches in the home State as well
as other States.

No doubt, Home’ Mission boards should pursue
the policy of providing such little churches with
regular services and ministrations of the Word. The
smallest flock of God’s people is worthy of care,
regardless of the outlook for future growth. Figures
proof that the yet source of supply for the
ministry is from the small churches. ¥F. J. L.