49
Foreign Mission Beard
April 9, 1946
The Foreign Mission Beard met at 8:00 P. M. on Tuesday, April 9, 1946, in
the chapel of the First Baptist Church, with L. Howard Jenkins presiding.
Present: STATE MEMBERS : W. R. Pettigrew, S. C.j R. C. Gresham, Ga.; T. C.
Ecton, Ky.j M. W. Egerton, Tenn.;
С.
E. Autrey, La.; J. D. Franks, Miss.; J. W.
Storer, Okla.j F. C. Fee
г
or, Texas; John L. Slaughter, Ala.; Earl Keating, N. M. ;
W. A. Gray, Ill.; M. P. C-erman, D. C.; Mrs. Geo. A. McWilliams, Mo.; Otto Whit-
ington, Ark.;
К.
K. Falkenstein, Md,; H. M. Fugate, Va.
LOCAL MEMBERS:
В.
M. Gwathmey, R. Aubrey Williams, Mrs. T. Justin Moore,
Hill Montague, L. Howard Jenkins, R. E. Gaines, J. G. Loving, Mrs. Simeon Atkin¬
son, T. F. Adams, Clyde V. Hickerson, Mrs. P. Earle Wood, John C. Williams, S.B.
Cousins, T. Rupert Coleman,
С.
C. Coleman, Mrs. J. J. Wicker, Jr., J. Levering
Evans .
STAFF OFFICERS: M. T. Rankin, George W. Sadler, B. J. Cauthen, J. W.
Marshall, E. P. Buxton, Everett L. Deane, Gene Newton, E. C. Routh, Marjorie E.
Moore, Nan F. Weeks, Mary M. Hunter.
Following the singing of a hymn
С.
E. Autrey of Louisiana led the devotional
period.
On motion of Dr. Adams it was voted to dispense with the reading of the
minutes .
Dr, Rankin read the report of the Executive Secretary:
REPORT OF THE EXECUT I7E SECRETARY - M. T. Rankin
The time in which we live demands that the Foreign Mission Board rehabili¬
tate and expand its world-wide missionary undertakings as rapidly as possible.
A sense of urgency hangs over us. The days immediately ahead are crucial.
He must act quickly to undergird Christians of other lands who have lived
in the battlefields of war. Most of them have endured their suffering and
trials with strong and victorious faith. But they have come out of those exper¬
iences with their reserves of endurance well nigh exhausted. Unless there are
helping hands and loving hearts to undergird them as they face the future, many
of them will falter and fall by the way.
We must make haste in sending relief to the starving and destitute people
of the world. They cannot wait for food. Millions of them are dying. Unless
we act now others will die whom we might have saved. We cannot afford to move
slowly when death is moving so rapidly.
The forces of peace and goodwill among men haven't much time to save the
world from ^mother war. A Christian leader who recently returned from a visit
to Europe remarked, "It is alreudy much later than we thought." The antidote
to hate, suspicion, distrust, and greed is the love of Christ. In a recent
article concerning the problems of the atomic bomb, Mr. Henry L. Stimson said,
"The focus of the problem does not lie in the atom. It resides in the hearts
of men." It is urgent that the hearts of men be changed.
There has never been a time in the life of the world when so many people
in so many lands have longed so earnestly for peace. The world is ready to
hear about a way of salvation, people are ready to accept a saviour who can
and will save them. Tragedy and distress have thrown open doors through which
we may pass with the message of Christ. But these doors will not remain open
long if they are not used. Southern Baptists have become aroused to this urgency
of the world's need. Responsible pastors, laymen and others are asking about the
Foreign Mission Board's program. Is it as large and comprehensive as our resour¬
ces in finances and missionary volunteers make possible? Is it being adjusted to
meet present day conditions?
We must be prepared to answer such questions as these vrhen we go to the
meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Miami next month. For this reason
it is necessary that at this meeting we consider carefully otir plans for the
future. The administrative officers of the Board are asking for your discussion
of our program. Discussion periods have been provided in tomorrow's session for
this purpose. We need to know your opinions.