Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1935 · 36th Convention, Cleveland › Sheet 125
LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1935, Sheet 125

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

418 Proceedings: df Thirty-Sixth Regular: Convention,

the expansion.‘of the work in the District and community and. i;
missions at large. This would for obvious reasons be disastrous.

22. A plan’ might be devised which will Permit a general coordi

nation of all our mission activities, with the continuance of tk
various District mission boards and the continuance of the misaior
boards of the General Body.

23. We suggest a coordination of all our mission activities, both
at home and abroad. This is necessary if we as Synod are at all
minded to conduct our missions in a systematic and judicious manner.
If they are properly coordinated, we shall be better qualified not only
to make an equitable distribution of funds available for our present
mission program, but also judiciously to enter upon a well-planned
mission expansion at home and abroad. oe

24, We suggest that Synod give the question of proper coordina-
tion of all our mission activities due consideration. "

25. Preparing for the Future.—In this time of stress we are
inclined rather to wrestle with the problems confronting us than to
consider the development of the future, rather to think about co-
ordinating our mission-fields and the curtailment of our expenses than
to plan an expansion of our work.

26. “The children of this world are in their generation wiser than
the children of light,” Luke 16,8. The business man of to-day. is
ever alert to improve, to develop, arid to expand his business, and
if he cannot find an outlet for the goods manufactured at home, he
will reach out for other territories; yes, he will even seek markets
abroad. Let us learn the lesson.

27. Again and again we hear it said in our own midst that the
day is not far distant when we shall have practically every strategic
point covered in this country. This means that sooner or later we
shall have but few opportunities for mission expansion. The day’ may
not be so near at hand as many believe; for there are stil] vast doors
open to us everywhere. Only a few Districts have practically covered
every strategic point in their area. Let us begin now to make definite
plans for future mission expansion at home and abroad. ‘And if in
the course of time our mission opportunities in this country of ours
gradually decrease, let us enthusiastically carry the banner of the
Gospel elsewhere, .

28. If we sean the horizon, seeking mission opportunities, we
cannot but call your attention to South America as one of the fields
of outstanding possibilities, South America ought to receive first con-
BSideration. Of the gain of 31,000 souls in 1934 in Synod nearly 4,000
were added in the South American field. In preparing for the future,
planning our work, a careful study of our present work and of the
outstanding possibilities in South America ought to be made by some