# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S680
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

96 MISSIONS

To train a native ministry the staff of instructors must’ go
the respective country to establish the theological school. , If
nucleus of Christians is to be found, it will be the mission of
staff to win the first converts, the first students for the training
a ministry. Do

_A slow process, you will say, and visionary at that. Seeing: th
handwriting on the wall, but believing in the risen Savior, the Sai
of ‘the Almighty, implicitly trusting in the power of the Word an
His promises, we can hope to build a national Church if weg
courageously, but in the fear of God face the issue and enter upon
a change of policy by ‘concentrating ‘at the very outset. on:
training of a native ministry. .We cannot hope to meet thé ‘or:
slaught of nationalism and its implications with missionary meth
and policies of the past. mo,

Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. ‘It 4
suggested that the training of a native ministry be within thi
respective country. The training of natives is not to be in: the
United States or at Zehlendorf or in Brazil or Argentina, but i
the country in which the future pastors and missionaries are
serve. Think of the difficulties and the disadvantages to have:
natives of given countries trained for the ministry in the United
States, with entirely different customs and entirely different stand
ards of living, with entirely different aspects on life, and th ,
of the advantages of a training within their country with whos

customs and habits, language, and standard of living they are:
fully acquainted.

Our slogan must be: For every country we enter, a theologica
school, a staff of theological instructors which includes one whose:
principal duty it shall be to translate theological literature inte:
the language of that country. For every country a native ministry;
Too costly? Not more so than the present missionary methods;
We fully realize that it is the Lord who giveth the increase. But
in approximately 50 years the expenditure of millions of dollars
with a staff of white missionaries comparatively larger than an
other foreign missionary organization, has not trained an adequa
number of native pastors and workers to continue the work if the
spirit of nationalism suddenly compelled our foreign missionariesy
to leave the field. The handwriting on the wall compels us to cons
sider what might be done to meet the challenge of the hour.

Whereas it is of extreme importance to adjust our missiona
methods and existing mission policies to meet the changed cons
ditions of the present era, be it suggested that this entire matter. b
given over to a committee for careful study and analysis. :

As we concentrate on the training of a native ministry and the: