# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S431
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS — > 431

Also to be analyzed is the problem of the blighted areas in
metropolitan centers. This problem has become quite vexing in
a number of our cities, and your Board hopes to be able to make
F some constructive suggestions.

Conference with District Mission Boards.— Your Board for
Missions in North and South America has launched upon a program
of more frequent contact with the various District Mission Boards.
It hopes to be able to gather helpful information from the various
fields and to share this information with the various Boards.
It hopes also, in this way, to encourage and to strengthen the
brethren who have been given the important assignment of carrying
on the important work of District Missions.

Missions in South America

Being more closely associated with their sister Districts in
North America, the Brazil and Argentine Districts made remark-
able forward strides during the past triennium. Both Districts
are forging ahead. In an increasing measure they are following
the pattern of our North American Districts in the cultivation
of good stewardship and mission policies, in the development of
mission fields, in the organization of congregations, in the regular
holding of circuit meetings, and in the conduct of District con-
ventions — in all of which the laity is beginning to play an
‘increasing role.

During his visitation in 1949 your Secretary of Missions was
privileged to attend 15 circuit meetings in Brazil and Argentina.
The attendance at these meetings was most gratifying. Of the
125 pastors of these two Districts only four pastors did not attend
these meetings, and of the 588 congregations and preaching stations
all but ten were represented by lay delegates.

Since Pastor H. A. Mayer, Assistant Secretary of Missions, has
_ just recently returned from South America, where he attended
the golden anniversary of our work in Brazil as the representative
of the venerable President of Synod, Doctor J. W. Behnken, be it
suggested that Pastor Mayer be given an opportunity to report to
the convention on his extensive journey, which took him to many
points in our South American field.

q Seventy-five parish schools in Brazil, with a total enrollment
of approximately 6,000 pupils, continue to enjoy the good will
of the civil authorities. In order to raise the scholastic standards
of these parish schools, the Brazil District has appointed an
experienced teacher as a District Counselor for Schools.

Our brethren beneath the Southern Cross have set themselves

to the task of training a national ministry. At Porto Alegre we