# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S844
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

840 MISSIONS

of the ever increasing synodical mission activities, the Rev. Herman
A. Mayer, formerly of Bay City, Mich., was appointed Assistant
Secretary of Missions by the President and the College of Presi-
dents, and the Rev. H. W. Gockel was appointed Assistant Executive
Secretary of Home Missions of Synod by the Board of Home
Missions.

Home Missions. — Though all of the synodical missions were
more or less retarded during the past war and its consequences,
Home Missions suffered but very little. Home Missions went
forward everywhere. We are now represented in every State of
the Union and in five provinces of Canada. Owing to the enormous
shifting of population especially to the West and Middle West, new
mission stations were opened in many areas.

Home Mission Conferences, During the past triennium two
very important mission conferences were held: one in Detroit in
1946 and the other in Fort Wayne in 1947. A new impetus was
given to personal evangelism at home and in the near-by areas.

A New District Organized. — The petition of our congregations
and pastors in the State of Montana to organize a separate District
was granted. This District has 28 pastors, 71 congregations and
preaching stations, 7,302 souls, 4,333 communicant members.

Spanish Missions. — Our missions in Mexico City and in Mon-
terrey, Mexico, are gradually forging ahead. The English-speaking
group in Mexico City having its own pastor is getting a real
foothold.

In all of our Mexico missions, building projects are under way.
With the assistance of appropriations from the Peace Thankoffering
the missions will be enabled to erect modest places of worship. The
first missionary to Guatemala, Central America, to Guatemala City
and Zacapa and Puerto Barrios, the Rev. R. Gussick, was com-
missioned on Easter Monday (April 7, 1947). Early in July he
will open his activities in this new field.

Spanish Literature. —I£ our work in the Spanish-speaking
countries of Mexico, Central and South America, is to grow, we
must of necessity prepare Spanish theological literature. A fine
beginning was made. We now have Spanish Sunday school leaflets,
a catechism, a hymnbook, the Enchiridion, the Augsburg Con-
fession, the Life of Luther, and an assortment of tracts. Fine
progress is being made with the translation of Dr. J. T. Mueller’s
edition of Dr. F. Pieper’s Dogmatics. Be it suggested that the
Board of Home Missions, together with the Board of South Amer-
ican Missions, be encouraged to employ such additional help as may
become necessary to expedite the translation of theological and
Christian literature into the Spanish language.