# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1902_S72
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

72 Proceedings of the nineteenth convention

preparatory training for service in church and school. May God give us more men who have the right spirit and the necessary gifts and the necessary abilities.

We are far from finished with our Negro Mission. A great field is still white unto harvest. Therefore we have high cause to rouse ourselves and again and again to encourage one another for the work of the Lord. "Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord," 1 Cor. 15:58. Of that woman, Mark 14:8, Christ testifies: "She hath done what she could!" Of the Synodical Conference also it shall be said in the work of the Negro Mission: "She hath done what she could!" "For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth," Acts 13:47. One of our missionaries writes: "Let us go on working among the poor Negroes, and go on lifting up our eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh our help, so that we may give the poor Negroes in the future, more even than in the past, what lies in our power, the best of every kind: our prayers, our gifts, our interest, our knowledge, our higher institutions of learning, thorough training and other support! And why precisely we? Because God has let the light of the full truth rise upon us before many others. 'Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.'"

Yes, we do not want to grow weary, but with joy and love, with right gladness and diligent zeal we want rather to take part in this work of the Lord and to help to our part so that it can be continued and extended, and to shun no sacrifice; for the Lord has told it to us, has commanded it to us. We want to pray the Lord earnestly that he send more laborers into his vineyard and give them through his Word one victory after another. We want also to contribute to this work from earthly goods, which the Lord has given us, for this glorious mission, crowned with success, which God has assigned to us out of grace, is bound up with great costs ($1175.00 monthly). It is true, the needs for the kingdom of God are growing; yet the dear God has made us so strong and rich, has lent us so many powers, that if we only stand together faithfully and exert ourselves, we shall have enough and to spare. Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. May the Lord kindle us through the fire of his divine love, that we not do his work slackly. May he guard us from the coldness of this world and from the lukewarmness of this last, troubled time. May he be gracious to us and prosper the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands may he prosper. Amen.

In the name and by commission of the Commission for the Negro Mission.

Chas. F. Obermeyer.