FOREIGN MISSION BOARD MINUTES
November 4, 1976
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session Thursday, November 4, 1976,
3:00 p.m. , in the Baker James Cauthen Chapel. The Second Vice-President, J. R. White,
presided .
PRESENT: State Members: Alabama: Charles T. Carter, J. R. White; Arkansas: James F.
Sawyer; D.
С.
: B. Ross Morrison; Kentucky: Mrs. Ray Mullendore; Mississippi : Joe
Neil McKeever, James Richardson; North Carolina: Mrs. Thomas C. Womble; South
Carolina: Ira Q. Craft; Tennessee: Jonas L. Stewart.
local Members: Franklin D. Hall, Bruce H. Price, M. Hunter Riggins, Jr., Mrs. Ross
S. Shearer, Mrs. E. S. Stratton, Mrs. Thomas Whalen, Robert B. Bass, J. Roy Clifford,
Paul E. Crandall, Gurney W. Grant, J. Leonard Moore, John W. Patterson, Raymond L.
Spence, Jr., H. I. Willett.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, J. Bryan Brasington, Charles W. Bryan, Louis R. Cobbs,
Edna Frances Dawkins, William K. Dawson, James G. Edwards, Cornell Goerner, lone
Gray, W. Eugene Grubbs, George H. Hays, Ward S. Hildreth, Dwight A. Honeycutt,
Ralph A. Magee, William W. Marshall, Frank K. Means, Stanley A. Nelson, Floyd H.
North, William R. O'Brien, R. Keith Parks, Samuel M. Pittman, G. Norman Price,
Sidney C. Reber, Fon H. Scofield, Rogers M. Smith, Truman Smith, W. L. Smith,
Richard M. Styles, Wilbur N. Todd, Melvin E. Torstrick, Joseph B. Underwood, E.
L. Wright, Elizabeth Minshew.
Board Attorney; Paul D. Stotts.
The presiding officer called the meeting to order.
The audience joined in singing the Hymn: "Am I a Soldier of the Cross," led by
William O'Brien of the Board staff.
Joe McKeever, Board member from Mississippi, read a passage of Scripture and led
in the Opening Prayer.
Special prayer was heard for Hunter Riggins and family, especially for his son,
David, that he will continue to improve and experience complete recovery from his
recent accident; for Fon Scofield, in the recent loss of his wife; and for Mrs.
Dallas Bateman and her three daughters in the recent loss of their husband and
father, missionary Dallas Bateman from Kenya.
Minutes of the Board for October 13, 1976, were approved.
The presiding officer recognized the Executive Director, Baker J. Cauthen.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Baker J. Cauthen
Dr. Cauthen brought brief excerpts from his formal report, as follows:
Report of the Executive Director
With the appointment of the large group of missionaries today and the
prospect of another splendid group in December, the outlook is good for
bringing 1976 to a close with the largest number of missionaries appointed
in any previous year.
There is much reason for encouragement as we think about the outlook for
missionary personnel. The greatly increased enrollments in theological
seminaries and a deepening concern on the part of college and university
students for the needs of the world give indication that God is preparing
people for worldwide service in His name.
The excellent response of Southern Baptists to the plans for a greater
mission thrust in the remainder of this century gives reason for much
encouragement. The concept of giving the gospel of Christ to every
person on earth within the next twenty-five years is gripping the imagination
of people everywhere. With God all things are possible. It is obvious
that apart from Him such an objective could never be attained. Within
His will going to full limits of ability to bring this to pass is honoring
to His name, and He will use it as seems best to Him.
With meetings of stace Baptist conventions at hand, there will be opportunity
for sharing the challenge of total missions thrust with Southern Baptists
over a very wide area. This can well result in greater reinforcement
