Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1941 · 38th Convention, Fort Wayne › Page 175
LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1941, Page 175

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

Reports on General Missions 175

rible conflict, yet their respective countries have drafted given
measures to protect themselves against alien influences. It is but
natural that our Church in South America, predominantly Ger-
man, is also affected by some of the regulations adopted.. The
ruling that none but native Brazilians shall be permitted to teach
meant the closing of a large numberof our schools because not all
our teachers could meet the requirements. In Brazil all pastors
must preach in the language of the country. A German sermon,
until now, may follow. For the past two years only natives were
granted a permanencia, the permission to stay in Brazil perma-
nently. The door is seemingly closed to us, and will be also in the

‘future. Graduates or pastors from the United States cannot get
permanent visas. And there are scores of unmet opportunities.
What the near future might bring in Argentina and in Brazil no
one knows.

Foreign Missions. — The countries where we carry on our
foreign missions — India, China, Africa (in Africa we conduct
missions together with the other synods of the Synodical Con-
ference) — are in the war and therefore are more or less ex-
periencing the terrible influences of war. In India and in Africa
the work goes on with little disturbances, though it was impossible
for the Board of African Missions to return one of their mission-
aries after the expiration of his furlough. In China, however, our
missionaries and their native coworkers are laboring under great
difficulties, especially in the war zone. Much property damage was
wrought by ruthless bombing; but God until now spared the lives
of all our missionaries and their families, also all the native Chris-
tians save one. The war has been an instrument in the hand of
God to create new opportunities, to open doors and pave the way
for our missionaries.— According to reports received the Philippine
Islands offer us new opportunities to extend the Lord’s kingdom.

Deaf and Blind Missions. — New fields have been opened to us
in the South. A place of worship and a parsonage were provided
for the groups at Omaha, Nebr., and at St. Louis, Mo. — The Omaha
chapel for the deaf is serving also a hearing mission-congregation,
which was organized in this community. Until now the resolution
passed in the Delegate Convention in 1938 “that, if possible, a man
who understands the sign-language be added to the Board,” has
not been carried out. We plead that the Nominations Committee
give this matter due consideration. We have a number of men well
acquainted with the sign-language, men not salaried by the Board
of Missions to Deaf and Blind, well qualified to give real assistance
to the Board at the visitations of the several fields which ought to
be made at regular intervals.