February 13, 1964
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The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 P.M. on
Thursday, February 13, with Dr. Ford presiding.
Present: State Member: Dr. John Robert Stiff
Local Members: Wade Bryant, II. Addison Dalton, Joseph P. Edmondson, J. Levering
Evans, Horace L. Ford, R. Stuart Grizzard, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, M. Josiah
Hoover, W. Rush Loving, Mrs. Charles A. Maddry, J. Walter Martin, Ryland 0.
Reamy, D. 0. Rose, James T. Todd, Baker J. Cauthen, Cornell Goerner, E. L. Hill,
E. L. Deane, Rogers M. Smith, Joseph B. Underwood, Edna Frances Dawkins, Fon H.
Scofield, Norman Price, Harold G. Basden, Keith Parks, lone Gray, Genevieve Greer,
Inez Tuggle.
Dr. Bryant led in prayer.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report of the Executive Secretary:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
We are happy to welcome to the staff of the Foreign Mission Board Dr. Harold
Basden who comes to us from one of the largest pastorates in the Southern Bap¬
tist Convention to bring his talents and dedication to the work of the Depart¬
ment of Missionary Education and Promotion as director of the division of
promotion. He and Mrs. Basden with their delightful family are already making
a real contribution in the life of the Foreign Mission Board.
We also welcome Rev. and Mrs. William Marshall as Associate Secretary in the
Department of Missionary Personnel. They come to us from a pastorate in Virginia
where in a very remarkable way their ministry has been fruitful in the church and
city in which they have served.
We also welcome Dr. and Mrs. Keith Parks who are missionaries to Indonesia where
they have rendered valuable service both in the field of theological education
and in evangelism and church development. Dr. Parks will be serving in the
Department of Missionary Personnel as Associate Secretary for the next eighteen
months .
We are most grateful to be strengthened by these friends who bring such a wealth
of experience and dedication to the work that is before us.
A study of the reports from the field indicates that 1963 was the best year we
have known in foreign mission service, not only from the standpoint of the
appointment of missionaries, but from the standpoint of decisions for Christ
and baptisms in the churches.
The total number of baptisms reported from the fields in 1963 is 41,149. It
should be kept in mind that this represents only a portion of those who are
won to Christ. Usually on mission fields the number of those who make some
manifestation of their faith in Christ exceeds several times the number who
come to baptism in a particular year. This is due to the fact that many cir¬
cumstances enter into their becoming church members after the time of their
making their initial demonstration of faith.
We believe the time will come in the near future when there will be a minimum
of 100,000 baptisms annually on mission fields. The work in mission lands is
cumulative and with the increase in the number of churches and Christian workers,
the number of those who follow Christ in baptism increases.
I have just returned from Mexico where I participated in the North Field Con¬
ference including the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and
the Spanish Baptist Publishing House located in El Paso.
It was a delight to share in the meetings wherein the missionaries with diligence
and insight addressed themselves to the opportunities and work in which they are
engaged.
For a number of years field conferences have been conducted in all areas of our
work. In some instances these conferences have embraced an entire area, while
in other instances they have taken in only a section.
The work in Latin America is divided into four areas. I am to return to Santiago,
Chile on February 25 for a conference in the South Field which will embrace
Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
