The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Page 3

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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
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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.”