November 19, 1959
157
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 p.m. on
Thursday, November 19, 1959, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, Howard Arthur, Lawrence Bradley, Stuart Grizzard,
Herman P. Thomas, J. Levering Evans, Solon B. Cousins, P. Earle Wood, James Todd,
Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, Mrs. John C. Tyree, Elton Phillips, Unmet t Y. Robertson,
Oscar L. Hite, Mrs. Kenneth Burke, Baker J. Cauthen, Rogers Smith, Fon Scofield,
Bill Cody, Frank K. Means, Cornell Goerner, lone Gray.
Dr. Bradley led in prayer.
Dr. Cauthen made the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Since the meeting of the Board in October, the secretaries have been engaged
in annual sessions of state conventions. These gatherings of Baptists are very
important. There are far more people who are brought together in these annual
state meetings than are assembled in the session of the Southern Baptist
Convention.
Throughout all of our Baptist life it is evident that there is a growing concern
for world missions. This is evidenced by the fact that the state conventions
graciously assign to foreign missions one of their best hours on the convention
program, and the degree of prayer support that is evidenced when the services are
held causes one to be aware that the conviction concerning a world task is very
deep in the hearts of God’s people.
As we look ahead toward sustained mission growth, we are conscious of a number
of important emphases which must be stressed.
For one thing, there must be continued increase in the number of mission
volunteers. We look to I960 with the objective of appointing 150 missionaries,
and have in mind increasing that number year by year until by 1964 we will
appoint 200.
This calls for earnest prayer and a great deal of effort. It is encouraging to
see in seminaries and colleges the earnest consideration which is being given
by people in training as they hear of foreign mission needs. It has been very
heartening in recent weeks to see a number of splendid nursing students indicate
their concern about the mission task. Throughout the Southern Baptist Convention
there are many pastors and other trained workers who become convinced that God
is leading them to the mission field, and we receive in our offices many letters
indicating their readiness to respond to the call of world need. This is a
cheering indication of God’s leadership and promise for the future.
The sustained flow of mission volunteers depends upon individual churches praying
for the going of missionaries from their own midst. It is because this depth of
prayer is real in Baptist life that we believe we are moving into an era of a
continued supply of missionary volunteers, but we remind ourselves at all times
this must not be taken for granted, but must be made an object of prayer and effort.
As there comes a great upsurge in missionary interest, it is inevitable that many
people are interested in getting to mission fields on some type of a non-appointment
status. Many people who are far beyond the age limit have sought various and
sundry means of serving on the mission fields.
There is a strong conviction in our hearts that the best interests of the missionary
enterprise are served as we look to missionaries under appointment to serve
abroad. This places great responsibility upon us in our personnel procedures,
as we recognize the depth of concern on the part of individuals as they have
surrendered their hearts to their Lord and at the same time the realistic
considerations which must be given to long-range commitments for missionary
service. We are encouraged by the fact that although we are now undertaking
to appoint numbers far larger than ever before in our history, the same careful
attention is given to each candidate, as was true in days when numbers were
much smaller.
Paralleling the need for increased numbers of mission volunteers is the need for
growth in financial support. We have now entered the period of the year when the
advance section of the Cooperative Program brings added reinforcement. As is well
