# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S445
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS 446.

mo. Luther’s works. Pastor Hobus, the new French-speaking
sionary in Brussels, has the qualifications to carry on a planned
am of tract production.

‘In order to train missionaries for the long-range program,
Bawill be necessary to establish a school at which prospective
sionaries can be trained for six months to a year in technique
theology. At Senlis, one hour’s bus ride from Paris, we have
‘building which would seem to be suitable. At the present time
tis being used as a children’s refuge, but it can be converted
fh. whole or in part for such a school. Eventually it will become
essary to establish a theological seminary for the non-German
aking. fields in Europe. The building and grounds at Senlis
uld be adequate to take care of such expansion. As more
ission stations are opened in France, we shall need more places
E worship, more living quarters, etc. Future surveys will indicate
location and needs of such new stations.

- E. Germany
» In the Breslau Synod there are 52 pastors serving 34 congrega-
ns with 383 preaching stations. Membership totals 42,987 souls,
88 communicants. In the Saxon Free Church there are 44 pas-
s serving 51 congregations, with 132 preaching stations. Member-
p totals 15,184 souls (communicant total unknown). During the
feast year all German Free Churches, with two minor exceptions,
fentered into doctrinal fellowship, practicing co-ordination of
rt in the maintenance and establishment of mission places.
ce the late war some ten to twelve million refugees have re-
Beettled in the Western Zone of Germany, which has resulted in
ome considerable gains in the membership of some of the
BGerman Free Churches. In the Breslau Free Church, for example,
the membership increased by 15,000 souls in one year, an increase
sof almost 50 per cent. Such figures place Germany in a class by
If as a mission field, which should be developed with all possible
sources. The basic factors still exist which led to such startling
sddvances, namely, the continuance of the refugee problem.

* Further surveys are needed to determine in which direction
e shall apply our funds as well as to gather complete information
arding the ability. of the German Free Churches to finance
ir own mission program. Studies will have to be made con-
erning the available manpower, both of this date and for the
future. Some consideration will have to be given to the possible
ssonsolidation of the weaker parishes, the elimination of duplication
wot effort, etc. It will also be necessary to considef how far the
ise of evangelists and deacons can help to solve the manpower