May 11, 1961
43
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 p.m. for the
business session with. Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Dr. Rush 'Loving led in prayer.
Present: Joseph P. Edmondson, J. Levering Evans, Horace Ford, Stuart Grizzard,
Oscar Hite, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, L. Howard Jenkins, Elton Phillips, Hyland
0. Rearay, Meredith Roberson, Emmett Y. Robertson, Herman P. Thoms, James Todd,
Mrs. John C. Tyree, W. Rush Loving, Baker J. Cauthen, Cornell Goerner, Rogers
Smith, Ralph A. Magee, E. L. Wright, Elmer 3. West, Jr., Edna Frances Dawkins,
Bill Cody, Luke Smith, Jesse Fletcher, E. L. Hill, Fon H. Scofield, Genevieve
Greer, lone Gray, Floyd North, Franklin Fowler, ’'ary E. Fuqua.
Dr. Cauthen gave the report of the Executive Secretary:
*
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
The final total of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is now $8,236,471.07 •
This represents an increase of $531,623.76 over the offering one year ago.
We express to Woman’s Missionary Union our debt of gratitude for this great
love gift. Its value cannot be measured simply in terms of the number of
dollars, but also in terms of intercessory prayer, mission study, an : life
dedication. Without this offering, the work of foreign missions would be
greatly reduced. All projection cf plans for advance in foreign missions
must take well into account, sustained growth of financial support both
through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program. One
of the most significant parts of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is that
it opens fountains of missionary compassion and concern which flow through¬
out, the year in sustained giving through the Cooperative Program for the
support of all the work that is done both at hone and abroad.
At the April meeting of the Board, report was given of the I960 audit,
indicating total expenditures of $18,116,220.32 for the year. It is very
interesting and profitable to study the analysis of these expenditures so
as to see what is accomplished by the missionary giving of Southern Baptists.
Of particular interest, is the fact that only 4*4 per cent of all expenditures
are required for administrative and general purposes. This includes the
expenses cf the home office in Richmond, providing for salaries, traveling
expenses, stationery, postage, insurance, office equipment, cost of Board
meetings, annual audit, agents commission for handling investments, legal
expenses, and other miscellaneous expenses.
An additional 2.33 per cent is required for home cultivation. This includes
audio-visual education, missionary literature, deputation work of missionaries
on furlough, publicity through denominational papers, recruitment materials,
and other home cultivation expenditures.
A total of 93*27 per cent of all disbursements are for foreign field
responsibilities. These disbursements provide for salaries and expenses of
missionaries, furlough travel, missionary pension plan, special allowances
to emeritus missionaries, advanced training of select Baptist leaders frem
abroaa, direct evangelism, Christian education, seminaries, hospitals,
publishing houses, purchase of property abroad, construction 0;" buildings
for missionary residences, churches, schools, hospitals and other purposes.
A study of the overseas expenses indicates that a well balanced projection
of mission work is carried forward into three large areas of service. The
largest expenditures were mde in Latin America where $5,
7У8,
413*44 was used.
In the Orient a total of $5,447,490.69 was used, and in Africa, Europe and
the Hear East , where the staff is rapidly increasing and will soon be equal
to that of the o1 her two areas, a -total of $4,900,091*26 was used.
The largest expenditure in any one country was in Brazil, where three targe
missions carry on their work. A total of $2,407,249*05 was used in Brazil.
The largest expenditure in any one mission was in Nigeria, where a total of
$1,722,949.69 was used..
