The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1924, Sheet 59

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Che Lutheran Pioneer.

A MISSIONARY MONTHLY.

PUBLISHED BY TILE

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNODICAL CONFERENCE or Norri AMERICA.

REv. F. J. LANKENAU, EDITOR.

Published monthly by Concordia Publishing House, St, Louls, Mo.

Subscription price, 50 cts. per annum, payable strictly In advance,

Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at St. Louls, Mo., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 5, 1918.

Vol. XLVI. ST. LOUIS, MO., AUGUST, 1924.

No. 8.

OUR MONTHLY MISSIONARY MOTTO.
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into

His harvest.’’

Matt: 9, 38.

Team-Work.

We all know the importance of team-work in
the field of athletics. ‘The best athlete is hopelessly
handicapped if his team does not support him.
“Team-work” is a necessity if you want efficiency
in athletics.

So, also, recently a pastor in speaking to his
people a few Sundays ago pleaded for “better team-
work” among the members. And who will deny
the fact that “team-work” is just as necessary for
church efficiency as for success in the field of sports?
“Team-work” is needed among the members and
between the pastor and his people if efficient work
is to be done.

“Team-work,” as we all know,.is only another
way of spelling “cooperation.” Some years ago
I witnessed a rope-pulling contest. On one end of
the rope were about a half-dozen youths, not one
of them weighing more than 150 pounds; on the
other end of the rope were as many strong, full-
grown men, probably all weighing over 175 pounds.
When I first saw the rivals lined up, ready to take
hold and begin the “tug-of-war,’ I said to a man
standing near me, “That hardly looks fair, to put
those boys against those big men.” The reply I re-
ceived was, “Just wait and see!” And what hap-
pened? Why, those boys walked right away with
those heavy men! And the reason? ‘The boys did
good “team-work,” pulled together; the men pulled
48 individuals and not together.

Unity of purpose and action must be present if

any endeavor is to be successful. The missionary
in the field needs the cooperation of the people at
home. He needs not only the financial support of the
home base, but still more he stands in need of their
prayers and encouragement. Let us not forget this,
“team-work” must be applied at the home base if our
Church is to be equal to the demands made upon it.
This is also true with regard to our work among
the freedmen. Our Mission Board, Director of
Missions, all of our mission-workers, white and
Colored, need the assurance of our cooperation, if
our mission among the Negroes of this country is
to flourish. ‘The assurance of our sympathy and
interest will strengthen their arms and give courage
to their hearts; the knowledge that our prayers are
ascending to the ‘Throne of Mercy in their behalf
will spur them on to greater zeal and efficiency. On
the other hand, let our workers in the field feel that
the home churches are lagging in interest; let them
be brought face to face with the fact that the Aarons
and Hurs at home are not holding up their hands
by their intercessions; let it be brought home to
them that neither ear nor eye is lent to the need
or the call for service in this field, then we must
not be surprised when we hear that our forces in
the field are weakened and that we are presenting .
broken ranks to the foe. -
Tet us write “team-work,” cooperation, large
over our plans, our prayers, and our gifts. Let
our slogan be a call for larger, more consecrated,
and more unselfish service — “The strength of all
for the help of each.” F. J. 1.