Founding and Call

Eduard L. Arndt was a pioneer missionary who helped found the Evangelical Lutheran Missions for China in 1912. The work began with more than strategy or enthusiasm; it rested on the conviction that Christ sends His church to speak His saving Word where it is not yet known. Arndt’s willingness to go reflected a settled confidence that the Lord’s commission is not optional: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19).

Arrival in Shanghai (February 25, 1913)

On February 25, 1913, Arndt arrived in Shanghai, entering a vast port city shaped by global commerce, political tensions, and deep spiritual need. Ten months after the mission’s founding, his arrival signaled the beginning of patient, face-to-face gospel labor—learning people’s lives and language, listening carefully, and speaking with clarity. Such work required steady courage, because the missionary’s task is often unseen and slow, marked by daily faithfulness rather than public triumph. As Scripture puts it, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Hankow Territory: Missions, Schools, and Worship in the Heart Language

In time Arndt established missions and schools in the Hankow territory along the Yangtze River region (Hankow, now part of Wuhan). Schools served both practical and spiritual aims—teaching literacy and training minds while also grounding students in the catechesis and the Scriptures. His translations of hymns and sermons into Chinese were especially significant. By placing sound teaching and singable praise into the language of the people, he helped believers confess the faith with understanding and joy, not as borrowed words but as their own testimony. This kind of service shows a quiet heroism: persevering love that refuses to treat people as projects, seeking instead their lasting good in Christ.

Missouri Synod Oversight (1917)

In 1917 the Missouri Synod assumed oversight of the mission work, providing structure, accountability, and support for long-term continuity. The handoff did not erase Arndt’s labor; it carried it forward, illustrating how gospel work outlasts any one worker. The same Lord who calls also preserves His Word among His people, so that, generation by generation, the message is heard, believed, and confessed.