Richmond, Virginia
November 10, 1966
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The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session on Thursday, November 10,
1966 at 3:00 P.M. in the chapel of the Foreign Mission Board with Dr. J. Roy Clifford
presiding.
Presiding: Local Members: T. F. Adams, Wade Bryant, J. Roy Clifford, Curtis English,
V. Allen Gaines, David S. Hammock, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, John Kincheloe, W. Rush
Loving, J. Walter Martin, J. Leonard Moore, James Rayhorn, Hunter Riggins, D. 0. Rose,
Edwin L. Shattuck, Dalton Ward.
Staff : Baker J. Cauthen, E. L. Deane, Jesse C. Fletcher, Truman Smith, Louis Cobbs,
Samuel DeBord , E. L. Hill, lone Gray, Floyd North, Fon H. Scofield, Joseph B. Under¬
wood, E. L. Wright, Emily Lenz.
Guests : Mr. and Mrs. L. Howard Jenkins
Rev. V. Allen Gaines opened the meeting with prayer.
The minutes were approved as printed and previously mailed to members of the Board.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report of the Executive Secretary:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Since the last meeting of the Board I have made a journey to the Orient to share
in the formal opening of Hong Kong Baptist College. This splendid institution stands
as a demonstration of the initiative, vision, and dedication of Hong Kong Baptist
people. The building was erected with funds given by Hong Kong Baptists reinforced
by gifts made by the Foreign Mission Board, and special assistance from Dr. David J.
Carver of Baltimore who has had particular interest in this development.
The eight story building accommodates 1,700 students in a four-year senior college
program. It is near the beautiful Hong Kong Baptist Hospital and is not far away
from the Pooi Ching High School for Boys with 5,000 students, and Pooi To High School
for Girls with 2,500 students. The Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary and the
Baptist Press are two other major efforts being made in this city.
In addition to the schools already named there is conducted across the bay on Hong
Kong Island another large school named in honor of Henrietta Hall Shuck. It is call¬
ed the Henrietta School and has more than 1,000 students.
The churches of Hong Kong have shown remarkable development. The Kowloon City Bap¬
tist Church accommodates 2,000 people. The entire student body of the college at¬
tended the service on Sunday night.
It was of particular interest to share in the formal opening of the Baptist Service
Center which is a social welfare ministry in one of the large housing developments.
As the service was in progress, there were approximately sixty little children rest¬
ing on their beds in the day nursery.
One is deeply impressed in Hong Kong by the influence of Baptist laymen who dedicate
themselves to the service of Christ in their churches and in Christian institutions.
The impressive thing about Hong Kong Baptist work is that it represents the initiative
of Chinese Churches and leaders. Our efforts have been to reinforce them and streng¬
then their hand.
This visit was made significant by a journey to Indonesia where a new day is being
experienced following the dangerous period in which the country nearly fell under
Communist power. Missionaries would have been in extreme danger if that development
had succeeded. The dramatic story of the approach of a mob upon the Kediri Baptist
Hospital with the purpose of burning it only to turn back while being confronted by
Missionary Kathleen Jones at the doorway is one of the thrilling experiences that
will abide in the memory of this Mission through the days to come.
Missionaries and Indonesian Baptist workers sense the opportunities of the new day
in which they are now involved. Doors are open on every hand and opportunities
abound for witness and service.
We are grateful for the influence of Dr. and Mrs. R. Keith Parks. Dr. Parks served
for two years as an associate secretary in the Personnel Department, and returned
to Indonesia as treasurer with a deep sense of God's guidance. Their service during
the troublous days of national emergency has been of great significance.
Dr. Crawley and I went to Vietnam to spend several days in fellowship with the
missionaries of our Board. We were grateful for the privilege of flying to Danang
where we had two hours of fellowship with the Ron Merrells and the Lewis Myers,
missionary families. We went to their houses and saw the situation through which
they had gone when Mr. and Mrs. Myers were caught in the line of fire during the
fighting by a rebellious faction against the government in May. The heroism of
Ron Merrell riding in on a motorcycle accompanied by another American to find out
about the Myers family was a demonstration of Christian faith and character. These
families are now enjoying opportunities in their city for steadily growing work.
We were happy to visit the center that they are developing and to see the vast amount
of good being done.
