July 14, 1966
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The -Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session on Thursday, July 14
at 3 P.M. in the chapel of the Foreign Mission Board with Dr. J. Roy Clifford
presiding.
Rev. Davis S. Hammock opened the meeting with prayer.
Present: State Member: Virgil Clark, Ind. Local Members: T. F. Adams, Wade
Bryant, J. Roy Clifford, Curtis English, David S. Hammock, J. C. Hatfield, Mrs.
Clyde V. Hickerson, John W. Kincheloe, W. Rush Loving, J. Walter Martin, J. Leonard
Moore, John L. Moran, James E. Rayhorn, Hunter Riggins, Edwin L. Shattuck, Dalton
Ward.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, Frank K. Means, Winston Crawley, J. D. Hughey, E. L. Hill,
Jesse C. Fletcher, E. L. Deane, Franklin Fowler, E. L. Wright, Edna Frances Dawkins,
Truman Smith, Harold G. Basden, lone Gray, Floyd North.
Guests: Dr. and Mrs. John Hill
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report of the Executive Secretary:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Since the last meeting of the Board Dr. Means and I have shared in a very signif¬
icant meeting in Cali, Colombia. The Coordinating Committee for the Crusade of the
Americas assembled on the campus of the International Baptist Theological Seminary at
Cali, Colombia for a week of meaningful discussions.
Inasmuch as Dr. Means will make more extensive reference to the meeting, I will at
this point only indicate that it was of much significance and gives promise of
thorough preparation for a major undertaking throughout the Western Hemisphere.
One is deeply impressed with the feeling that God has been clearly leading in the
constant strengthening of projects in evangelism and church development which have
been so fruitful in many parts of the world. The effort now before us will become
the largest undertaking we have experienced in these special endeavors for our Lord.
At this point we begin looking forward to the adoption of the Budget for 1967 which
will be considered by the Board in its annual meeting in October.
The preparation of the Budget is one of the major responsibilities of the entire year.
The work begins on mission fields as units of the work study carefully their needs and
review them with conventions and mission organizations resulting in official recom¬
mendations being agreed upon and referred to the Foreign Mission Board for con¬
sideration.
As is well known by the Board, steady advance in missions outreach calls for enlarg¬
ing the operating Budget annually. In 1967 it will be necessary to enlarge the operat¬
ing Budget more than $2,300,000.00 in order to provide for the long-range respon¬
sibilities of missionaries appointed throughout the year together with growth of work
on the fields. In addition to this, the necessary expenses of the revised furlough
plan and extended orientation will call for additional funds.
An operating Budget for 1967 calling for $21,850,000.00 will be set before us. In
addition to the operating Budget there will be the capital Budget amounting to more
than $5,500,000.00.
As we meet in October, therefore, we will have before us for consideration a Budget
for 1967 calling for approximately $27,352,000.00.
Resources to cover these heavy expenditures are provided by Southern Baptists pri¬
marily through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. These
two sources of funds flow together to become a great stream of love and compassion
reaching out into a needy world.
The fact that Southern Baptists are deeply concerned for a graa ter worldwide out¬
reach in the name of Jesus Christ gives encouragement for all of us because that con¬
cern is reflected not only in increased giving, but in undergirding prayer and in the
continuous response of men and women with their lives as they offer themselves to
their Lord to be His messengers throughout the world.
With gratitude to God for the concern and love of Southern Baptists and with deter¬
mination to press forward in the strength of the Lord toward a far greater worldwide
ministry, we look forward to the future with courage and confidence.