# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S411
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS 411

Hour, but not the Deaf.) I think work with the deaf would be
slow. If a person could come out to Japan quite soon, I think the
possibility of working with Mr. Kumabe, the student at the ULC
Seminary, to learn the sign language in Japanese, would be most
advantageous. One thing I definitely did feel is that we would
be welcome by those working with the deaf, and I think also by
the deaf themselves.

“In closing, I pray that the Lord will lead you and others
who might be concerned in making a decision about entering
the foreign field, which will glorify our Lord and lead many who
do not yet know Him to salvation through His name, even though
they may not be able to hear it through their physical ears.”

Our Board of Missions thanks Pastor Strege most heartily for
making such a survey for us and for giving us such a fine report.
In view of these interesting facts brought forth in his report your
Board of Missions feels that we should go and start deaf work in
Japan and bring the glorious Gospel also to the Japanese deaf.
It is evident that the need is great. May our Synod seriously con-
sider this matter on the sixtieth anniversary of our Deaf Mission
in the United States. May the Lord of the Church lead and guide
us to the glory of our Savior’s name and the eternal salvation of
many blood-bought souls of deaf in Japan.

Boarp oF Missions To THE DEAF
Wn. Buece, Chairman
Ernest R. Drews, Secretary
G. F. Kruse, Treasurer
Erwin E. SCHROEDER
J. P. MILLER

ACTION
With reference to this report, Committee 2 brought in the
following resolutions, which were adopted:

Resolution 33
Subject: Sixtieth Anniversary of Deaf Missions

Wuereas, This year marks the 60th anniversary of our church’s
work among the deaf; and

Wnereas, During these sixty years we have seen this blessed
work grow numerically as follows:

1896 — 1 full-time missionary — 32 communicants;

1956 — 37 full-time missionaries — 4,213 communicants; and

Wuereas, The Spirit of God has abundantly blessed the labors