First Baptist Church
Tuesday, April 9, 1957
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The Foreign Mission Board met in semi-annual session at 7*30 p.m. in the First
Baptist Church, Mr. L. Howard Jenkins presiding.
Present either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning:
State Members? Samuel E. Maddox, Ala.; James E. Davidson, Ala.; W. 0. Vaught, Jr.,
Ark.; James R. Staples, Ariz.j Robert D. Hughes, Calif.; S. Lewis Morgan, D.C.,
Monroe F. Swilley, Ga.; Clifton A. Forrester, Ga.; Howard P. Giddens, Ga.;
Carroll Hubbard, Ky. ; W. ClydeAtkins, Md.; J. H. Kyzar, Miss.; J. Edwin Hewlett,
Mo.; Eph Whisenhunt, N.
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V. Ward Barr, N. C.; Mrs. Foy J. Farmer, N. C.;
James A. Canaday, Tenn.; M. B. Carroll, Tex.; James N. Morgan, Tex.; Arthur B.
Rutledge, Tex.; Arthur E. Travis, Tex.; Neal W. Ellis, Virginia.
Local Members? Howard L. Arthur, J. E. Boyles, Mrs. Earl Brown, Mrs. Kenneth
Burke, Solon B. Cousins, Horace Ford, J. Levering Evans, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson,
Oscar L. Hite, L. Howard Jenkins, C. Bailey Jones, G.aris T. Long, Perry Mitchell,
Elton Phillips, Srnett Y. Robertson, Herman P. Thomas, H. B. Tillman, P. Earle
Wood.
Staff? Baker J. Cauthen, George W. Sadler, Frank K. Means, J. Winston Crawley,
Elmer S. West, Jr., Eugene L. Hill, Fon H. Scofield, Jr., Rogers M. Smith,
Floyd H. North, E. L. Wright, E. L. Deane, Bill B. Cody, R. A. Magee.
Guests? Dr.
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E. Maddry, Dr. Cornell Goerner, Dr. George Carver, Dr. L. A.
Brown, Miss Helen Falls, Dr. Jack Gray, Dr. Raymond Rigdon, Dr. Bob Denny, Dr.
Lucius Polhill, Miss Alma Hunt, Miss Lavenia Neal, Mrs. 0. C. Hancock.
Dr. Carroll Hubbard of Kentucky led the devotional period.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report?
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Because Mrs. Cauthen and I have so recently returned from a long journey through
mission areas this report will be devoted principally to Africa and the Near
East.
A number of factors made the trip at this time highly appropriate. For one
thing, preparations were under way in Ghana for the celebration of self-
government. The enthusiasm of the people in Ghana and the high interest shared
in Nigeria are long to be remembered.
Projection of new work in EastAfrica, consideration of entry into other areas,
and consultations relative to further steps in higher education in West Africa
gave added significance to the journey. The fact that missionaries in the Near
East have labored under difficulty and tension in recent months made it most
desirable to have contact with them. The approaching retirement of Dr. Sadler
this year gave added reason for making the journey at this time.
in all areas of mission work, one is impressed by the remarkable fruit which
has been borne by the gospel of Christ. When one arrives in West Africa, he is
aware of the darkness and depravity which long characterized that area. When
our first missionaries began their labors, fearful diseases against which
present-day preventatives were unknown made hazardous every day of missionary
labor. Barbaric cruelties growing out of depraved religion and blinding super¬
stitions made miserable human life. The slave trade had left its terrible
story of fear, cruelty, and death upon vast areas. Missionaries found them¬
selves dealing with humanity in its basic primitive needs. The remarkable
fruit which has been borne gives evidence that the gospel is the power of God
unto salvation to all that believe.
Thousands of lives have been transformed by the touch of divine grace, and
churches have arisen to extend their ministry. One is vastly impressed by the
great contrast between Christian and no r>-Christian people. The sight of leaders
filling vital posts in church, educational, and medical work with tribal marks
of paganism upon their faces gives evidence of the power of Christ to transform
life and bring light out of darkness.
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