More than 800 people attended the 47th annual convention of the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society (LWMS) in St. Louis, Mo., on June 24-27.

"One can't help but get excited about mission work after attending one of these conventions and being saturated for two days with 'mission reality stories,' says Jan Lampe, a member at St. Paul, Muskego, Wis., and a frequent attendee of LWMS conventions. "Hearing about the doors being opened to save souls in countries that WELS had never considered witnessing in years ago is truly a blessing from God."

Those attending the convention heard from missionaries around the world. Through the kids c.a.r.e. program, LWMS organizers also presented more than $74,000 to World Missions for outreach in Pakistan and Nepal. WELS youth contributed more than $49,000, while the Antioch Foundation provided a $25,000 matching grant.

"Thank you to all the Sunday schools, Lutheran elementary schools, Pioneer groups, children, and grandchildren who contributed," says Paula Danekas, LWMS president. "The generosity of the families involved in this project is overwhelming."

LWMS organizers also presented more than $107,000 to mission administrators for home and world mission projects. This includes contributions given by the 60 LWMS circuits throughout the year as well as offerings given at the convention.

Danekas says that attending the convention and learning what God has done in mission fields around the world is a great reminder of the goal of the organization: keeping member congregations focused on the mission of proclaiming the gospel to all nations. "We take this renewed, refreshed, restored spirit back to our home congregations so they too are inspired and lifted up by the events of the convention."

The next LWMS convention will be held June 23-26, 2011, in Milwaukee, Wis.

Learn more about the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society at www.lwms.org.