# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S292
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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MISSIONS 873

o- Our Resources
em 7, -We cannot say that we do not have the resources to
‘these opportunities. God has wondrously blessed our Synod.
our membership numbers approximately 1,700,000 baptized
ee We have approximately 5,000 congregations and preaching
See When we compare our potential strength for Kingdom
ae ay with that of our fathers who organized our Church
in, 1841, we cannot escape the inevitable conviction that God
. expects great things of us.- Let us look at these resources:
- L. Our spiritual heritage. By God’s grace we have clung fast
"tp the three great principles of Martin Luther: Grace alone, faith
alone, , and Scripture alone. God has preserved us in the faithful
adherence: to His Word, and therein lies our greatest strength.
~~ 9 Our educational system. Our concern for Christian educa-
tion has developed a program of parish education which is unique
in Protestantism. In our program of day schools, Sunday schools,
part-time agencies, high schools, and Bible classes we have a pro-
gram of parish education which seeks to meet God’s high standards
_for Christian education.

3. Our institutions for training pastors and teachers. Our ten
preparatory schools, two ‘seminaries, and two teachers’ colleges
stand ready to supply the needs of our Church for manpower for
our work at home and abroad. .

4, Our pastors and teachers. Our 5,000 pastors and teachers
bring to their work a deep devotion to duty and personal conse-
cration. God has graciously blessed our Church by supplying it
with a competent ministry. -

5. Our laity. In our well-indoctrinated laity we have a potential
strength that is waiting to be used in Kingdom service. In many
instances our laity is showing an increasing concern for Kingdom
purposes and is showing an eagerness to be used more fully in
the spiritual program of the Church.

6. Our material blessings. Our Christians have shared in the
bounty of material. blessings that God has ‘showered upon our
country. We have the money that is needed for the extension of
Christ’s kingdom. We have the confidence that our people will :
respond to the challenge of the present hour, if they are fully ;
acquainted with the facts. — :

What, then, do we need to meet these opportunities and to
discharge our obligations as thetuniversal priesthood of believers?

The Need
The crying. need of our Church is not only a greater financial

income to carry on the blessed work of the Kingdom among men.
Surely that dare not be ignored. Our people, blessed with material