# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S462
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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464 MISSIONS

3. That for the better prosecution of their work we reiterate
the resolution adopted by the Centennial Convention, namely, that
the Board, its Executive Secretary, and its missionaries continue
to work for closer contact with the Districts in which the Deaf
congregations are located.

Report of the Board of Foreign Missions
(Memorial 412)

The three years since the last convention of Synod were
momentous years for our Synod’s foreign mission enterprise. This
short span of time saw our India Mission grow by 13.6 per cent
until it numbered 22,474 souls at the close of 1949. The mission
which had been begun in the Philippines in 1946 has come to be
firmly established and has expanded into new areas. Japan and
New Guinea have begun to hear the Gospel from the mouths of
our emissaries. The first two couples have started on a new effort
for mission work among Mohammedans. This period also witnessed
a serious upset in China, where the political situation brought
about the evacuation of most of our foreign personnel, although
it also saw the beginning of new work on the part of our Synod
in Hong Kong. What a marvelous story of God’s grace, of divine
guidance, of Providence opening doors, of heavenly mercy using
poor human clay to plant the seed of the Word in new fields, and
of building the walls of Zion in areas already within the sphere
of our Synod’s mission activity! Indeed, what hath God wrought!
Despite our ineptness, sluggishness, smallness of faith, God has
moved the Gospel work forward at a tremendous pace. May God
forgive us our failures, weaknesses, mistakes. May He fill us with
greater zeal and courage and grant us a true spirit of sacrifice to
use these last darkening days for the spreading of His Word.

Here is the thrilling story in more detail:
_ India

Work in India continued without fanfare, without éclat, but
under the evident blessings of God. Existing congregations and
schools were strengthened. New work was undertaken. For the
first time we can report resident missionaries in Colombo (Ceylon),
Madras, Bangalore, Madura, and the Wynaad area of the Malabar
Coast. Rapid strides have been taken toward the creation of an
indigenous Church. Missionary George Schroeder has been named
Stewardship Secretary to encourage the congregations to take a
larger part in self-government, in self-propagation, and in self-
support. October 22, 1949, was a red-letter day for the congrega-
tions in the Ambur District (our oldest field), as on that day

MISSIONS 465

representatives of sixteen congregations signed the constitution of
the Evangelical Lutheran India Church. Until this group is able
to take over the full maintenance of work in its midst, its affairs
will be administered by a joint executive council made up of mis-
sionaries and nationals. Other areas are studying this same plan
in the hope of hastening the day when we shall have a wholly

Indian church. On May 18, 1949, the 25th anniversary of the

opening of the Nagercoil Seminary was observed. Through the
years 124 had finished the advanced catechist training and 54 the
full pastors’ seminary course. This has helped build the India
Church by supplying the 35 national pastors who, besides many
other workers, are today serving the Church. While various school
regulations caused some concern, the Lord has used them also for
building up these institutions. A much larger proportion of pupils
in higher schools is now Lutheran. In the Vadakangulam High
School more than 25 per cent of the 142 students are Lutherans.
During the past triennium the work in India has, under God,
been able to go forward also because of accessions to the mission-
ary staff. These men and their wives have been sent out: Harold
Heinlein, Wilbur May, James Mayer, E. H. Meinzen, Luther
Meinzen, Lawrence Meinzen, Harry Smith, Robert Trautmann, and
H. M. Zorn. Many of them are already at work after language
study. Two young women have also joined the forces, Betty Rose
Wulf and Rose Ziemke. Very shortly we expect to send out Dr.
and Mrs. Wolfgang Bulle. He is to be in charge of Bethesda Hos-
pital, Ambur. A large group was also returned from furlough. .
Against these gains we must charge losses sustained through the
death of Dr. J. A. Lutz and the resignation of Missionaries E. P.
Hahn, G. H. Hattendorf, and Norman Kline. ,

China

A good ,beginning had just been made toward rehabilitation
after about a decade of disastrous warfare. The number vf our
foreign missionaries, which had shrunk to four during the war,
was up to the figure of twenty-five in the fall of 1948. Then a
reversal of political fortunes in China affected also our work in
very adverse fashion. However, at this writing as far as we know,
church work is going on at practically all of our stations in China
through the activity of our missionaries and national workers and
members. Missionary R. J. Mueller and family are still in Shanghai
and carrying on work also in the way of broadcasting. Mission-
aries E. H. Thode and Frederick Schalow, with their respective
families, are still in Hankow. In Hong Kong, Missionary Wilbert
Hoeltje and the Misses L. Behling, M. Boss, and: G. Simon are
busy at work. God alone knows what the future may have in