LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1929, Page 93

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

i
{
!

|
i

98 Proceedings of Thirty-Fourth Regular Convention,

3. That Synod’s Church Extension Board loan the
buildings needed in Detroit, New York, and Omaha to th
fund of the Deaf-mute Missions and that the Church Extensj

with the proviso that the question under Point 3 be refer
Board of Directors for decision,

Our Colored Missions.
(Report of the Board.)

Looking back on the work of the Lord among the F Teedmen
during the past triennium, we have every reason to render thanks to
Him for the faithful missionaries, both white and black, whom He
has given us and for the abundant blessings which He has bestoweq
upon the labors of their hands. The number of white Missionaries
is gradually decreasing, while the staff of colored laborers is Sradually
growing. Upon the whole, the colored missionaries are making ood.
We have reason to be satisfied and to thank God.

work of rescuing the Sons of Ham, who are, as it were, lying at
our door!

Our missionaries are at work in fourteen States: Missouri,
Illinois, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio,
and California. In these States more than twenty-five thousand
Negroes are weekly brought in Contact with God’s Word and Luther’s
doctrine pure. The largest mission-fields are in Louisiana, Alabama,
and North Carolina. In Alabama the expansion of the field has been

‘marvelous,

Calls to begin work in large cities in the North which have ex-
Perienced a large Negro influx from the South during the past five
to ten years are multiplying. The Mission Board advises and re-
Quests the pastors of these cities to undertake and try out the work.
In the event the trial is successful, the Mission Board will cooperate
or take over the work entirely, Work in large cities ig expensive. It

Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1929, 99

25,000 to get a plant, Two years ago about
takes from aera oe chapel in St. Louis. It was dedicated in
oer The congregation has srown at a rapid pace. Attendance
wa orning and evening services is So good that ere long an
a both vill have to be built. In Chicago the Situation is similar,
ioe need of more and better buildings was clearly seen by the
legates at the convention of the Synodical Conference in Omaha
ae August. They adopted a building program calling for $218,500.
If our Christians could see the miserable shacks in which our mis-
ionaries must conduct services and school year after year, they would
gwamp” the treasurer with gifts for these needed buildings.
The running expenses of our Colored Missions call for $150,000
a year. About 85 per cent. of this amount comes from our Synod,
most of the remaining 15 per cent, is contributed by the Wisconsin

What are our colored Christians doing to support the work? It
is well known that they are poor in this world’s goods. Their econ-
tributions for the Lord’s work among their own people are often real
sacrifices. A washerwoman will contribute a dollar a week for her
church. A special collection was to be taken up at a certain place on
a certain Sunday. Old “Aunt” Maria was anxious to give, but not
a penny was to be found in her old log cabin. What did she do?
Why, she told her Father in heaven about it. He who looks at the
heart and not at the color of a person’s skin heard the prayer of His
poor child and caused her to find work. She earned a dollar. When
she had the dollar in her hand, she joyfully exclaimed: “Lord, I’s
got it, I’s got it! Lord, I’s got it!” That dollar — every cent of
it—was given to the Lord again the following Sunday when the
offerings were gathered. — Ten years ago about $9,800 was received
from the entire mission-field; last year the total receipts were approx-
imately $40,000. Our colored Christians are learning better and
better the grace of giving. Still there is room for improvement in
places. Therefore the Mission Board has adopted a budget system
for all congregations and preaching-places, which will go into effect
the beginning of next year. May God be pleased to bless thig plan!

It may not be amiss to mention that our Board for Colored