# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S236
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

236 MISSIONS

IV. MISSIONS ©

[401] . ——
oo Report of Secretary of Missions

If I am once more privileged to submit a report of the
tary of Missions Department, I cannot but reflect upon the’
gone by during which I could be the co-worker in the g¥
and noblest work on earth, in the rescue of perishing souls, *f
not but say in deepest humility with Jacob: “I am not wo
the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which Thoy
shown unto thy servant,” Gen. 32:10. ‘3

With trepidation, with fear and trembling, I heeded th
of Synod’s Board of Directors in 1931 as one of the membe
their Mission Committée to survey the missions of our subs’
Districts, to visit typical mission stations of each District, to ef
with the mission boards in the various Districts, to observe
missionary methods, to consider their needs. I was also to
with all mission boards of the general Synod. At that time it?
to consult with the Board of Missions of South America,
the Board of Home Missions, of the Board of Foreign Miss:
the Orient, of the European, of the Indian, of the Jewish,. 9
Foreign-Tongue, and of the Immigrant and Seamen’s
Two and one-half months were spent to make this survey
analysis. Fifty-seven meetings were held with mission boa
pastoral conferences.

One of the underlying reasons for this survey was the. dé
sion. The financial stringency made it necessary to confer
the brethren to fit the work of the Church into the
a budget which had to be reduced by nearly 25% or 33
financial crash had come. During this crisis the synodical ¢
tion met at Milwaukee in 1932. All were very much dept?
and not at all in a frame of mind to make any approp
any kind. Almost invariably the requests were turned ove
Board of Directors with power to act if and when funds
made available. In a truly miraculous manner, at the vet
of the depression, all obligations at the banks were met. -
indebtedness of nearly $1,000, 000 was gradually liquida
loans were repaid in full.

Then came World War II. But this, too, was a mea
hand of God for good. Again the Lord did not only s
in a most remarkable manner, but He permitted us to ex
to expand His kingdom at home and abroad. The ve
Satan had invented to halt the preaching of the Word
means in the hand of God to extend the preaching of