# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1887_S65
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Fifth Delegate Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, 1887. 65

one or more teachers, train mission students, or could put the finishing
touches on young men already trained theologically in our own or other
institutions, for their eventual equipping to work among the heathen
concerned.

"7. Many hearts, young and old, in the Synod join with us in this
prayer: 'Ah, Lord, grant us a fruitful mission among the near as among
the far heathen and enemies of Your kingdom, and let such mission
work succeed well, to the honor of Your name and the conversion of
many heathen and adversaries of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

"8. Yes, thank God, a lovely mission movement is now passing
through Christendom in general, and a powerful mission spirit is
beginning to blow through it. The heathen mission is no longer a mere
matter of fashion; rather, Christians in many places recognize it, more
and more, as their God-given task to preach the Gospel to every
creature. And should we Lutherans, entrusted by God's grace with the
pure doctrine, wish to remain mere spectators of the great mission work
that is now going on everywhere, and appeal to the fact that we have
already done enough with Home Missions, the Negro mission, and the
Jewish mission, so that we need not also take up the heathen mission?
Far be it from us!

"It is also certain, on the other hand, that if we take up the heathen
mission in faith, on Christ's command and promise, we shall lose
nothing in the work of Home Missions, but must gain by it. Let us,
therefore, confidently hold to the command of our Savior: Go into all the
world and preach the Gospel to every creature. 'The phrase "all the
world,"' says Luther in the Ascension sermon of his Church Postil,
'does not mean one piece, or two, but all and everything, whatever and
wherever there are people. The Gospel runs on forever, so that it must
come everywhere and resound in every place and corner of the world.'
And further, Luther says of the 23rd chapter of Matthew: 'This, then, is
the very best work: that the heathen have been led out of idolatry to the
knowledge of God.'

"9. From the treasury report of the General Treasurer we finally
learn that, as of April 1, 1887, there was found in the treasury for the
heathen mission the sum of 13,468 dollars, to which is added a further
cash balance of $79.27 in the hands of the Commission, so that the total
sum now available for the heathen mission comes to about 13,548
dollars.

"What a gladdening and encouraging sign from our God lies in this,
that He has poured such a great treasure into our lap, so that we may
confidently proceed to a vigorous prosecution of the heathen mission!

5

[SCAN: faint word-fragments show through on the left margin from the facing page (p-070); not transcribed.]