Foreign Mission Board Rooms
November 6, 1951
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:30 p.m.
on Thursday, November 8,
1951»
with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, J. H. Wiley, W. Rush Loving, H. P. Thomas,
Mrs. T. W. Smith, Oscar L. Hite, E. P. Buxton, S. B. Cousins, T. Rupert.
Coleman, M. T. Rankin, G. W. Sadler, Everett Gill, Jr., Frank K. Means,
L. P. Seay, E. L. Deane.
Dr. Sadler led in prayer.
It was decided that the Board secretaries would not read monthly reports
at the Board meeting, but would prepare statements to be included in the
mimeographed minutes. If action by the Board is necessary, the secretaries
will supply the needed information, but if there are no recommendations
that need the vote of the members, the formal reports will be discontinued
unless the members of the Board feel they should be read at the regular
meetings.
The following are the reports of the secretaries:
Report of Secretary for the Orient
The Japan Preaching Mission which ended October 28 brought far reaching
results. Incomplete reoorts indicate 10,865 decisions cards signed with
5,357 being definite professions of faith. Many young people volunteered
for the ministry and other forms of Christian service.
The visiting preachers expressed surprise and joy because of the effective¬
ness of Dreaching through interpreters. They brought the same Gospel
messages they Breach at home with the exception that they undertook
to make everything especially clear for those who had never heard. In
many cases twenty-five per cent of the audience were attending their
first Christian service.
Intensive preparations were made for the meetings. Posters and handbills
were used in advertising. Cars and loud speakers announced the time and
place of meeting.
Wherever possible the meetings were conducted in the church building.
This resulted in acquainting the peorle with the regular place and time
of church services and made easier the follow-up work which is most
important. In some cases it was necessary to rent public auditoriums.
Large audiences attended these services and wonderful response was seen.
In some cases missionaries who are just beginning work in major centers
were able to see a large number of people won to the Lord and from this
group the churches will be built.
Meetings were conducted not only in cities but in villages, rural areas
and mining camps. Special services were held in schools, factories,
and business organizations.
God is certainly leading in the strategy of mission work being followed
in Japan. Already we have entered the main centers from Tokyo to the
western tip of Japan and within another year we will have entered northern
Japan and the two larre islands of Hokkaido and Shikoku.
At the close of the meetings in Jaoan, Dr. Clyde Hickerson and Dr. John
Slaughter went to Formosa for nine days of meetings and will return to
America by way of Hong Kong, Manila, and Honolulu. Dr. M. Ray McKay
went to Hong Kong for one week of meetings and will then return to his
home hv wav of the Near East and Europe. His church is providing the
expense required for his additional travel.
Other areas of the Orient are receiving new strength through the arrival
of missionaries. Rev. and Mrs. Robert L. Bausum have arrived in Formosa
where another church has just been organized. Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Hill
and Miss Jessie Green have arrived in Singapore. Dr. Frank Lide has
reached Manila and will be able to translate for the meetings to be con¬
ducted by Dr. Hickerson and Dr. Slaughter. Miss Gladys Hopewell and
Miss Jennell Greer have reached Bangkok where they will greatly
strengthen the work.
Dr. N. A. Bryan and Rev. Rex Ray have been cleared for entry to Korea.
Korean Baptists are eagerly anticipating the coming of these mission¬
aries.
