Richmond, Virginia
May 23, 1963
43
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 P.M. on Thursday,
May 23, 1963, with Dr. Roberson presiding.
Present: Local Members: T. F. Adams, Wade Bryant, J. Roy Clifford, H. Addison
Dalton, Joseph P. Edmondson, J. Levering Evans, Horace L. Ford, R. Stuart Grizzard,
Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, Mrs. Charles A. Maddry, J. Walter Martin, Ryland 0. Reamy,
Meredith K. Roberson, D. 0. Rose, James T. Todd, Mrs. John C. Tyree.
State Members: J. Chester Badgett, Ky. ; 0. M. Cates, Ga. ; James W. Abernathy, Ind.;
0. K. Webb, S.C.; John Robert Stiff, Va.; Howard J. Ford, N.C.; (B. Frank Foster,
D.C. and Leslie M. Bowling, Md. were present for committee meetings, but were unable
to remain for the Board meeting).
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, Cornell Goerner, Rogers M. Smith, E. L. Hill, E. L. Deane,
Elmer S. West, E. L. Wright, Floyd H. North, Joseph B. Underwood, Fon H. Scofield,
Edna Frances Dawkins, Bill Cody, Jesse Fletcher, William M. Dyal, lone Gray, Inez
Tuggle.
Visitors: Dr. and Mrs. G. Norman Price, Jackson, Miss.; Dr. E. Luther Copeland, Wake
Forest, N.C.
Dr. E. Luther Copeland, professor of missions at Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina, read a Scripture passage and led in prayer.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report of the Executive Secretary:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
We have gathered today for one of the largest appointment services in the history
of the Foreign Mission Board. The number of missionaries being appointed is sig¬
nificant not only from the standpoint of this one particular meeting, but as an in¬
dication of a continued response on the part of dedicated lives to the call of God.
It seems as if there is every reason to expect the appointments for 1963 will be at
least 160. There has been gathering momentum throughout the entire period of ad¬
vance, and we are now witnessing the fruition of an increased thrust in foreign mis¬
sions.
How far we are able to go in the expansion of worldwide missionary labor will be
dependent upon a sustained number of missionary candidates and increasing financial
reinforcement for this labor. The two main lines of reinforcement are the Coopera¬
tive Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. It is axiomatic that both these
lines of reinforcement must continue to grow. We are very happy that during the years
of advance through which we have come these two channels of missionary support have
grown in roughly parallel lines so that the reinforcement for this labor rests upon
a solid basis of financial support.
Since the last meeting of the Board the final figures on the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering have been received. The full amount of the offering totals $10,323,591.69.
We are grateful to God and to Woman's Missionary Union and to all who have given to
this offering for the prayer, love, and financial reinforcement which this great gift
represents.
The final lists for appropriating this money will be presented to the Board at the
full meeting in June at Ridgecrest. The amount remaining to be appropriated is
$1,007,380.48.
Since the last meeting of the Board the New Life Movement in the Orient has continued
to move toward a splendid climax. Most of the meetings have now been conducted,
although a few are yet in process. The last general reports indicated that more
than 32,000 public decisions had been registered in the meetings held in Japan, the
Philippines, Okinawa, and other countries.
It is impossible to calculate the full extent of the blessings which have come about
through these meetings. Letters have been received from the president of the Japan
Baptist Convention and Pastor Shuichi Matsumura, who was the director of the New Life
Movement in Japan, expressing the very deep conviction that this movement has brought
long-range blessing to Christian witness in their country. We are profoundly grate¬
ful to God for all who have participated, and we already have expressed our appre¬
ciation to those who have made this movement a possibility.
The remarkable events in world evangelism in many lands during the last several years
have pointed toward the very great opportunities which have come into existence in
every area where we are at work. Large-scale efforts in Brazil, Mexico, other coun¬
tries of Latin America, and Africa and the Orient have pointed toward the values of
this very definite ministry.
