FIRST MISSION FESTIVAL 1892

The congregational minutes of August 21, 1892 offer this interesting history: "Congregation resolved to elect a committee to inquire if all members favor holding a mission service. Elected to function: A. Alberts, H. Martins. These with the Ladies Aid set the date of the Mission Festival as September 18." Afterward it was reported: "Pastor Meinecke of Lyons assisted our Student Richter in conducting the service and the festival was crowned with the finest results and the collection amounted to $63.00" One-half of this was designated for needy students; the other half for missions. By comparison, Messiah Lutheran's Mission Festival offering in 1974 was $7,203.75.