# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1938_S137
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Missions in General 1387

means solved. But did not the Lord put us to shame last year?
Does He not now in a most striking manner whisper to you and me:
“Oh, ye of little faith” when since June 1, 1937, to date He has
called no fewer than 150 of our graduates into permanent service?
He is surely well able to make that very thing which caused us
so much grief a decided blessing. All the candidates not per-
manently called were at work in the Church. In fact, just before
the recent graduation about 18 requests for temporary placement
of candidates could not be met. Leave it to the Lord; pray — but
do your part conscientiously.

“A great door and effectual,” is indeed opened unto us by
the Lord. Blessed be His holy name!

A perspective of the mission-work of Synod was given in
the printed

Report of the Secretary of Missions

in the book of Reports and Memorials as follows:

Home Missions
1. Cost of Missions.

1935 1936 1937
$210,499.41 $209,826.97 $220,432.49

2. For one hundred years we carried on Home Missions, and
they were one hundred years of continued progress. You will ask,
Is not our country now filled with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Is there still room for mission expansion? Yes, in spite of the
fact that there are today more than one thousand missionaries
active in the Home Mission Department there still is room.

3. Mission Opportunities in the Parishes of the Home Church.
There are mission opportunities everywhere. There are vast un-
met opportunities in the fields already occupied. The most pro-
ductive field we have is beyond all doubt within the existing
congregations, and it is a mission-field which can be worked
successfully at little or no additional expense; for here we have
adequate equipment. We have churches, schools, parish halls,
Sunday-schools, all fully equipped. We have the necessary staff
to conduct the work; we have experienced pastors, teachers,
Sunday-school teachers, consecrated members. We have young
people’s societies, ladies’ aids, and men’s clubs. The seventeen mil-
lion boys and girls of school age and the sixty million of unchurched
of our country are indeed a tremendous challenge to every member
of the Church.

4. An increased interest to reach out to the unchurched is

noticeable. While twenty years ago only 2,100 adults were received
into membership of our Church by confirmation, the number of

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