Baptisms
How many people (children and adults) have been baptized into the congregation of St. Paul since its establishment in 1902 (as of 2005)? a) 493 b) 537 b) 798 c) 921
798! Doesn't that number just give you chills! Within one century's time, and within this small area around the city of Crandon, 798 people had the grace of God poured on them in Holy Baptism! But then again, doesn't it give you a bit of a chill, to think of how many of them turned away from their baptismal grace. More chilling, yet, is the lack of interest on the part of parents to bring their children to the baptismal font! In the first 75 years, the church baptized 703 souls. That's an average of 234 souls per quarter century or 9 souls per year. In the last 28 years, the church has baptized only 95 souls or about 3.5 (I'm being a little generous on the decimal point) souls per year. I realize that families are smaller, but I think we would be fooling ourselves to think that is the only reason. May God forgive us for turning away from this simple (but powerful) gift of forgiveness, and help us to call families back into his fold! * last updated in January, 2005