Foreign Mission Board
July
Iя,
1957
1S3
The regular monthly meeting of the Foreign Mission board was held in the chapel of
the First Baptist Church at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, July
Iя,
1957, with Mr. Jenkins
presiding.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, J. Levering Evans, Elton Phillips, H. B# Tillman,
Perry Mitchell, Mrs. Kenneth Burke, Bailey Jones, Oscar L. Hite, P. ^arle Wood,
Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, Garis T. Long, Mrs. Earl Brown, J. E. Boyles, Herman P.
Thomas, Baker J. Cauthen, Frank K. .-leans, Bill Cody, E. L. Deane, Floyd H. North,
Rogers M. Smith, b. L. ri ill, Jim Stertz, lone uray, tdna Frances Dawkins.
Dr. Mitchell led in prayer.
On the motion of Dr. Hite it was voted to appoint the following candidates as mis¬
sionaries:
Mrs. Clyde J. Dotson, Southern Rhodesia
Mr. and M"S. James Gilbert, Ecuador - Special Appointees
Mr. and Mrs. Russell Morris, Lebanon
Each missionary candidate gave a brief testimony of his Christian experience and
call to missionary service.
D". Cauthen gave the charge and Dr. Bailey Jones led in the prayer of dedication
of the new missionaries.
Dr. gave the following report:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
The meeting of the Board at Ridgecrest was highly appreciated by all who attended
the Foreign Missions Conference. Throughout the week there were many expressions
of gratitude that people had been privileged to see the Board in action and the
appointment of missionaries for service abroad. We are awaiting the October meet¬
ing of the Board to give further appraisal to the meeting but in the meanwhile cur
hearts are filled with gratitude to God for all the blessings brought.
We are now engaged in the period of summer assemblies. The contribution made by
these assemblies to foreign missions is of great significance. Staff members of
our Bgard have been at Ridgecrest repeatedly conferring with hundreds of young people
dedicating their lives for service.
There is repeatedly emerging a need at Ridgecrest for some kind of proper place where
representatives of the Board can conduct conferences with individuals and groups and
the proper display of literature and missionary materials can be presented. Very
caref il studies along, this line will nec-d to be made with a view to strengthening
one of our most strategic opportunities both in missionary education and in confer¬
encing with prospective missionary personnel.
The Southern Baptist Convention in its annual session in Chicago voted to set aside
195я
as a year of special prayer for world evangelism. It is our desire to do
everything possible to promote this year of prayer both at home and throughout the
world. An appropriate recommendation will be presented by the Administrative Com¬
mittee calling upon missionaries and organizations wherever we serve to do every¬
thing possible to make the most of this year of prayer, in particular, we need to
pray that God will continue to lead many young people to give their lives for mis¬
sionary service. Life dedication will lead the way in our sustained advance in
world missions.
The Convention has also designated 1959 as a year for special emphasis on evange¬
lism. The possibility of this movement extending throughout all the world is
stimulating. Already there have been in recent months some encouraging special
efforts made in evangelism in Formosa, Hong bong, Japan, Mexico and other coun¬
tries .
A recommendation will also be presented by the Administrative Committee cal "ling
upon missions and conventions everywhere we -serve to share in this /ear of evange¬
lism to the f lllost degree.
Me look forward to ever increasing emphasis ip, n strong evangelistic programs
throughout the world and special projects designed to strengthen churches in their
ministries so as to conserve the fruits of these efforts.
