# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S198
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

198 PARISH EDUCATION

D. Other Part-Time Agencies

The part-time agencies of Christian education have cor

to play an important part toward fulfilling the twofold obli
of the Church — finding lost sheep and strengthening those
have been found through instruction in the Word of God.
But there is still much room for improvement. Too
congregations fail to make use of any of the part-time agen@
others use them insufficiently to serve the best interests of
children under their care. Then, too, there are numerous”®
gregations that have neither adequate facilities for the ho
and effective teaching of classes nor for the assimilation of:
sionary gains.

Congregations should periodically examine their prog

Christian education with a view toward improving it through
addition of one or more of the part-time agencies and thr
attention to classroom and teaching facilities in any reno
and building program. Local boards of parish education ‘ski
be held responsible for improvement and progress.

Vacation Bible Schools. — Our vacation Bible school
steady growth. The total 1952 enrollment of 150,000 represents
increase of 25,000 pupils since 1950. Non-member children incl
in the total for 1952 numbered 50,000. This figure represents a
of 10,000 since 1950. Each year large numbers of children:
gained for Baptism, for the Nursery Roll, and for our year-
agencies of Christian education; also several hundred adults
been gained annually for membership classes. In 1952 a to
1,009 children was gained for our parochial schools.

The lesson materials provided by Synod through its
for. Parish Education continue to enjoy the favor of our
also the favor of many non-Lutherans, who have been buyingg
half of the total number sold each year; however, a re-exa i
of the materials seems necessary. Various leaders in D
parish education have ventured the opinion that the pres
of using the extant three series, or courses, alternately
the years is not conducive to sustained interest and progre
advisability of issuing a new course or a thoroughly revi
course each year should be given consideration. Furthermo
children of Nursery age have been coming to our vacation:
schools, the addition of lesson materials suitable for Nurse
dren deserves immediate attention.

Rather unfortunately many congregations have curtail
length of the V. B. S. sessions and in so doing curtailed the
tiveness of the school also. Leaders in parish education every
should strongly urge their congregations to keep the scht
session at least three weeks. a

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