Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 50, No. 51                SOUTHSIDE ORACLE            February 29. 2008

History of the Southside

 Church(2)

A Building Is Planned

 The new congregation averaged 36 for worship in the first quarter of its existence, but the number grew gradually until it reached a record attendance of 87 in early 1961. The first annual one-week vacation Bible school was held in 1959 with 41 children attending.

 The church's temporary quarters limited its work. Even before the church began, plans were made to buy property on which to build and land on the far south part of Milwaukee was targeted.  In 1958 a lot at S. 20`^h and W. Grange in Milwaukee was purchased and a year later an adjacent piece of land was added. Two other plots later secured complete the church property.

 A building program was launched in 1959. Six planning sessions involving the entire membership were held in homes. These family meetings bound the church together setting the tone of unity that has continued to the present. An architect was secured to design the building and financing plans were drawn up. Since Monroe Hawley, the preacher, was financially self-supporting through the sale of Bible correspondence courses he had written, the church was able to direct most of its resources toward the proposed building. Aside from a $1000 donation from another congregation, the funds for the building came almost entirely from the membership. Southside has never had to rely on outside financial help to carry on its work.

 Efforts to secure a loan met with little success. Finally, Frank Markarian, a friend of the church, arranged for a meeting with the South Milwaukee Savings and Loan Association. They said they liked to loan money to churches and offered a $60,000 loan at 5% interest! It was late 1961 and winter was approaching. Should we begin building? We decided that the Lord had brought us that far and we had to trust Him. We were still short of the needed funds to begin construction. An emergency congregational meeting was held. In a few minutes individuals agreed to personally lend the church $9000 at no interest. One brother secured a second mortgage on his home to borrow funds and was informed by the banker that he was the second church member to do so. Some loans were later written off. Other borrowing brought indebtedness to $72,000.  Construction began in October, but was suspended until spring when snow fell.

                          The Bulletin Board

This Sunday Southside will observe its 50^th anniversary as a congregation!   Join us as we worship God together. Monroe Hawley will bring the lesson. On July 11 and 12 we will remember our 50 years with a homecoming celebration.

 We extend our sympathy to Amelia Melendez and her family in the death of her mother, Maria Cruz Loera, last week. The funeral was Monday from the Molthen-­Bell Funeral Home in South Milwaukee. She was ninety years old and had lived with Amelia for the last seven years.

The Sick - Jim Allen had shoulder surgery Monday at the Veteran's Hospital in Wood.... Mike Shuster was scheduled for a heart catheterization and angioplasty on Wednesday at Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls .... Jessica Krysiak was hospitalized Monday because of a difficult pregnancy, but expected to go home this week .... Dennis Saunders' mother, Rachel Ernmerson, is hospitalized in Black River Falls and not expected to live.

 With this issue we complete fifty years of publishing the Southside Oracle. All of the issues through February, 2006, are in bound form and are available for reference in the church library.

 Address change - Teresa Matias, contact us for more information.

 The men's breakfast last Saturday went very well, though the number of attendees was down. Tim Thompson of Elgin, IL was the speaker.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the Southside Youth Rally March 28 – 30.

 The Tweens are sponsoring a Family Fun Night at Greenfield High School. on March 7th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. This is for the whole family.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 141, second service, 75

Calendar of Events

March 2 – 50th anniversary of the Southside Church

March 7 - Family Fun Night sponsored by Tweens, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Greendale High School

March 9 - Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

March 19 - Christian Workers' Meeting, 9:00 a.m.

March 22 – CPR instruction class, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

March 28 - 30 - Southside youth rally

July 11, 12 - 50^th anniversary homecoming of Southside Church

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