November 6 , 1969
The Foreign Mission Board held its regular monthly meeting on November 6, 1969, at
3:00 p.m., in the Board's Chapel, Richmond, Virginia, with M. Hunter Riggins presiding.
PRESENT: State Members: W. E. Thorn (Kansas).
Local Members: Mrs. R. B. Carter, Sr., W. Curtis English, Austin W. Farley, Joseph
B. Flowers, V. Allen Gaines, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, John W. Kincheloe, Jr., Julian
H. Pentecost, Lucius M. Polhill, James E. Rayhorn, M. Hunter Riggins, Meredith K.
Roberson, Edwin L. Shattuck, Mrs. Thomas Whalen.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, Charles W. Bryan, Louis R. Cobbs, Winston Crawley, Edna
Frances Dawkins, Everett L. Deane, Samuel A. DeBord, Jesse C. Fletcher, Franklin T.
Fowler, Eugene L. Hill, Floyd H. North, Sidney C. Reber, Rogers M. Smith, Melvin E.
Torstrick, E. L. Wright, Elizabeth Minshew.
The meeting was called to order.
The meeting opened with the Hymn: "Forward Through the Ages," led by Sidney C. Reber,
director of the Board's Management Services Division.
Board members, friends, and guests were welcomed.
Colonel Thomas Whalen, husband of a local Board member, was recognized and welcomed.
Dr. John W. Kincheloe, Jr., local Board member, read a passage of Scripture and led
in prayer.
Minutes of the Board for October 13-15, 1969, were approved.
REPORT of EXECUTIVE SECRETARY - Dr. Baker J. Cauthen
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report:
Since the last meeting of the Board, Mrs. Cauthen and I, in company with Rev. Charles
W. Bryan, secretary for work in Middle America and the Caribbean, made a journey through
the Caribbean to visit the mission work. The occasion was the dedication of a new
church building in Georgetown, Guyana, and a new church building in Santiago, Dominican
Republic. We also were able to share in the organization of a new church in Guyana.
This was the first visit I have made through the area since Dr. Means, Mr. Bryan and
I made the original survey in 1961. It was gratifying to see the progress which has
been made and the remarkable opportunity that is found in so many places.
The work in Guyana has been fruitful. This country made a particular appeal to us
in the original survey. The missionaries in that field have very earnestly sought
the guidance of God in the efforts they have put forward and particularly in the
development of churches. There has been much answer to prayer for the calling out
of Christian workers.
The erection of a new church building in Georgetown, Guyana, was a notable event for
the entire work. The building is excellent and the dedication service was attended
by people from many Christian groups. It was an occasion that will be remembered
with appreciation.
Among the 1,000,000 people of Trinidad there is a much larger opportunity for service
than we had realized. Baptist work in that place dates back many years, and has been
nurtured by British Baptists. The work, however, is small and the number of churches
is not large. The opportunities far exceed what is being done and, consequently,
the planning of additional churches has been the response to a very great need. It
was gratifying to see the churches which have been established and the mission efforts
put forward by those churches, which have been very fruitful.
Work in the French West Indies has centered on Guadeloupe. We do not have any workers
on Martinique, but it is entirely possible that something should be done on that island
at a later time. Approximately 500,000 people live on these two islands. Mission¬
aries in Guadeloupe spoke of the very large need on that island for additional ser¬
vice. Two missionary couples and one missionary journeyman are there, and a good
work has been brought into life. These missionaries who have gone into new areas
where they were totally unacquainted and where Baptists had no work whatsoever,
are to be commended for their faithfulness and courage.
On the islands of St. Kitts and Antigua, there is work that dates back a number of
years, particularly on the island of St. Kitts. Two missionary couples serve in this
area, one having particular responsibility for St. Kitts and one having the responsi¬
bility for Antigua, even though both families at present live on Antigua. In addition
to the work among the local people, there is opportunity on Antigua for ministry
