# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1932_S3 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) others. Just in proportion as Christidns exercise their faith in the Savior of all men inf the work of missions is the reaction of a greater ze: Lif aligious CNONAR URE A work in their home churches.” SS Louis Harms and Hermannsburg. When Louis Harms came to Hermannsburg in 1849, he found the parish at a spiritually low ebb. The men were a hard-drinking lot, and the youth cared little for the Gospel that he wanted to bring them. But then he told them his simple tale of the wants and woes of the poor heathen and thereby enkindled a fire which spread far and near. The fire which burned in Pastor Harms’s breast was soon transmitted to his people. Though but few in num- ber and feeble in strength and too poor to give hun- dreds and thousands in money, they responded to his appeal. There were those who saw this awakening at Hermannsburg who doubtingly shook their heads at the missionary enthusiasm of Harms and his little flock. But faith in the Lord and childlike prayer for His help, united with self-sacrifice, prevailed, and a moral miracle was the result. The simple Hermannsburgers first gave their money, but soon they also gave themselves. One man gave his farm, and on this farm was opened a school where future missionaries were prepared for their work abroad. And not a few of these con- secrated men came to America and served our con- gregations. Then a sailor suggested the building of a ship to bear the missionaries to other lands, and the Candace, the first of mission-ships, was built and manned by members of the Hermannsburg parish. But this is not all. While Hermannsburg sent forth scores of young men and women to various countries of the world to preach the Gospel as Christ has commanded His Church to do, the church at home increased in number, until its membership reached ten thousand, and it became the largest Christian congregation in the world. Though they gave for the Lord’s work with open hands, the Lord would not allow them to exceed Him in giving; though they scattered, yet God saw to it that their storehouse became ever fuller. “To Give Is to Live!” At the close of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth century the churches everywhere - were in a sad spiritual state. Spiritual life was at a very low ebb. The sky looked threatening. The future seemed wholly unpromising. A few men saw that the churches were dying of the dry-rot of sel- AN PIONEER hip t | a fistihasscifigin) Actixity, absorption in their own in- terests, theif VARY fo get out of themselves and do something for otherf. The result was a strong agi- tation for missions/ And the effect upon the home chr hes soon becdme apparent. Congregations be- e ath GY AG became active in the service of others. ~\.gréaff deepening of religious earnestness could soon be~seen. Spiritual life and strength manifested itself everywhere. In seeking to save others, they saved themselves. In their endeavor to bring life to their fellow-creatures, they brought new life and vitality into their own souls. Let Us Learn the Lesson! There is here a most important lesson for us all. A supreme need among us is a large view, a world outlook, a new faith in the greatness of the mission of our Lutheran Church and its pure Gospel, a cour- age to launch out into the deep as we know the Lord would have us do, and the sublime enthusiasm to do something worth while for Him who shed His pre- cious blood and gave His life for us that we may live with Him in bliss forever. The alternative that presents itself to every church-body and congregation is an enlarged vision, which takes in the whole world, or a religious pro- vincialism, which must result in sterility, exhaus- tion, and death. There is no hope for that religious body, great or small, which confines itself within Chinese walls of self-interest and is deaf to every . appeal for larger service. The church that responds to the appeal of missions with a cold and unfeeling “We don’t believe in missions” thereby utters its own condemnation and doom. Faith can grow only by exercise, and so a church can grow into a fuller life only by putting forth its efforts to expand itself beyond its narrow boundaries into all the world. Would we grow strong in faith and love? Would we have our congregations grow in spiritual life? Would we have our dear Church live and grow from grace to grace? Obey the command of the Lord of - the Church: “Go ye into all the world.” Preach the Gospel to every creature, everywhere, in season and out of season. Bring men to hear the Gospel. Per- suade men to believe it. Be missionaries! F. J. L. oo “Tze doors are open, and consecrated men and women in‘large numbers are offering themselves for service. If the Church will courageously go forward in faith, prayer, and conscientious giving, then the Gospel-car will also move forward with ~ the speed of the age in which we are living.”