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Richmond, Virginia
March 12, 1964
'The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 P.M. on
Thursday, March 12, 1964, with Dr. Ford presiding.
Present: State Members - J. Chester Badgett, Kentucky; R. Paul Caudill,
Tennessee; Howard J. Ford, North Carolina; Herman E. Wooten, Oregon-Washington.
Local Members - T. F. Adams, Wade Bryant, J. Roy Clifford, H. Addison Dalton,
Joseph P. Edmondson, Horace L. Ford, R. Stuart Grizzard, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson,
M. Josiah Hoover, Mrs. Charles A. Maddry, J. Walter Martin, Ryland 0. Reamy,
D. 0. Rose, James T. Todd, Mrs. John C. Tyree.
Staff: Balcer J. Cauthen, Frank K. Means, Winston Crawley, E. L. Deane, E. L. Hill,
Rogers M. Smith, Franklin T. Fowler, Joseph B. Underwood, E. L. /right, Jesse C.
Fletcher, • Edna Frances Dawkins, William W. Marshall, R. Keith Parks, Harold G.
Basden, G. Norman Price, Fon II. Scofield, Floyd H. North, lone Gray, Genevieve
Greer, Inez Tuggle.
Dr. Badgett read a Scripture passage and led in prayer.
Dr. Cauthen introduced Dr. Basil S. Brown, professor at the Australian Baptist
Seminary in Victoria, Australia, who brought greetings to the Foreign Mission
Board from Australian Baptists.
Dr. Cauthen filed the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Since the last meeting of the Board, I have been in Santiago, Chile for a field
conference involving representatives of missions in Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina
and Chile. It was a great delight to observe the dedicated work of the mis¬
sionaries as they study ways whereby major effectiveness can be realized in .
their witness for Christ. One cannot fail to be impressed with the ability,
dedication, training and insight of the missionaries who come to grips with
the problems on the field.
There is a growing longing in the hearts of missionaries throughout the world
for a breakthrough in this generation on a larger scale than we have ever
imagined. The evangelistic efforts which have been projected in many countries
are egressions of this longing. The undertaking that is now in process of
formulation in Brazil calling for a nationwide evangelistic effort in 1965, has
found such response in the hearts of the people that they are praying for
100,000 baptisms.
The special projects in evangelism and church development which are being shaped
up in many countries under the leadership of Rev. Joseph B. Underwood, the
consultant for evangelism and church development, all indicate the growing
desire on the part of missionaries to experience a major spiritual awakening.
If in some way the prayer potential of Southern Baptists can be brought to
bear upon this deep longing that is increasingly being felt, we could find our¬
selves upon the threshold of a truly remarkable development.
Nothing can take the place of spiritual power. Buildings, equipment, money , and
resources are important, but they can never substitute for the power which comes
only from the Spirit of God.
Since the last meeting of the Board, the Executive Committee of the Southern
Baptist Convention has met to draw up the proposed budget for the Convention
for 1965. The amount being listed for the Foreign Mission Board is $9,300,000.
All of this money is listed for operating purposes, inasmuch as the Convention
in 1948 authorized funds for the Foreign Mission Board and the Home Mission
Board to be used either for capital or current purposes as needs might direct.
With continued growth of giving through the Cooperative Program, it looks as if
there will be some funds for advance beyond the budget of the Southern Baptist
Convention at the close of 1964 and 1965 also gives hope of advance funds.
Advance in foreign missions calls for both missionaries and resources. Indica¬
tions that people are continuing to offer their lives for missionary service are
seen on every hand. Those who participated in a recent missions conference
held on the canpus of Southwestern Seminary at which more than 2300 college and
university young people assembled have reported that the problem now lies in
finding accommodations for the large numbers who desire to attend. There is no
diminishing in the keen interest of those who are exploring the question of
giving their lives to missionary' service.
