The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, October 08, 1970, Image 2
PAGE 2—The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, October 8, 1970
She Nnubprnj
1101 Boyce Street, Newberry, South Carolina 29108
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
0. F. Armfield, Jr., Owner
Second-Class Postage Paid at Newberry, South Carolina
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 83.00 per year in advance;
six months. 82.00.
Faith Lutheran Church, at
he junction of Harrington St.
md By-Pass Seventy-Six. is a
nission church—the youngest
Lutheran church in the New-
)erry area. Even though the
.‘ongregation is young in years,
jiute a bit of history surrounds
icr birth and early years, quite
a bit of interesting and con
fusing history.
The congregation was orga-
lized at the time when the na-
aonal church (United Lutheran
Church in America) was under
going an historic merger to
form the Lutheran Church in
America. Of course this na
tional merger made necessary
some changes in the South Car
olina Synod, and it was a time
of great concern for the church
leaders of our state, and a time
A'hen operational procedures
were not clear. For a mission
congregation to be formed in
the UCLA in the late 50’s and
early 60’s, the Home Missions
Board of the Synod was to sur
vey the area under considera
tion and to recommend it to
the UCLA Board of American
Missions as a promising loca
tion for a new congregation;
sixty confirmed adults were ne
cessary for a new congrega
tion to be formally organized.
After the merger, from the
early 60’s on, a regional secre
tary, employed by the Board of
American Missions of the LCA,
was to survey the area an to
recommend it as a possible site.
Again, sixty members were ne
cessary to form a new congre
gation. Faith came at the end
of the ULCA and at the begin
ning of the LCA, and she was
not organized precisely accord
ing to the procedures of either
body.
To confuse the issue still
more, during this same time an
older congregation in the New
berry area became faced with
the need for additional educa
tional facilities. As members
of this congregation studied
their church locale, they began
to discuss the possibility of re
locating and building on a new
site. The South Carolina Synod
was then included in the dis
cussion and the synod attempted
to guide the congregation as she
decided her future.
In January of 1961, the synod
learned of a church building
for sale in the Harrington
Heights area of the city. The
building had once served a
congregation from the Church
of God, and the mortgage on
this building was held by the
Whitner family. Receiving this
information, the synod secured
permission from the Board of
American Missions to purchase
the property and to offer it to
the above Lutheran congrega
tion as a site for re-location.
Faced with the reality of mov
ing to a new place, however,
this Lutheran congregation de
cided in a congregational meet
ing to stay in their present
place and to refuse the offer of
the Harrington Heights pro
perty.
Still, the synod was anxious
to have a congregation in this
area. Harrington Heights seem
ed to be the growing edge of
the city, and, also, a well-tra
veled street passed in Lont of
the building, making the church
very accessible to the entire
population of Newberry. Both
of these were promising points
to consider.
In July of 1961, the South Car
olina Synod bought the pro
perty in Harrington Heights
from the Whitner family. Even
though there was no congrega
tion. and no survey had been
made, Dr. Shelton Moose, an
official of the synod who led the
first worship services, felt a
group would be drawn to the
new area—and he was correct.
Within six months over seventy
people had signed the charter
rolls.
December 17. 1961, is the date
for the formal organization of
the congregation. Dr. Karl W.
Kmard. president of the South
Carolina Synod, led the new
church m a special service of
organization. 'Die name became
Faith Lutheran Church
The young, new congregation
was faced with many sizable
problems: it had to reimburse
the synod and the Board of Ame
rican Missions for the original
property; a larger acerage was
needed, the church building was
in need of repair, and up-dating
needed to be done; the limited
number of rooms had to be di
vided to provide educational
space; a pastor had to be call
ed; a parsonage had to be pro
vided; a strong and continuing
evangelistic effort was neces
sary-notifying people of the
new congregation and her de
sire to serve God.
The officers of the new Faith
congregation proceeded in good
order to face the problems con
fronting them, but the problems
were great ones, and, with no
constant pastoral leadership,
progress w r as slow'. The build
ing was air-conditioned, the roof
was repaired, the rooms were
divided, and several additional
pieces of land were either
bought or received as gifts. But
the congregation could not ne-
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gotiate any financial settlement
with the synod and with the
board concerning reimburse
ment for the church building;
several proposals concerning the
buying and-or building of a par
sonage were discussed, but no
concrete action was taken for
eighteen months or more; a
number of people were consi
dered before a pastor accepted
a call to serve Faith.
In September of 1962, the
Rev. Robert Addy came to
Faith to become the first pas
tor. During the fifteen months
since the first service had been
held, Dr. Shelton Moose from
the synod office and Dr.. John
Cooper from the college had
provided limited pastoral gui
dance. However, both of these
men realized a new and strugg
ling congregation desperately
required a full-time pastor.
Pastor Addy was a very ag
gressive leader, and, within a
short time after he came, con
structive action was taken on
the two “problems” mentioned
above. A satisfactory schedule
of payment was arranged for
the church building, and a par
sonage was begun on land im
mediately behind the church.
Thus far, as the congrega
tion approaches her ninth birth
day. three pastors have serv
ed at Faith Lutheran Church
for a total of just over six years.
Pastor Addy was here for four
years until August of 1966. The
next pastor, Lloyd W. Mitcham,
came to Faith in January of
1967 and was here for a year
and a half until July, 1968. Pas
tor William E. Stone, the pre
sent pastor, has served Faith
since April, 1969. During periods
of vacancy the congregation has
been served notably by Dr. F. I.
Fesperman, professor at New
berry College.
It is significant that, though
the congregation has had only
scant full-time pastoral leader
ship during her years of in
fancy, important advances have
been made. The congregation
grew from 70 to 120 adult mem
bers and approximately 65
young people under the age of
fifteen. Financially the congre
gation has been very secure;
enough money has been con
tributed to pay off the original
debt, to build a parsonage, to
buy five lots near the church,
and to make concrete plans for
additional Sunday School faci
lities in the fall of this year.
The rate of growth and the
financial security of the congre
gation are both factors which
point out the stability of the
congregation and the level-head
ed guidance of the lay leader
ship. Every job is not always
filled, but the concern and in
terest among members are such
that the important work of the
congregation is done wonder
fully well.
The congregation needs to
continue in its growth, of course.
There are many inactive people
of varying denominations within
the reach of the church. Many
are within sight of the church.
Greater community involvement
is becoming a necessity; over
thirty young children live within
two blocks of the congregation,
and numerous elderly people in
the congregation or in the Har
rington Heights area need the
fellowship the congregation can
afford.
Even though our history is
short, it has been bright and
interesting. With God’s help we,
at Faith, have faced and over
come significant difficulties in
the past, and, with his help, we
shall continue into the future
offering his promise to those in
our fellowship and to those in
our community. God be praised.
Education for
adults offered
“Those who have not com
pleted high school education
should find out about the adult
education program in this
area,” said Thomas H. Leitz-
sey, whose office is in the New
berry County Education Build
ing.
“Most civilian jobs require
adaptability to skill training and
re-training,” he said. “A high
school education or the equiva
lent is essential in many skilled
positions. Two paths of high
school completion are open for
you; you can complete certain
units of study and qualify for
a State high school diploma,
or you can pass a test and
qualify for a certificate of high
school equivalency.”
For further information, con
tact Mr. Leitzsey at the Educa
tion building or call his office,
276-3216; or home, 276-5035.
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MARTHAN
P. O. BOX 654
Newberry, South Carolina 29108