The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1933, Page 100

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100

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

aroused through the Gospel Voice of KFUO.” And
this blessed influence continues to be exerted. Two
classes of adults at this very time under instruction
at St. Philip’s have a number of members who

Thirty-Two Children Baptized March 12
at St. Philip’s, St. Louis.

point to KFUO as the first means of attracting
their attention to the Lutheran Church.

Furthermore, the interest of other Lutherans,
their testimony of faith, and their godly life was
an influence in the lives of many, directing them
to St. Philip’s, and working toward its final self-
support. Lutherans employed at the Post Office,
neighbors who were Lutherans, and Lutheran em-
ployers showing to a marked degree that their faith
worked zealously by love, that their faith caused
them to withstand the spirit of prejudice that pre-
vails in the lives of so many, were an influence for
good, attracting many to St. Philip’s, causing them
to be instructed in the Word and finally to unite

. with the Church, leading up to the self-support of
the congregation.

Finally, the first love of St. Philip’s members
for the Church of the Reformation as evinced in
a mission-minded congregation and the attitude of
the congregation of relentlessly working toward the
coveted goal of self-support are reasons that might
be given in answer to the question “How did
St. Philip’s become self-supporting?” As the little
snow-ball starting at the top of the mountain and
gaining in size and momentum as it rolls down
the mountainside, so St. Philip’s, having had a very
small and humble beginning, grew faster and larger
from year to year. JEyerywhere the newly gained
members of the church bore testimony of their
faith, told others of the blessings they enjoyed, and
thus won new converts for the old, old Church of
the Reformation. Though the undersigned and
students from the Seminary have been active in
the mission-work of the congregation, it is the
mission-mindedness of the members themselves that

has brought to the attention of others the glories
of our Church. These new Lutherans ofttimes put
to shame our old Lutherans who were brought up
in the Church and whose parents and grandparents
were members of the Church. We often live by the
side of unchurched people for years without ever
once making a confession of our faith in their
presence or making an effort to gain them for the
Church, and, what is worse, we ofttimes have that
apathetic spirit of indifference over against the weal
and woe of our unbelieving neighbors. It is this
first love of St. Philip’s members for their church
that has helped St. Philip’s to reach self-support.

Nor were they at any time satisfied to rest safely
under the protecting wing of the Mission Board.
The coveted goal of self-support was ever before
them, and they relentlessly worked toward that goal
until, even while surrounded by present-day finan-
cial difficulties, they were enabled to attain that goal.

The question “How did St. Philip’s become self-
supporting ?” has been answered.

When the little mission-congregation on May 8,
1927, moved into the new church, it numbered about
seventeen communicant and twenty-five baptized
souls. ‘To-day, after six years, this number has
been increased to two hundred and fifty-one com-
municant, four hundred and sixteen baptized, and
sixty-six voting members. Recently a class of six

One of the Many Classes of Adults Confirmed
at St. Philip’s, St. Louis.

children and another class of twelve adults were
confirmed, and thirty-two children were baptized,
in one service. At present two adult classes are
receiving instruction for confirmation, with a total
enrolment of twenty-five. The present prospects
of St. Philip’s are even brighter than they were in