Ridgecrest, North Carolina
June 20-21, 1957
A south wide meeting of the Foreign Mission Board was held at Ridgecrest, North
Carolina on June 20-21, 1957, Mr. L. Howard Jenkins presiding.
Present: State Members: Samuel E. Maddox, Ala.; James E. Davidson, Ala.; W. 0.
Vaught, Jr., Ark.; James R. Staples, Ariz. ; Robert D. Hughes, Calif.; S. Lewis
Morgan, D. c.; Preston B. Sellers, Fla.; Clifton A. Forrester, Ga. ; Monroe F.
Swilley, Ga. ; Howard P. Giddens, Ga. ; Otho Williams, Ill.; Carroll Hubbard, Ky. ;
Fred T. Moffatt, Ky. ; W. Clyde Atkins, Md.; J. Edwin Hewlett, Mo.; E. Norfleet
Gardner, N.
С.
; C. Murray Fuquay, Okie.; Lot son
й.
Nelson, Jr., S. James
A. Oan'aday. T'enr.; James N. Morgan, Tex.; w. B. Carroll, Tex.; Neal Ellis, Va.
Local Members: Howard L. Arthur, J. E.
Во -Лез,
Mrs. Earl Brown, Mrs. Kenneth
Burke, J. Levering Evans, Horace Ford, Mrs. Clyde V. Hiokerson, Oscar L. Hite,
L. Howard Jenkins, C. Bailey Jones, uaris T. Long, Emmett Y. Robertson, Herman
P. Thomas, H. B. Tillman, P. Earle Wood.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, George W. Sadler, Frank K. Means, Winston Crawley,
F. 1-. fijll, Elmer S. West, Ropers M. Smith, Floyd North, Fon Scofield, E, L.
Wright, Bill Cody, James Stertz , E. L. Deane, Edna Frances Lawkins , lone Gray.
Thursday, June 20, 1957
The opening session was held at 700 p.m. in the auditorium of the Ridgecrest.
Baptist Assembly.
Dr. James N. Morgan of Texas led the devotional period.
Dr. Baker J. Cauthen gave the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
The meeting of the Foreign Mission Board, at Ridgecrest is of major significance.
We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of Ridgecrest. This
assembly has had a vital part in the task of foreign missions because so many
vonng neople have made commitment of life for mission service here.
We are greatly encouraged as we look forward in mission advance. The Southern
Bantist Convention has launched uoon a program called the Baptist Jubilee
Advance which promises to bring great blessing in all areas of work. L95R
will be a year of spiritual emphasis during which all people will be asked to
pray for God's power and guidance. 1959 will lay stress upon evangelism. This
will be followed in I960 by a year of emnhasis upon teaching and training. In
1961 stewardship will attract major attention and in 1962 church extension
will be the major stress. 19 63 will be world missions year and will be followed
in
196П
by the Baptist Jubilee celebration.
By the close of 196)4 we hope to have no fewer than 2,000 missionaries under
appointment. Throughout the Convention the dedication of young people for
missionary service is most heartening. In churches, colleges and seminaries
more young people are asking God's guidance for life service than ever before.
We continue to have large numbers of people writing to the Board from positions
of leadership indicating their desire to go into mission fields.
Very great significance is attached to new developments in the realm of steward¬
ship. The Southern Baptist program of church finance is proving its worth in
every Place it has been tested. Response to these efforts indicates that funds
available for foreign missions through the Cooperative Program will increase in
parallel lines to the increase in missionary personnel.
The growth of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering provides reinforcement for
urgent needs abroad. Careful study will indicate that the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering is a great reinforcement to the Cooperative Program in stimulating
all types of Christian stewardship. We are grateful to Woman's Missionary
Union for the labor of love which the Lottie Moon Offering represents.
Across the world doors are onen for ministry in needy lands. Those doors will
not always remain onen. We are constantly reminded by the lessons learned in
China. No country was of greater mission challenge than China at the close of
the last war. The rise of communism in that land has made impossible sending
missionaries or fund's for our Lord's work. We remain abidingly grateful for
each step taken in that land before doors closed and we pray that the time may
speedily come when it may be possible to re-enter that land.
