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Richmond, Virginia
February 11, 1965
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 P.M. on Thursday,
February 11,1965, with Dr. Roberson presiding.
Present: Wade Bryant, J. Roy Clifford, H. Addison Dalton, Joseph P. Edmondson,
Curtis English, Horace L. Ford, J. C. Hatfield, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, M. Josiah
Hoover, W. Rush Loving, J. Walter Martin, Ryland 0. Reamy, Meredith K. Roberson,
D. 0. Rose, James T. Todd, Baker J. Cauthen, Frank K. Means, J. D. Hughey, E. L.
Deane, E. L. Hill, E. L. Wright, Rogers M. Smith, Franklin T. Fowler, Joseph B.
Underwood, William W. Marshall, R. Keith Parks, Louis R. Cobbs, Truman S. Smith,
G. Norman Price, Floyd H. North, Inez Tuggle.
Dr. Means presented the four field representatives from Latin America who are as
follows: Charles W. Bryan, Central Field; H. Victor Davis, All-Brazil Field,
Hoke Smith, Jr., South Field, and James D. Crane, North Field.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report of the Executive Secretary.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Our thoughts in these days turn toward Vietnam where we have sixteen missionaries
and twenty-six children located in three stations: Saigon, Nhatrang, and Dalat.
Two missionary families are now on furlough.
A cable from Sam Longbottom, the Mission treasurer, was received yesterday read¬
ing as follows: "Mission requests you notify our families order for American
dependents leaving Vietnam does not include us presently."
A telegram was sent to each family reading as follows: "Cable from Vietnam mission
requests Board notify families order for American dependents leaving Vietnam does
not include missionaries presently."
The following cable has been sent to the Mission treasurer in Vietnam with an
accompanying letter addressed to each missionary: "Foreign Mission Board is
grateful for the dedicated service of each missionary in Vietnam. Mission has
our complete support and confidence in meeting whatever emergencies may arise.
If any families should feel it necessary to leave, advise go to Hong Kong, Bangkok,
Singapore or Manila. Notify Board and await developments. Board will provide
funds to meet emergencies as needed."
We trust the work of the missionaries in Vietnam will not be disturbed. They have
gone ahead in a dedicated way in their service throughout the turbulent times in
that country. They are now meeting situations comparable to these faced by other
missionaries under other circumstances. They are aware that they have full liberty
to make whatever decisions seem advisable in light of the conditions they face.
We are grateful to have word today from Rio de Janeiro that Miss Gray is consider¬
ably improved. Arrangements are being made to bring her back to Richmond where
considerable surgery will be necessary. Dr. Fowler is in touch with the doctors
in Rio and will arrange for Miss Gray's return either on the basis of going there
to accompany her back to Richmond or arranging for missionaries to bring her back,
whichever seems more advisable from the standpoint of medical counsel. It seems
probable she will be returning to Richmond early next week.
Dr. Means will probably have more to say in his report concerning the beginning
of the nationwide evangelistic crusade in Brazil. Those of us who were there
agree that God is doing a remarkable work in that country today. We saw 10,000
people attending the meetings of the Brazil Convention night after night. A
parade through the main streets of Rio de Janeiro assembled 100,000 people in a
great plaza to hear an address by Dr. Rubens Lopez, the president of the Conven¬
tion, who challenged his fellow Baptists to undertake the evangelistic effort.
On Sunday afternoon, 150,000 people assembled in the Maracana Stadium for the
official launching of the campaign. Dr. John Soren was the main speaker for the
occasion. The concern of the great audience was demonstrated remarkably by their
attention even during a heavy downpour of rain. The service came to a climax as
Dr. Rubens Lopez called upon the audience to endorse a Latin American-wide
evangelistic crusade in 1970. The vast audience three times indicated their
approval by calling "Si, Si, Si."
On Tuesday, February 23, we will meet with the Executive Committee of the
Southern Baptist Convention to talk about finances for 1966. Advance in foreign
missions calls for growth both in personnel and in financial strength. These
two lines of reinforcement have grown together since 1948, and we are profoundly
grateful to all who labor in the work of stewardship in Southern Baptist life as
