Foreign Mission Board
May 9, 1957
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 p.m. on
Thursday, May 9, 1957, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, J. Levering Evans, Elton Phillips, J. E. Boyles,
Herman P. Thomas, Emmett Y. Robertson, Oscar L. Hite, Mrs. Earl Brown, P. Earle
Wood, Howard L. Arthur, H. B. Tillman, C. Bailey Jones, Garis T. Long, Baker J.
Cauthen, George W. Sadler, Frank K. Means, Winston Crawley, Eugene L. Hill,
Elmer S. West, Rogers M, Smith, Floyd North, E. L. Wright, E. L. Deane, Bill
B. Cody, Fon H. Scofield.
Dr. Evans led in prayer.
Mr. West presented the following missionary candidates:
Miss Martha Bell, Indonesia
Rev. and Mrs. James E. Giles, Colombia
Rev. and Mrs. Jerry Hobbs, Thailand
Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Lambright, Indonesia
Rev. and Mrs. Gerald A. McNeely, Spain - Special Appointees
Rev. and Mrs. W. Harold Matthews, Philippines
Miss Nannie Belle Owens, Nigeria
Rev. and Mrs. Elbert Henry Walker, Philippines - Special Appointees
Each candidate gave a brief testimony of his conversion experience and call to
missionary service.
On the motion of Dr. Hite all of the candidates were appointed as missionaries.
Dr. Cauthen gave the charge and Dr. Robertson led in the prayer of dedication.
On the motion of Dr. Hite it was voted to elect Rev. James G. Stertz as
Assistant Secretary of the Department of Missionary Personnel. Mr. Stertz was
presented to the members of the Board.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
The
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eports of the secretaries today will be abbreviated so as to give time for
the testimonies of the candidates.
The Southwide meeting of the Foreign Mission Board in Ridgecrest next month will
be of very great significance. Experience has already proved that the appoint¬
ment services conducted in April and October to which the public is invited have
been highly appreciated throughout Virginia and surrounding areas. The large
attendance has given evidence of the joy which comes to many hearts as they hear
the testimonies of those being appointed for missionary service.
By conducting a Southwide meeting in Ridgecrest, opportunity will be given to
hundreds of Southern Baptists from all over the South to experience the same joy
in the appointment of missionaries that we have in Richmond.
The program for the Board meeting in Ridgecrest will be exactly the same as we
follow in Richmond. Committees of the Board will be in session throughout
Thursday, June 20. We will begin with the examination of candidates Thursday
morning, just as we do in the Southwide meetings at Richmond. The examination
of candidates by committees will be followed by meetings of area and other com¬
mittees with the Administrative Committee meeting in the afternoon.
The public sessions of the Board meetings will begin on Thursday evening, June
20, in the Ridgecrest auditorium. The opening service will be for the appoint¬
ment of candidates, and the program will be the same as we follow in Richmond
at the large appointment services on the opening night. The Board will continue
in session throughout Friday with reports from the secretaries and comnittees.
The regular Foreign Missions Conference program will begin on Friday night and
continue until Wednesday noon, June 26.
All members of the Foreign Mission Board will be guests of the Board throughout
the entire Foreign Missions Week. It is hoped that all local members of the
Board will plan to be present throughout. Travel expenses for local mambers of
the Board will be available just as in the case of state members.
