The story of a little seed
This is the story of a little seed. The little seed that could … sprout! The little seed that did … sprout!
The place of germination for our seed was, rather extraordinarily, a photography shop in Adelaide. Customer Louis Archibald Borgelt’s eyes were drawn to a pamphlet advertising a photographic cruise to Port Moresby. A seed was sown, ‘for perhaps we could do with a holiday!’
All in all, Lou showed his films from over twelve trips at 658 screenings, which financed churches, bell towers, a hospital and printing of Bibles. That single seed grew into an orchard.
Our little seed was watered by pastors Walter Fritsch and Lorenz Methsieder, who encouraged Lou and his wife Hertha to take the cruise. But the water they poured onto the little seed was the idea that, while on their cruise the Borgelts should visit the Lutheran Mission ‘to be shown the activities, and in this way [you] would be able to see native life in a manner not possible to tourists who make the regular, coastal trip.’
The day of departure dawned. Lou packed his 8mm cine movie camera, for this was a photography cruise, after all. He put the camera to good use, filming church services, the hospital and plantations, and the local population going about their daily business. Lou was planning to use his films back in Australia ‘wherever possible in the interests of the mission’. Watered and nurtured, the seed was beginning to sprout.
On his return home, film evenings were held and money for mission raised. Our sprouting seed flowers. In July 1940, Lou, Hertha and the movie camera made their first three-week trip to Hermannsburg, Alice Springs and Haasts Bluff. Lou said, ‘The camera has become part and parcel of my holidays’.
The staff of Finke River Mission (FRM) were incredibly pleased that the Borgelts were visiting, and they enabled them to see as much as possible of the mission. They ‘felt that it would in some way be of benefit to [their] work’ . Lou asked if there was a particular need that could benefit through showing his pictures. The building of a church at Jay Creek was the answer.
‘Brother L A Borgelt (Phone F1052), who visited Hermannsburg some time ago and took movie films, is showing these films in the interest of our mission and has earmarked the proceeds for a church to be erected there (at the Jay) … Any congregation, where electric light is installed, which wishes to see some of the work of the various branches of our industries and the life at the station and surroundings, may get in touch with Bro Borgelt.’
In seven months Lou’s film evenings more than covered the cost of material for the church building and freight. Furnishings for the church were donated by fellow Lutherans, including Miss Russack, Mr Schwarz and Adam Hentschke (all of Tanunda) and Mr Habich of Nuriootpa, and by the Hahndorf congregation. In true Lutheran style, the church building was to double as a school, if the mission could find an appropriate teacher. On 7 December 1941, a day of great rejoicing, President J H S Heidenreich dedicated the church.
The following year Lou travelled with Pastor Albrecht to deliver a truck that he had sourced for FRM (for Lou was a mechanic). Passing through a field of Sturt Desert peas, which Lou filmed, Albrecht was reminded of Hymn 595:
If Thou in Thy great love to us,
Wilt scatter joy and bounty thus
O’er this poor earth of ours;
What nobler glories shall be given
Hereafter in Thy shining heaven
Set round with golden towers.
Next, Lou raised funds to install electric light at Hermannsburg. Albert Namatjira donated a painting for the project. Lou toured Victoria for 16 days, raising £175. He ventured to Queensland in July 1947: ‘Arrangements are being made to show the films at Brisbane, Beenleigh and Toowoomba’, it was reported.
New South Wales contributed £31-18-8: ‘I would thank you again very sincerely for the splendid service you rendered to the [NSW] District and Missions by your film evenings. May the Lord grant that what we have heard and seen at those evenings may add joy and strength to work for Him, “Til the nations, far and near, See His light, and learn His fear”.’
Light was switched on at Hermannsburg with the verse, ‘I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life’. Lou’s films were screened. The local Aboriginals were delighted to see themselves on screen and requested film evenings night after night.
All in all, Lou showed his films from over twelve trips at 658 screenings, which financed churches, bell towers, a hospital and printing of Bibles. That single seed grew into an orchard.
Lou’s films enable us to tell the stories of God’s love and grace. Many have found their way into Lutheran Archives. But … the films are in urgent need of digitisation! Please continue to be a part of Lou’s harvest by financially partnering with us. Find out how at www.lca.org.au/seeds
When God waters your donation, who knows in which ways it will sprout, or the harvest that it might produce?
Rachel Kuchel is LCA Archivist.
Seeds that sprout
Lou Borgelt was a mechanic in Adelaide, a Lutheran. His hobby was taking films, and he loved to travel. And so a seed was sown.
He took films of the mission sites he visited on his trip. When he returned home he showed the films, at fundraising events, across Australia. This inspired him to visit other missions, where he continued to take films and use them as fundraisers for mission. By 1977 he had held 658 film evenings. That seed had sprouted into a harvest!
You can be part of the harvest by helping us to digitise Lou’s films and others in Lutheran Archives. These are your films that we are desperately trying to save: for you, for your children and your grandchildren. We’re sure you’ll find one that’s close to your heart.
Each film costs $350 to save. You can contribute the full amount if you wish, or part of that amount. You can save more than one film. Or you can make a general donation towards the project. The entire project will cost $60,000.
Would you like to browse our film collection? Go to www.lca.org.au/seeds and follow the links.
By partnering with Lutheran Archives, you can encourage our Lutheran family to grow, as we remember what God has done through people like Lou … and through people like you.
