The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1931, Page 31

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

31

District in Kansas numbers 26,500 souls. All the
other denominations working in Kansas have a
membership of 740,000. The population of Kansas
is about 1,820,000, which leaves 1,054,000 people
in Kansas without church connection, or more than
half of the entire population of our State. In
thirty counties of our State we have no church or
preaching-station. Is not this condition in our
State a challenge to our Lutheran Church to do in-
tensive mission-work in order to gain some of these
unchurched people for the kingdom of God? The
Mission Board is at the present time gathering in-
formation in regard to church conditions in the
larger towns and cities of the State where we are
not working at the present time. Now, we all know
from experience that we shall not be able to win
all the churchless people for the kingdom of God.
Perhaps it would be also impossible to gain even
half of them. But if through our efforts ten per
cent. could be brought in Christ’s kingdom, would
we not all rejoice because of such blessing of the
Lord? But let us take even a smaller number,
say one per cent. If we could gain that many,
10,000, during the next two or three years, it
would be a fine progress. In His parable of the
Great Supper the Lord tells His servant, ‘Compel
them to come in!’ That means that we must use
persistent efforts towards gaining the unchurched.
There is no inherent inclination in the unchurched
that will lead them to us. We must go out after
them and bring’them under the influence of the
Gospel. Such action on our part is not optional
or merely desirable. It is part of the missionary
command of Christ which He has given to each
individual Christian.”

Neglected Rural Children.— The children of
farm tenants have as a class been neglected by
country churches. Upon the whole, the rural
churches, our own by no means excepted, have not
been active in bringing them into church and
school. Not a few of our churches have been con-
tributing more or less to carry on mission-work
abroad and in the homeland; but within a mile of
our churches there may be dozens of little chaps
growing up without any religious training. On
the whole, the members of our country churches
are strangely indifferent to this missionary oppor-
tunity presented to them and lying at their very
doors. Surely a change ought to take place among
our pastors and members as far as their attitude to
this convenient mission-material is concerned. We
should create a conscience among pastors and mem-
bers in this matter. As soon as a new renter family

moves into the community of one of our churches,
our people should concern themselves about their
spiritual welfare. Let us not be blind to the
whitened harvest at our very doors. We began this
item talking about children; but we are closing it
talking about old as well as young, for we do not
wish to pass any one. Let us not permit any Home
Mission opportunity pass by unheeded.

Home Missions in Mississippi. — This from the
Soulhern District Bulletin: —

“God has again shown His supervising hand by
making it possible that the people at Jackson, Miss.,
be served, and this without any expense to the
Southern District. During the last few months
there seemed to be a large influx of Lutherans to
this city. At the same time, Pastor G. A. Schmidt,
under the Negro Missions Board, was sent to Jack-
son as spiritual adviser of a large Negro institution.
Besides doing his work at the institution, Pastor
Schmidt also saw an opportunity to serve the Lu-
theran people of this city, which was more than
gladly granted him. At the second service the
number of people attending was twenty-two.”

Louisville, Ky.— About two months ago the
new Concordia Church was dedicated in this city.
The congregation is not large, nor are its members
to be counted among the well-to-do of the city.
What made this fine new church possible was, next
to God’s grace, the bequest of one of its members.
This man had willed all his property to the con-
gregation, a sum of $40,000. By saving and even
denying himself those things not necessary, he had
succeeded in gathering this large sum during his
lifetime. We have here a noble example that could
be followed by others. What finer thing could you
do than remember your church generously in your
will? In that manner you would do good even
after you are gone; thus you would illustrate the
meaning of the words, “Their works do follow
them.” By so doing, you would be erecting a monu-
ment that would be enduring, and many future
generations would bless your memory.

Mission or Omission— Which?—“In mission-
ary interest some give themselves to Foreign Mis-
sions, some to Home Missions, and a good many to
omissions. Among these last the interest is often
zero, as they care naught. Again, there are those
who exclaim warmly, ‘O missions! Yes, they are,
O so needed!’ but the O compasses. all they do.
Would that many at home might turn from being
o-missionaries to being go-missionaries! And may.
those who for sufficient reasons cannot now be go-