The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Sheet 86

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

Then, too, there would be more cooperation on
the part of the members with the pastor. Too many
of our Christians are of the opinion that the in-
gathering of members is the sole privilege of the
pastor. Christ wants every Christian to work at
bringing in new members. He plainly says this in
His Word, and while here on earth, He encouraged
people to bring others to Him upon every occasion.
The Gospel narratives make it very plain that Jesus
was greatly pleased with the action of those who
brought their fellow-men to Him.

Finally, we should be more systematic in our at-
tempt to reach the unchurched. Why could we not
plat our congregations for purposes of personal
evangelization just as we do for our annual every-
member canvass? And after the platting, why not
make a thorough house-to-house canvass to find
prospects? And after prospects have been located
and superficially classified, why not ask for volun-
teers to do intensive work on them? ‘These volun-
teer visitors should not be haphazardly designated
to visit the prospects, but selected with great care
and with due regard to their peculiar fitness to work
on particular prospects. After prayerfully planning
the method of each approach, the visitor should
make his attack, determined to present Jesus and
His claims as convincingly as possible.

If this simple Home Mission policy were pur-
sued in every one of our congregations, by God’s
grace our Church would make very appreciable
gains among the great number of unchurched in our
beloved country and greatly help to augment the
number of those who confess Christ, their Lord and
King. And this activity in the cause of Christ will
not only bring new souls to worship at His feet and
to serve Him with the zeal of first love, but it will
bring new life to those who have already been within
the fold of Christ.

It is a wonderful fact that Christian life grows
by spending itself. Marvelous, but true is what
Jesus said: “Except a grain of wheat fall into the
earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it
die, it beareth much fruit.” From the time of the
apostles to the present day, every church that gives
liberally and works zealously for the cause of mis-
sionary enterprises has always been found full of
life. To give of your means and of your time to
bring people to Christ is a giving that will be twice
blessed: it will bless you that give and those to
whom you give. The child grows by incessantly
Spending its energy. The athlete develops his
prowess by constant exercise. So churches and
church-members gather strength by doing some-

thing for those who are outside the Church. “There
is that scattereth and yet increaseth,” says Solomon.
In the parable the servants that put their talents to
work were rewarded with increase, while he that
buried his talent lost the only one he had.

Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do,”
While the souls of men are dying
And the Master calls for you.
Take the task He gives you gladly,
Let his work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calleth,
“Here am I; send me, send me.”

F. J. L.

Alabama Items.

Vineland, the Thirty-third Congregation.

As reported recently, Vineland is the location of
the youngest mission-station on this field. On Palm
Sunday it joined the ranks of our congregations by
its first baptismal and confirmation service. Under
the name “Good Shepherd” it became the thirty-
third flock to have a Lutheran altar for Negroes in
the State.

The day was a beautiful one, mild and with
clear, blue skies. Happy hearts brought old and
young with light feet from every direction to the
roomy schoolhouse, now also serving as a meeting-
place with God. These people had donated the site,
bought the materials, and erected this building some
ten or twelve years ago, so that their children could
go to school. With the invitation that our Church
work in their midst, they also offered to us the use
of the house, thus solving very acceptably the
usually perplexing problem of a suitable building
at a new place. What is more, the men take pride
in keeping things in repair and need no coaxing to
lend a hand about the grounds.

Our work at Vineland has been almost of a
pentecostal nature. Seventy-two names were handed
in for baptism and confirmation at the beginning,
and although one family dropped out of the class,
another took its place. Only two families in the im-
mediate community have not joined us, but others
farther afield give promise of becoming missionary
prospects. Of this large number twenty-eight adults
were confirmed, and thirty-six children from infants

‘up were baptized in one service. One family of six

could not come on account of illness. It was an
inspiring sight, making one’s heart leap with joy
and new faith in the Lord. All this is a wonderful
manifestation of God’s grace, for of opposition and
slander there was aplenty. :
Worthy of note is the fine Sunday-school here. —