Foreign Mission Board
March 13, 1958
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday,
March 13, 1958, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, Garis T. Long, Elton Phillips, Perry Mitchell, G.
Bailey Jones, Mrs. Kenneth Burke, Emmett Y. Robertson, P. Earle Wood, Horace
Ford, Howard P. Arthur, Oscar L. Hite, H. P. Thomas, J. Levering Evans, J. E.
Boyles, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, Neal Ellis, Baker J. Cauthen, Frank K. Means,
Winstc-n Crawley, Floyd North, E. L. Hill, George W. Sadler, Elmer S. West, James
G. Stertz, E. L. Wright, Ralph A. Magee, Bill B. Cody, E. L. Deane.
Guests: Rev. Frank Hughes, Rev. Ralph Kirby, Mrs. Harold Tillman
Mr. Kirby led in prayer.
On the motion of Dr. Hite the following candidates were appointed as missionaries:
Rev. and Mrs. Claude Sawyer Boatwright, Japan
Rev. and Mrs. Gerald Clayton Bond, Africa
Rev. and Mrs. Gilbert Athol Nichols, Paraguay
Rev. and Mrs. Frank Gilbert Ross, Mexico
Dr. Cauthen gave the charge to the new missionaries and Dr. Frank Hughes led in
the prayer of dedication.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
It is with great joy that I am able to report today that Lottie Moon Christmas
funds received now total #5
,371}253-б7
• This figure is $130,000 in excess of the
total amount received last year. We look forward to the final figure with eager
anticipation. The growth of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering reflects in a very
definite way the increasing determination of Southern Baptists to expand our world
mission effort. We thank God for all this offering represents in prayer, effort,
and dedication.
Since the last meeting of the Board, I have made a brief journey to Mexico and the
Equatorial Mission of Brazil. It was a pleasure, to see briefly missionaries in
Guatemala, Costa Rica, Maracaibo, and Caracas en route.
Throughout the area there were many excellent reports of the recent meetings conducted
by Billy Graham. In Mexico City there were 20,000 people present on Saturday night
and 25,000 on Sunday night. In Guatemala U0,0o0 people heard the messages. Excel¬
lent meetings were reported in Costa Rica. It would be hard to overstate the value
of these meetings in countries where needs are so great and Christian work is relatively
small.
A visit to the Equatorial Mission of Brazil is an unforgettable experience. The area
is so great and the needs are so many that one is impressed with the vast possibili¬
ties of service to be found in this area.
It is of great urgency that we strengthen the missionary staff in the Equatorial
Mission as early as possible. Tragic losses have occurred from death and otherwise
in the mission, and their number is sadly depleted. The missionaries are carrying
on their work in a most courageous manner and are extending themselves to the fullest
degree to make known the name of Christ throughout a vast area.
The death of Missionary John Oliver in a plane crash has done much to deepen the
spiritual, tone of the church where he ministered, and has brought to all the Mission
a fresh sense of commitment to Christ and His will.
Some observations not only related to Equatorial Brazil but to all of our work grow
out of considering our present stage of development in mission work.
For one thing, we must press forward with increasing missionary personnel without
delay. 'The secret of world missions advance is life dedication. We must address
ourselves afresh to prayer and to testimony in order that many young people may give
themselves to this labor. We must keep in mind that it is much easier to give money
and other lesser gifts than life itself. Yet it is necessary that life be laid upon
the altar in order that this enterprise be accomplished.
Another observation is that we must press ahead with providing missionary residences
at the earliest possible date in all places where rented property is being used. In
