# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S854
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

852 MISSIONS

God to speed the Gospel and to develop missions to the far corners
of the earth.

Today your department of missions is making preliminary
studies of another invention of the day, an invention which even-
tually may place the various synodical mission departments in
personal touch with our various mission groups the world over.
Preliminary studies are being made of an intercommunication sys-
tem by radio (low wave). We are assured that it can be done at
a cost which is not at all prohibitive. May it please the Lord to
bless this latest invention to His glory and to the extension of His
kingdom. F.C. Streurert, Secretary of Missions

Report of the Board for Home Missions
(Memorial 402)

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy works;
I muse on the work of Thy hands.” Ps, 143:5.

Historical. — The days of frontier life, of the covered wagon,
are no more. The horse-drawn stagecoach, the oxcart, made room
for the auto and for the speeding train. . Today the missionary can
perform his duties with greater ease and greater comfort. He can
reach more communities, a larger number of people in much shorter
time. He can more often bring the message of salvation than it
could be done by the missionaries in days gone by.

Nearly forty years ago the first Home Mission Board of Synod
was elected. Until then the various synodical Districts were en-
trusted with the work of Home Missions, Each District supported
the work within its own District to the best of its ability.

Soon it became quite evident that some of the synodical Dis-
tricts were not financially able to meet the opportunities before
them. Synod then appointed the Board of Home Missions, with
the instruction to find ways and means to aid such Districts as
were not able to meet the challenge before them. During the first

- year $3,742 was placed at the disposal of Synod’s Board of Home

Missions. But when the first year ended the Board reported a
deficit of $4,643.

A Decade of Depression. The depression of the thirties was
trying indeed. But as we review these trying times after having
emerged from them, we cannot but praise the Lord, “who doeth all
things well.” Large harvests follow thorough harrowing; better
fruit is the result of careful pruning. Even so trials and hardships
stimulate spiritual growth. The days of depression brought on
a careful restudy of our Home Mission activities, consolidations
of smaller fields, eliminations of barren fields. Yet, to our knowl-
edge, not a promising field was closed on account of lack of funds.