Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1954, Page 116

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116 Proceedings of the Forty-Third Convention,

in the British protectorate of Nigeria. Upon his return from the
British Isles, Pastor Wilson gave an extensive report on his visita-
tion to the Synodical Conference at its Milwaukee Convention dur-
ing the summer of 1934,

The original petition which came to us from the Ibesikpo
people was now given serious consideration by the convention;
however, the enterprise loomed so complicated as to create doubts
and misgivings in the hearts of many delegates whether our efforts
would be crowned with success. Nevertheless the convention in-
structed its “Board for Colored Mission” to send to Africa a com-
mittee to explore the mission opportunities in Nigeria and to study
all implications involved in the bringing of the Gospel to a Con-
tinent which was listed as animistic relative to its inhabitants and
treacherous in certain sections with regard to the physical and
mental welfare of those who would serve as the Church’s agents.
After the Survey Committee, consisting of Pastors Im. Albrecht,
O. C. A. Boecler, and Dr. H. Nau, upon its return had advised the
Synodical Conference to go forward in God’s name, the Synodical
Conference inaugurated a mission program in Nigeria, West Africa,
in 1936.

The seed which our early pioneers, Pastors Nau, Schweppe,
Koeper, and Kretzmann, sowed on African soil brought forth good
fruit. Soon other missionaries were sent to Nigeria to build the
walls of a Lutheran Zion. The harvest of souls down through the
years was truly phenomenal. With the steady growth of the mis-
sion — bringing with it the necessity of erecting churches, schools,
and permanent parsonages, the establishment of a seminary, normal
and high schools, a hospital, a rest house, additional schools for
girls — problems of administration increased and necessitated the
allocation of larger sums of money and the calling of additional
workers to cope with the expansion.

The trend of nationalism which today is holding the world in
its grip, and which is creating an uncertain future, made it impera-
tive to press into a few years an accelerated program which was
originally intended to be developed over a longer period of time.
The Synodical Conference found itself compelled to build the mis-
sion in such a manner that it could be carried on successfully if
an enforced evacuation would necessitate a reduction in the num-
ber of our American workers. Preparations were made to cope
effectively with any eventuality. The Synodical Conference ex-
hibited a willingness to support any movement which would
enhance the stability and solidarity of our Lutheran Church in
West Africa. When the budgetary requests rose to higher levels
from year to year, the Conference offered no complaint, but con-
tributed the amounts requested in the budget in order to “hold
the line” in Nigeria.

A Second Visitation

The Missionary Board deemed it essential and necessary last
year to re-evaluate the mission setup in West Africa in all its
phases and ramifications. The Executive Secretary of the Board
was requested to conduct such a study in the field. The visitation
was made. The Executive Secretary, accompanied by his spouse,
spent a few months among the brethren, strengthening them in
their faith and the congregations in their love to, and zeal for, the
cause of the adorable Savior who came into this world to see to