# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S268
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

268 MISSIONS

entire New Testament became convinced of the truth of the W.
Later he had contact with Dr. Fuerbringer by correspondg
through whom he learned of our. work in England and in Fra
In A. D. 1938 he established fellowship with our Church. His ‘wg
was rudely interrupted by the war, kept up in a fashion dust
the war, and resumed fully after the war. Pastor Hobus s
theology in France, Belgium, and Holland under Methodis
cipline, was ordained a Methodist minister, and served as missig
for the Methodist Church for 15 years. The liberalism ‘in
Methodist Church and its methods of church work (revivalism,;
made it impossible for him to continue in that Church. 4
brought in contact with Pastor Hellings; and having come,
doctrinal unity with the Free Church brethren in France,’
lished by a formal colloquy, he has now been ordained as
of our Church and is serving a small band of members whi

with him into the Lutheran Church.

“RB Problems and Recommendations.

“Belgium is a Roman Catholic country. Protestantism in
eral is not very effective. While the Lutheran Hour via St
Luxembourg reaches the Belgian people and our missionaries ‘€
lish contact through the mail with individuals who respond!
Lutheran Hour, successful mission work is extremely di
again because most people maintain ar outward relatio
the Roman Catholic Church.

“The temptation lies very near for the missionary to
uis energies and to spend much time in travel, seeking out
viduals in various parts of the country, instead of engagi
a more concentrated and intensive form of mission work. :

“The task of providing successors for the pastors now.
presents a problem comparable to that which exists in Frani
should, therefore, be studied and solved, if possible, togethe
the situation in France.

“Since the work of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Chit
Belgium is comparatively new and the two pastors serving
are doing their work in a very aggressive manner, they sh
encouraged to continue an intensive program of mission &
among the people of Belgium. We recommend that further.
assistance be given so as to enable these pastors to contin
work. It is to be expected that an increase in member:
also produce greater financial support on the part of the
on whom must rest the primary responsibility for the wd
Belgium. Our sister churches in other European countries
to be encouraged, being much closer to the scene, to assum:
interest in the work of our brethren in Belgium.”