Richmond, Virginia
December 5, 1968
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session, December 4-5, 1968, in Rich¬
mond, Virginia, with Dr. W. Morris Ford presiding.
PRESENT: State Members : W. Morris Ford (Texas), David G. Hause (Oklahoma), W. Douglas
Hudgins (Mississippi), W. D. Malone (Oregon-Washington) , Mrs. W. K. McGee (North Carolina).
Local Members: Wade H. Bryant, Mrs. R. B. Carter, Sr., Curtis English, Austin W. Farley,
V. Allen Gaines, David S. Hammock, John W. Kincheloe, Jr., J. Leonard Moore, John L.
Moran, Lucius M. Polhill, James E. Rayhorn, Hunter Riggins, Meredith K. Roberson, D. 0.
Rose, Edwin L. Shattuck, Dalton Ward.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, James D. Belote, Charles Bryan, Louis R. Cobbs, Winston Crawley,
Edna Frances Dawkins, William K. Dawson, Everett L. Deane, Samuel A. DeBord, Jesse C.
Fletcher, Franklin T. Fowler, Cornell Goerner, lone Gray, Eugene L. Hill, J. D. Hughey,
David Lockard, Ralph A. Magee, William W. Marshall, Frank K. Means, Floyd H. North,
R. Keith Parks, Norman Price, Claude H. Rhea, Rogers M. Smith, Truman S. Smith, Joseph
B. Underwood, E. L. Wright, Elizabeth Minshew.
The President called the meeting to order.
The meeting opened with the Hymn: "Jesus Calls Us o'er the Tumult," led by Dr. Claude
H. Rhea.
Dr. W. Morris Ford read a passage of Scripture and Dr. David S. Hammock led in prayer.
A cordial welcome was extended to Board members and friends.
Minutes of the Board for November, 1968, were approved.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY - Dr. Cauthen gave the following report:
Report of the Executive Secretary
Baker J. Cauthen
We have come to our final Board meeting for 1968. We lift our hearts in gratitude to
God for his blessings throughout the year. The appointment of thirty-nine missionaries
today brings the total for the year to 247. This is the largest number of missionaries
ever appointed in one year by the Foreign Mission Board.
The appointment of such a large number of missionaries has much significance. It tells
us that Southern Baptists are deeply concerned about the larger and more effective wit¬
ness to the whole world in these crucial days. Whatever has been done in prior times
must be greatly augmented in the next decade. The going of these missionaries under¬
scores the deep purpose of Southern Baptists to press ahead with ever increasing com¬
mitment on a worldwide scale.
These appointments also indicate that people are ready to commit themselves for in¬
volvement in meeting worldwide needs.
It is noticeable that missionaries appointed during this year consist of journeymen,
career missionaries and missionary associates. This means that young people just out
of college as well as older people beyond the normal age of appointment who are eligible
in the missionary associate program are yielding themselves for service to our Lord in
response to his calling.
The appointment of these missionaries, however, does not fully represent the involve¬
ment of people personally in overseas service. There have been many who have gone over¬
seas to participate in special projects in evangelism and church development. Teachers
from seminaries and colleges have devoted sabbatical leaves to missionary service.
Doctors have gone at their own expense to help for a period of a month or longer in mis¬
sion hospitals. Laymen have traveled to mission fields to participate in conferences,
particularly during the period of the Crusade of the Americas. Pastors have given time
overseas ‘to service in English-speaking churches.
We are witnessing an escalating experience of personal involvement in missionary ser¬
vice. We keep in mind that all of this has been prefaced for a number of years by the
going of young people of college age for summer overseas service through the efforts
of Baptist Student Union and as coordinated through the Foreign Mission Board.
Paralleling this personal involvement, there is also the deepening experience of prayer.
We are now engaged in the Week of Prayer for foreign missions. The spiritual value of
this week cannot be described fully. Out of it as well as out of the praying of God's
people day by day there comes spiritual reinforcement whereby witness being borne in
