# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S703
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 5

ome.” Above all, it is God who graciously blesses our work in
Kingdom.
"What does all this mean for our present convention? Much,
y much indeed. Our Church faces opportunities for work in
Ahe Lord such as: we have never faced before. God has opened.
any great doors and effectual for us. In the United States and
anada alone more than three hundred new mission stations were
ened since our last convention. Our Synod’s statistics reveal
at over 71,000 adults were confirmed and received into member-
ip during the past triennium. During the year 1949 practically
£70,000 members were confirmed or reclaimed for our Church. How-
Fbver, there is still much land to possess. Many new promising
ion stations beckon us today. Many, very many more children
adults should be won. We must train our people ever better
o personal mission work.

-In foreign fields door upon door has been opened for us. It is
idst heartening and encouraging that during and since the last
forld War God permitted our Church to begin work in Panama,
itemala, Venezuela, Cuba, Hawaii, the Philippines, New
uinea, and Japan. Everywhere, in these fields as well as in our
sions in South America, in India, and in Africa, there is oppor-
ity for expansion.

Our Church faces an enormous challenge, the greatest in her
‘History. The reports of our various mission boards present a veri-
table Macedonian cry: “Come over and help us.” They urge us
‘thost earnestly to settle our controversial issues, to set our internal
airs in order in God-pleasing manner, that we may be the
tter prepared to assume our obligations and be ready not merely
y do the work of the Lord, but also to abound, to grow, to increase
it.

We have every reason to abound in fervent prayer for the
rk. When the enemies sought to silence the Apostles and cast
em into prison, the congregation at Jerusalem met and joined
ervent prayer. St. Paul pleaded with his congregations to pray
Ffor him and his ministry. Even so we should pray for God’s
lessings upon ‘our work in the Kingdom. We must confess that
re pray altogether too little for our missions.

. .We have reason to abound in the training of pastors, teachers,

d missionaries. The pronounced shortage of professional workers
eenly felt. This convention must weigh and consider proposals
‘or the enrollment and training of more workers. God grant that
e may approach this problem in the spirit of “abounding in the
cork of the Lord.” It will require an increase in our contributions.