# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S422
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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422 MISSIONS

Sacrament to our young people who are studying at the vari
colleges and universities of our country, our Church has launcl:
upon an energetic student service program. At present 443 pasto 3
are serving 16,065 students (members of the Synodical Conferen
at 746 colleges and universities. Not only are these pastors se
our own young people, but they are also bringing the Word
Life to many unchurched students on these campuses.

Foreign Missions. — The past fifty years have, indeed, been al
era of extraordinary blessings upon our work in foreign fiel
While only one foreign mission was opened by us prior to 1§ 00
namely, that in India, the past fifty years have seen us unfurl thé
banner of the Gospel in China, in Africa, in the Philippine Islan
in New Guinea, and in Japan. (For details see the report of.
Board for Foreign Missions.)

Our Church at Work in Europe. — Twice during. the past fi Aft}
years our Church has come to the rescue of our European brethi
who were stricken by the horrors of two world wars. At thew
present time we have 107 workers (professors and missionarie
in the European field— one in Belgium, two in Denmark, five: in
France, three in Finland, 52 in the Breslau Synod, and 44 in
Saxon Free Church. The latter two groups are almost sé lf
supporting. We have a total of 59,097 baptized members. (Fo
details see the report of the Board for Home Missions in Europ

Missions in Africa. — The third decade of the twentieth cen:
saw us marching forward into the dark continent of Africa. It
in 1936 that we, co-operating with our sister synods of the Syno
ical Conference, set foot on Nigeria’s soil to unfurl the Gospe
banner. Never in the history of our foreign mission work have we
experienced such phenomenal blessings as we have in the Africa: n
field. Already there are more than 16,000 baptized members, mo:
than 5,500 communicant members, more than 90 schools with:
approximately 7,400 pupils. (For details see the report of the.
Missionary Board of the Synodical Conference.) uf

Negro Missions in the United States. — These missions are also;
under the guidance of the Missionary Board of the Synodical Con
ference. The beginning of this work dates back beyond the begin
ning of the present century. Particularly since 1877 our Neg
mission work has expanded to the northern cities as well as to the
East and to the West.

A far-reaching step was taken at the meeting of the Synodical
Conference in 1946 when the respective District Mission Boa
were encouraged to take over the guidance and development :.ofiy
Negro missions within their District boundaries. Until now twelve:
Districts have expressed their willingness to co-operate with the,z;