# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S571
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS
Zechariah 4:6
By Present J. W. Bennxen, D.D.
7 Jesus, DEAR Co-Workers:

ess of paramount importance, our Father’s business, has
goned us to this meeting. I take it that every one of you is
‘convinced that this is the most important business on earth.
re shall discuss and decide is to be an earnest effort, weak
it is true, but honest and conscientious, to carry out our
; great commission.
pproach the enormous task before us with fear and
ing. God has seen fit to place us into Kingdom work in
srucial period of the world’s history, yes, in a day when this
nd tottering world seems to be hastening unto its eternal
It is a crucial period also in the history of the Church.
rthy predecessor, the sainted Dr. Pfotenhauer, stated in
meeting at River Forest in 1930: “Ominous clouds are
ing in the skies of our Synod.” These clouds have not
ed. Realizing this, how shall we take courage to under-
enormous tasks assigned to us? For our instruction and
gement, let us center our attention on the word of the Lord:

x.

“Not by Might, Nor by Power, but by My Spirit”
I

Proved by Church History of the Past

tbbabel faced an enormous task. God wanted him to re-
temple in Jerusalem after the children of Israel had
“from the seventy years of Babylonian captivity. The
aste. Everywhere there was evidence of impoverishment.
ner numbers were decimated. The enemies challenged
ght to reclaim their country. Over against these enemies
weak and practically helpless. They had no well-
and well-trained armies. They were pitiable objects of
‘Furthermore, they would be compelled to face the fact
kecond temple would not approach the beauty of Solomon’s
0 -say the least, then, their prospects were decidedly
God provided the encouragement so sorely needed. By the
Haggai the Lord told them: “Yet now be strong, O Zerub- ~
hd be strong, O Joshua, son of Josadech, the high priest;
ong all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work;
ith you, saith the Lord of hosts; according to the word