Foreign Mission Board Chapel
January 11, 1962
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 p.m. on
Thursday, January 11, 1962, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, T. F. Adams, Joseph P. Edmondson, J. Levering
Evans, Horace Ford, Stuart Grizzard, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, W. Rush Loving,
Ryland 0. Reamy, Meredith Roberson, Emmett Y. Robertson, Herman P. Thomas,
James Todd, Mrs. John C. Tyree, C. Bailey Jones, S. Lewis Morgan, Baker J.
Cauthen, Rogers M. Smith, Frank K. Means, Winston Crawley, E. L. Deane,
E. L. Wright, Elmer S. West, Edna Frances Dawkins, Bill B. Cody, Luke B.
Smith, Jesse C. Fletcher, E. L. Hill, Fon H. Scofield, lone Gray, Floyd H.
North, Franklin Fowler, Joseph Underwood, Mary E. Fuqua.
Dr. Cauthen gave the report of the Executive Secretary as follows:
REPORT OF DR. CAUTHEN
We have come to the beginning of 1962 with much gratitude to our Lord for
His abounding blessings. A splendid report has been released to the press
by our office of Press Relations summarizing the work of the entire year.
While we review the steady progress which has been made throughout the world,
we do well to keep in mind the heroic qualities of dedication which have been
repeatedly demonstrated by missionaries throughout the year as they have met
personal crises with a degree of steadfastness, faith, and courage which
would be hard to overstate. Many have experienced bereavement as father or
mother at home have been called to be with the Lord, and they have remained at
their posts of service with heavy but dedicated hearts. We must never forget
that the greatest asset in the missionary labor is the devotion of the mission¬
ary himself. This dedication must at all times remain one of the standards by
which we measure our own commitment and circumstances.
We are grateful that additional support of the Cooperative Program brought to
the Foreign Mission Board a larger amount for 1961 capital funds than had been
earlier anticipated. We received 82.55 per cent of the $800,000 which had
been budgeted by the Southern Baptist Convention for our capital needs. This
meant in dollars an income of $660,417.08. As we look at this one item of
income, we are reminded that it is equal to the total income of the Foreign
Mission Board in 1933.
The total gifts for foreign missions in 1961 came to the sum of $17,935,615.
The final figure for all income is now being compiled by the treasurer's
office, and it looks as if the total income of the Board for 1961 will be
approximately $18,441 ,205.
As we review these figures, we thank God for His gracious provision and
commit ourselves afresh to the great stewardship which is involved in this
trust .
We have not yet heard reports of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, as it
will be many weeks before any definite reports can begin to reach us.
Reports from individual places, however, have indicated the response to the
offering has been excellent. From many places come indications that the
goals which have been set have been exceeded. All of this bears testimony
to the deep concern in the hearts of people for a larger world ministry.
We came to the beginning of 1962 with a missionary staff totalling 1,548
serving in forty-seven countries. There were 103 new missionaries appointed
in 1961. Some of those whose appointment had been anticipated found it
necessary to wait some additional months. The number of appointments made,
therefore, does not represent fully the potential of the year, nor what will
be accomplished as it is finally brought into reality.
In looking ahead into the year 1962, we find ourselves called to sustained
advance on all fronts. We must keep ourselves reminded that whatever
progress has been made is only a token of that which is needed. We must
also remember that while 103 missionaries have been appointed, those who
have been needed are far in excess of this number.
