Imperial Valley press., 1931-07-23
REV. FLANAGAN
RESIGNS FROM
BAPTIST CHURCH

After nearly 10 years of service in
Ell Centro, Rev. C. E. Flanagan has
resigned the pastorate of the First
Baptist Church of this city. AL
though his board of deacons had
been previously informed, Mr..
Flanagan rendered his formal resig-
nation last week at the quarterly
meeting of the church.
The shifting population of the
valley has made it difficult for any
church to build up strong con-
gregation, and although the Bap-
tist church has lost heavily in men,
bers by removals every year, yet
the membership has grown in a
large degree as Mr.. Flanagan has
/ planned every year for aggressive
evangelistic work, and has sum-
| moned the best help he could Sc
cure in this field, resulting in large
accessions to the membership of
some of the best people of the COM
munity who on glad profession of
their faith have united with the
church. Mr.. Flanagan leaves the
church with perhaps the strongest
Protestant membership OF any
church in the valley. Last year was
the best year the church has ever
had in accessions to the member
ship and in financial work.
Mrs. Flanagan has been a large
factor in the success of the work.
Sympathetic and tactful and skill
full in young peoples work, she has
been advisor to the young people
in their organization and a large
group of young people have been
developed in the church. The young
peoples work has been a large out
standing feature of the church, and
Mr. Flanagan has received nearly
all of them into the church during
his pastorate and they have grown
into an intensely loyal and efficient
group.
The largest visible monument MIR.
Flanagan is leaving, is the beauti-
full new church building erected last
year. The financing of the build
ing enterprise has been left almost
entirely in Mr.. Flanagin's hands,
and up until the present time has
been carried on with remarkable
success. Mr.. Flanagan took nearly
all the subscriptions and has car
ried on all the work of collections.
| The local church and the commun.
| ity has responded splendidly ard
the State Convention with which
the church is connected, because Of
its faith in the ability of the pastor,
has rendered great assistance in
gifts and loans. For a progressive
| and united organization the build
ing enterprise is well financed. MIR.
Flanagan stands high in the esteem
of the authorities of Southern Cali
fornia Baptist State Convention,
and not long ago DR.. Otto Russell,
DID,, the executive officer of that
organization, stated that Mr.. Fla
nagin had done an outstanding
piece of work in Southern Califor-
mia and made name for himself
in all the convention fields"
Though being strictly a church
| man." and as he has said, mind
ing strictly his own business up on
Seventh and Orange" the pastor
Ahas many friends in the city and
community and requests the Press
/ to express his sincere appreciation
for the many courtesies and kind
nesses extended to himself and
family which have helped to make
his years of service in Ell Centro
delight.
Mr.. Flanagin's active work with
the church here closes on August
TO- His plans for the future will
not be settled till early fall.
The Grand View district, Tulare
county, has shipped 1875 cars of Va
lencia oranges and the Richgrove-