# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S249
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS 249

urch Is on the March

is also true of our Church in South America. Being more
ssociated with their sister Districts in North America, the
and Argentina Districts made remarkable forward strides
Mee *thée past triennium. It was at their own request, in 1947,

ethe Boards for North and South America were consolidated.
eis istricts are forging ahead. In an increasing measure they

wing the pattern of our North American Districts in the
ition of good stewardship and mission policies, in the develop-
rot mission fields, in the organization of congregations, in the
Mie of circuit meetings, and in the conduct of District conven-
all of which the laity is beginning to play an increas-

e, whenever and wherever there is, by the grace of God,
ess, it is attained in the midst of many problems and
;. It is never a walk-away, it is ever a battle royal; for
One is ever alert to hinder the preaching of the Gospel,
from without, then from within. It is very strange, however,
ry things which the Evil One had invented to thwart
hing of the Gospel — hatred, war, and persecutions —
means in the hands of God to bring the Gospel to other
d to strengthen fellow Christians and knit them more
together to do even greater things for the Lord and His

of manifold difficulties the South American Districts
ahead. They are gradually “becoming of age.” They
neing to full manhood. The time is not too far distant
my-the guidance and the direction of all of the affairs of our
m the South American continent can be turned over to
w soon our fellow Christians beneath the Southern Cross
e to take over also the full financial obligation time

re than fifty years the Mother Church fostered South
|-missions with the greatest care. For fifty years it sent:
ad missionaries and subsidized them. And it was not in
today we are ministering to over 80,000 blood-bought
the South American continent. Then, too, we also have
ified:leaders in the South American Districts upon whom

time. the full responsibility of the affairs of the Church
Wi the: Southern Cross can be placed.’ May the Lord. speed
when our fellow. Christians as an. autonomous, indigenous

‘Church can take over the propagation of the Gospel in