Christian Cyclopedia

1. Modern Christian soc. service began in Ger. in the 1st part of the 19th c. See also Fliedner, Theodor; Wichern, Johann Hinrich.

2. Objectives of Inner Miss. are soc. and spiritual, Christian soc. services in the fullest sense of the term.

3. A. Stoecker* exerted strong influence in later Inner Miss. developments. Nazism and WW II combined to undo many soc. gains achieved by Inner Miss. in Ger. Late in Kirchenkampf* the Inner Miss. saved many lives by opposing euthanasia. The Hilfswerk (relief work) of EKD was organized 1945; in 1957 it united with Inner Miss. as Innere Mission und Hilfswerk der EKD In Am. the term “Inner Mission” fell into disuse by the middle of the 20th c. and was replaced by such terms as “soc. miss.,” “soc. service,” and “soc. welfare work.” Responsibility for much soc. work was assumed by govts. of various countries. HFW

See also Aging and Infirm, Homes and Services for; Charities, Christian; Child and Family Service Agencies; Hospitals; Social Work.