May 12, 1966
229
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session on Thursday, May 12,
1966 at 3 P.M. in the chapel of the Foreign Mission Board with Dr. J. Roy
Clifford presiding.
Present: State Members: Milton Collum, Colo.; J. Ray Garrett, D.C.; Charles
Lassiter, Mich.; T. L. Neely, S. C.
Local Members: T. F. Adams, Wade Bryant, J. Roy Clifford, Joseph P. Edmondson,
Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, W. Rush Loving, John L. Moran, James Rayhorn, Ryland 0.
Reamy, Hunter Riggins, Meredith K. Roberson, D. 0. Rose, Edwin L. Shattuck,
Dalton Ward.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, Rogers M. Smith, Winston Crawley, J. D. Hughey, E. L.
Deane, Franklin Fowler, E. L. Hill, E. L. Wright, Jesse C. Fletcher, Edna Frances
Dawkins, William W. Marshall, Louis R. Cobbs, Samuel DeBord, Truman Smith, Fon H.
Scofield, lone Gray, G. Norman Price, Harold G. Basden, Floyd H. North, Ralph West.
Guests: Everley Hayes, missionary in Indonesia; Emeritus missionaries (see names
listed below)
Dr. Charles Lassiter led in the devotional period.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report of the Executive Secretary:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
The announcement of the final total of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering amount¬
ing to $13,194,357.32 has brought much rejoicing. This sum exceeds the amount of
the previous Offering by the sum of $1,323,707.97. We expressed to Woman's Mis¬
sionary Union, and to all others who have shared in this very great victory our
deepest appreciation and gratitude. We are, at the same time, encouraged by the
fact that gifts through the Cooperative Program have continued to grow. Word from
the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention indicates that the in¬
crease was 8.50$ in April.
The sum of $11,584,000.00 has already been appropriated of the 1965 Lottie Moon
Offering. The remaining amount of $1,610,357.32 will be recommended to the Board
at its meeting at Ridgecrest in June.
In the recommendations to be reviewed today from the Administrative Committee will
be an item concerning Data-Processing. We wish to express to the special committee
composed of Mr. Curtis English, Leonard Moore, and D. 0. Rose, our particular appre¬
ciation of their careful work in this matter. It has involved a great deal of time,
and much careful study. We believe the step being recommended points toward
strengthening our headquarters' responsibilities, and being able to take care of
increasing growth both with efficiency and economy.
In the recommendations to be brought from the Africa Committee is an item that calls
attention to a Manpower Registration Act in Rhodesia which has engaged the attention
of the missionaries recently. We are grateful that Dr. Goerner was in Rhodesia in
position to give counsel during the time this matter was being studied. We wish to
remember the missionaries in Rhodesia in prayer as they continue to serve in a
delicate situation.
It is of particular joy that we are appointing at this meeting nineteen new mission¬
aries including two missionary associates. Among those being appointed is a couple
for Vietnam, together with the couple for Indonesia. It is reassuring that in the
troubled areas of Southeast Asia, mission work continues to press forward and God's
servants meet their responsibilities with faith and courage.
It is noticeable that missionaries often show the greatest qualities of dedication,
steadfastness, and determination when circumstances are difficult. We do well to
keep in our prayers God's servants who minister in His name in countries where
tension, violence, and war prevail. It is in just those conditions that the light
of Christian witness is needed. We must also continue to pray that the doors may
be opened in China, and other lands from which missionaries are now excluded that
God's servants may be enabled to bear His word freely among those who need so much
to know of His redeeming love.
We now are turning our faces toward Detroit where of the vast responsibilities and
the opportunities which await, four missionaries will speak on Foreign Missions
Night. They are Charles Campbell of Argentina, Robert Davis of Vietnam, Clayton
Bond of Togo, and W. 0. Hern of Jordan. It is our prayer that God may use the
