January 14, 1960
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 p.m. on
Thursday, January 14, 1960, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, Howard L. Arthur, Emmett Y. Robertson, Mrs. Kenneth
Burke, Solon B. Cousins, Stuart Grizzard, Josiah Hoover, Elton Phillips, Herman
P. Thomas, Mrs. John C. Tyree, P. Earle Wood,
Hiclcerson, C. Bailey Jones, Norfleet Gardner,
Cornell Goerner, Rogers M. Smith, E. L. Hill,
Gray, Elmer S. West, James G. Stertz, Luke B.
Dawkins .
J. Levering Evans, Mrs. Clyde V.
Baker J. Cauthen, Winston Crawley,
Floyd H. North, E. L. Deane, lone
Smith, Bill Cody, Edna Frances
Dr. Norfleet Gardner led in prayer.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
At this first meeting in 1960 our minds turn back with gratitude to a review
of the decade in foreign missions which is just closing.
Ten years ago our circumstances were very different. Extensive missionary
labors in China had been dealt a severe blow under Communist revolution. Mission¬
aries had to come away and the work carried on for many years was left without
financial or personnel support.
During these ten years this tragic event in China has been followed by one of
the most remarkable periods of advance we have ever known as work has been
reprojected in many lands in the Far East. From inside Chiia the reports which
come to us indicate that the work is still going on amid many difficulties
experienced by our friends and brethren.
During this decade of foreign missions there has been demonstrated to the world
high standards of personal dedication. Many missionaries have gone through
trying experiences in which their commitment to the cause of Christ and
willingness to go to any lengths to serve our Master have written new records
of heroism in the stories of Kingdom service.
Much advance has been made in the missionary enterprise in these years. At
the close of 1949 there were 711 missionaries under appointment for service
in 24 countries. As of now there are 1,381 under appointment for 44 countries.
In 1949 the Foreign Mission Board had an income of $5,461,709.23. The income
of the Foreign Mission Board for 1959 was $16,475,780.34. We are grateful to
God that the financial support for foreign missions has moved in parallel lines
with the response of life to the call of the Master for personal service.
The income of the Foreign Mission Board for 1959 was $605,352.31 more than the
income for 1958.
The income of the Foreign Mission Board from the Cooperative Program in 1959
was $7,465,912.51. This amount was $142,269.59 less than the amount received
from the Cooperative Program in 1958.
The Foreign Mission Board received in 1959, 43.06 per cent of all Cooperative
Program funds reaching the office of the Executive Committee in Nashville.
The largest percentage of Southwide Cooperation Program funds received in
recent years was in 1957 when a total of 49 per cent came to the Foreign Mission
Board.
This drop in the percentage of Cooperative Program funds is only temporary
and was occasioned by a smaller amount included in the Cooperative Program
allocations for capital purposes, together with a smaller amount for Advance
than in previous years. We received from Advance funds a total of $1,575,912.51
in 1959.
In 1960 it is anticipated that the percentage from the Cooperative Program
funds will be larger because there is an increase in the allocation for
Current Operations from the Cooperative Program of $800,000.00 and an increase
in Capital Funds of $400,000.00 for the year.
We are grateful to God for the continued financial support of Southern Baptists
for foreign mission work but we need to keep in our minds the fact that with
