Richmond, Virginia
March 14, 1968
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session on Thursday, March 14, 1968,
at 3:00 p.m. , in the Chapel of the Foreign Mission Board, with Dr. W. Morris Ford, the
Board's president, presiding.
PRESENT: Local Members: Wade Bryant, Mrs. R. B. Carter, J. Roy Clifford, Curtis English,
Joseph B. Flowers, V. Allen Gaines, David S. Hammock, John W. Kincheloe, Jr., J. Leonard
Moore, John L. Moran, Lucius M. Polhill, James E. Rayhom, Hunter Riggins, Meredith K.
Roberson, D. 0. Rose, Edwin L. Shattuck, Dalton Ward. State Members: Mrs. Carl Bates,
Mrs. Cowen Ellis, Virgil Clark, W. Morris Ford, Perry Sanders, Ralph M. G. Smith. Staff:
Baker J. Cauthen, Harold Basden, Louis Cobbs, Winston Crawley, Edna Frances Dawkins,
William K. Dawson, Everett L. Deane, Samuel A. DeBord, Jesse Fletcher, Franklin Fowler,
Cornell Goerner, lone Gray, Eugene L. Hill, J. D. Hughey, Bill Marshall, Frank K. Means,
Floyd North, Norman Price, Fon H. Scofield, Rogers Smith, Truman Smith, Elizabeth Minshew.
VISITORS: Miss Georgia Mae Ogburn (missionary to Santiago, Chile), Dr. Carl Bates, Dr.
Cowen Ellis, Rev. and Mrs. McGaha (Race Path Baptist Church, Ellenboro, North Carolina),
Mrs. McGaha, mother of Rev. McGaha.
Dr. Ford called the meeting to order.
The meeting was opened with the Hymn: "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling."
Dr. Carl Bates led in prayer.
The Board's minutes for the month of February 1968 were approved.
Dr. Ford read the following letter from Rev. James Mahoney, Board member from Ohio:
"I am writing this letter to inform you, that, after 11 years on the pioneer mission
fields of Illinois and Ohio, I have answered God's beckoning call back to my home state,
where I have accepted the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson, Texas.
"I will always treasure my years on our home mission field. They have been joyful
years of labor in areas of urgent need. However, I feel equally excited about my new
church. Everything considered, with regard to depth of spirit, present size, lovely
surroundings, and future growth--this is one of the very choice churches of all Texas.
"Of course, this move will disqualify me as a member of the Foreign Mission Board.
Therefore, with eternal gratitude for the experience, and with deep regret, I am notify¬
ing you and the proper persons in Ohio!"
In the light of this information, the Board took the following action:
Upon motion of Mr. Curtis English, the Board voted to accept with regret the resignation
of Rev. Mahoney as a member of the Foreign Mission Board.
Item 1 of Administrative Committee Recommendations:
"THAT the resignation of Dr. James E. Mahoney, Jr., a member of the Foreign Mission
Board from Ohio, be accepted with regret, in the light of his acceptance of the pastorate
of the First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson, Texas, as explained in a letter of March
5, 1968."
Report of the Executive Secretary - Dr. Baker J. Cauthen
"Tell the good news" - this is what our task is all about. This is the responsibility
that rests upon each New Testament church. This is the reason for being of the
Southern Baptist Convention. This is why there was brought into existence the Foreign
Mission Board.
This is why the missionaries are going across the world leaving loved ones, work they
enjoy, surroundings dear to their hearts and scenes familiar to take their places among
people they do not know and to face circumstances which may be very difficult. They
go because they have good news in their hearts which they have experienced in turning
to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and from Him has come a sense of mandate that sends
them forth into a world of need.
This is the explanation of the daring and dedication demonstrated by God's servants in
Vietnam, Nigeria, the Middle East and many other areas of danger. When clouds gather
and storms begin to rage, the servants of the living God know that they are there to
tell the good news. They recognize that the unfavorable circumstances may present the
very opportunities in which the good news can be most understood and believed.
