Foreign Mission Board Rooms
April 10, 1956
The Foreign Mission Board met in semi-annual session at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
April lo/l956, in the First Baptist Church, Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: State Members: Waymon C, Reese, Ala.; W. 0. Vaught, Jr., Ark.; James R.
Staples, Ariz.; Robert D. Hughes, Calif.; J. Ray Garrett, D.C.j Preston B. Sellers,
Fla.; Monroe F. Swilley, Ga. ; Clifton A. Forrester, Ga.; Howard P. Giddens, Ga.j
Harry L. Garrett, Ill.; Robert. E. Humphreys, Ky. ; W. Peyton Thurman, Ky. ; James W.
Middleton, La.; W. Clyde Atkins, Md.; J. H. Kyzar, Miss.; J. ^dwin Hewlett, Mo.;
A. A. DuLaney, New Mexico; Eph Whisenhunt, N.C.; V. Ward Barr, N.C.; Mrs. Foy J.
Farmer, N.C.; James A. Canaday, Lenn.; W. Fred Kendall,
Тепл.;
M. B. Carroll, Tex.;
James N. Morgan, Tex.; Mrs. R. L. Mathis, Tex.; Arthur B. Rutledge, Tex.: Arthur
E. Travis, Tex.; Neal W. Ellis, V a.
Local Members: Howard L. Arthur, J. K. Boyles, Mrs. Earl Br own, Mrs. Kenneth Burke,
E. P. Buxton, Colon B. Cousins, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, Oscar L. Hite, L. Howard
Jenkins, John M. Lewis, Garis T. -Cong, W. Rush Loving, Perry Mitchell, -olton Phillips
H. B. Tillman, J. Hundley wiley, P. Earle Wood, C. Bailey Jones.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, George W. Sadler, Eugene L. Hill, Elmer S. West, Rogers
M. Bmith, F©n H. Scofield, Bill Cody, E. L. Wright, A. L. Deane, R. A. Magee, John
C. Williams.
Guests: Dr. and Mrs. Charles a. Mad dry, Dr. and Mrs. John Maguire, Miss Airaa Hunt,
Miss Margaret Bruce, Dr. George Carver, Dr. Cornell Goerner, Dr. Gray Allison, Dr.
L. A. Brown, Dr. Arnold Ohm, Dr. Bob Denny, Dr. Frithjov Iverson, Rev. and Mrs.
Fred McCaulley, Dr. C. Emanuel Carlson, Dr. John Abernathy, Rev. and -‘Vs. David
Lockhard, Miss Monda Marlar.
Dr. James A. Canaday of Tennessee, led the devotional period.
Dr. Cauthen gave the report of the Executive Secretary.
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Since the last full meeting of this board there have been increased evidences of
the growing determination on the part of Southern Baptists to expand our world
ministry. For one thing, there came at the close of 1955 from the Advance Section
of the Cooperative Program the sum of §1,836,630.83. This represents 75 per cent
of all Cooperative Program funds received in the Nashville office after the South¬
wide Budget was reached.
These funds made possible increasing the 1956 budget by the sum of $600,000, meet-
in':- capital and other needs on mission fields amount to $9 00,000, preparation
of a highly significant missionary education film "All Are Called," costing $35,000;
application of $200,000 toward the headquarters building of the Foreign Mission
Board; and setting aside $101,630.8-3 for advance projects in evangelism and church
development bn mission fields.
The year, 1955, closed with an all-time high in missionary giving. The income of
the Foreign Mission Board from all sources for last year was $11,108,268. This was
an increase of $970,736 over the preceding year.
Indication of a growing determination on the part- of Southern Baptists is reflect¬
ed as much in the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering as in any other way. The final
reports for the offering are not in hand, but we have already received the sum of
111, 355, 209.90. We are hopeful that the final figure will be no less than $h,500,-
000. On behalf of missionaries throughout the whole world and the Foreign Mission
Board, we express to those who are responsible for the development of the Lottie
‘Von Christmas Offering our deep appreciation of all that this means in spiritual
and financial reinforcement. It would be difficult to overstate the significance
of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering either in terms of prayer, mission study, or
giving.
Determination to expand our world ministry will be reflected at the meeting of
the Southern Baptist Convention in Kansas City when a recommendation will be brought
that the amount for foreign missions in the 1957 Cooperative Program Budget be
increased $750>000.
All plans for the World Mission Year beginning in October of 1956 and extending
throughout I957 give evidence of a greater world vision on the part of Southern
Baptists. These plans will be followed by a challenging program of world evan¬
gelism in 1958 and 1959 ushering in a period of five years of accelerated advance
leading up to 1956. It is our clear purpose to go well beyond the minimum goal
of 1,750 missionaries before the end of 1963.
