# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S855
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS 353

True, the days of depression caused no little concern in this,
that a large number of graduates eager to g0 into the field ripe
unto harvest could not be permanently placed. But ina mysterious
manner the Lord thus prepared for an emergency which was soon
to come. We had barely emerged from the days of the depression
when the war was thrust upon us. In a very short time hundreds
of chaplains from our midst were called to the colors. And one
by one the graduates were called to supply the vacancies thus
created and to enter the growing number of new missions, many
of which the graduates themselves had prepared. Today not only
all of the candidates are placed permanently, we now have a
tremendous shortage of pastors and teachers.

The Past Triennium

Subsidies Used for Home Missions
1944 1945 1946
$320,328.33 $316,964.92 $312,017.61

Mission Conferences. — The mission conferences held in Feb-
ruary, 1946, in Detroit, Mich., and in January, 1947, in Fort Wayne,
Ind., are outstanding events of the past triennium. A new interest,
a lively missionary zeal, and a God-given enthusiasm in personal
evangelism to reach out to the unchurched was enkindled, a zeal
which is gradually permeating the rank and file of our fellow Chris-
tians throughout Synod. The “Bach One Reach One” program
has definitely gained momentum. Personal evangelism is the one
great theme discussed at pastoral and teachers’ conferences, at
circuit meetings and congregational meetings.

At the Fort Wayne Mission Conference this program was re-
emphasized and extended to include vacation Bible schools for
the children and Preaching Missions to lead the unchurched adults
to Christ, their Savior.

We plead that all pastors and fellow Christians join hands, each
one in his home and community, to reach one in this Centennial
harvest of souls and to continue in this effort until the Lord Him-
self bids a halt to His “Go and tell.”

Japanese Missions in the United States. —For the duration
of the war a successful mission among the Nisei was conducted at
Minneapolis, Minn., by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (H. F. Schwei-
gert, pastor). One of our graduates of Concordia Seminary, Saint
Louis, a Japanese, the Rev. George Shibata, assisted in this mis-
sion. Approximately 25 Japanese adults were baptized and received
into membership of our Church. Soon after the war ended, many of
these converts returned to California. We are happy to note that
they are joining our churches in that area. Pastor. Shibata was

Proceedings, 1947 . 23