Foreign Mission Board
October 14-15, 1958
161
The Foreign Mission Board met in annual session on October 14-15, 1958 with
Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: State Members: S. E. Maddox, James E. Davidson, Alabama; W. 0. Vaught,
Jr., Arkansas; George R. Wilson, Arizona; Robert D. Hughes, California; S. Lewis
Morgan, D.C.; Preston B. Sellers, Florida; Clifton A. Forrester, Monroe F. Swilley
and Howard P. Giddens , Georgia; Otho Williams, Illinois; Fred T. Moffatt, Carroll
Hubbard, Kentucky; James W. Middleton, Louisiana; W. Clyde Atkins, Maryland; Lewis
F. Rhodes, Mississippi; J. Edwin Hewlett, Missouri; A. A. DuLaney, New Mexico;
E. Norfleet Gardner, V. Ward Barr, Mrs. Foy J. Farmer, North Carolina; C. Murray
Fuquay, Oklahoma; Dotson M. Nelson, Jr., South Carolina; James A. Canaday, Tenn.;
M. B. Carroll, W. H. Crook, T. A. Patterson, Mrs. R. L. Mathis, Arthur E. Travis,
Billy Graham, Texas.
Local Members: Howard L. Arthur, J. E. Boyles, Lawrence Bradley, Mrs. Kenneth
Burke, Solon B. Cousins, Horace Ford, J. Levering Evans, Oscar L. Hite, L. Howard
Jenkins, C. Bailey Jones, Garis T. Long, Elton Phillips, Emmett Y. Robertson,
Herman P. Thomas, James Todd, Mrs. John C. Tyree, P. Earle Wood, Mrs. Earl Brown.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, Frank K. Means, Winston Crawley, Cornell Goerner, Elmer
S. West, E. L. Hill, E. L. Deane, E. L. Wright, Fon H. Scofield, Rogers M. Smith,
Genevieve Greer, Edna Frances Dawkins, lone Gray, R. A. Magee, Bill B. Cody,
Floyd North, James G. Stertz, Mary E. Fuqua.
Tuesday, October 14, 1958
The first session was held at 7:30 p.m. in the First Baptist Church.
The devotional period was led by Dr. Lewis Rhodes.
Mr. Jenkins recognized the following guests: Miss Alma Hunt, Dr. Bob Denny,
Dr. Alton Reed, Dr. Barry Garrett, Dr. Luther Copeland, Dr. I. N. Patterson,
Mrs. John Oliver, Miss Auris Pender.
following
Dr. Cauthen gave the/report of the Executive Secretary:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
We have come to the annual meeting of the Foreign Mission Board aware that God
is moving in our midst toward a larger world mission undertaking. The fact that
the Board will be adopting a budget of $10,312,067.90 is a matter of great sig¬
nificance. When we consider the vast contrast in this budget with the total
income of the Foreign Mission Board twenty-five years ago, our hearts are filled
with gratitude to God. We know that prayer, dedication, and much labor are
represented in this great advance.
Money to provide for this budget comes chiefly from two sources.
First, there is the provision made by Southern Baptists through the Cooperative
Program. In 1959 the Foreign Mission Board is scheduled to receive from the
Cooperative Program budget the sum of $5,490,000 for current operations, and an
additional $400,000 for capital needs.
After the Southwide Budget of the Cooperative Program is reached, 75 per cent of
all funds reaching the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention are
distributed to the Foreign Mission Board and 25 per cent to the Home Mission
Board. The total amount, therefore, to be anticipated from the Cooperative Pro¬
gram in 1959 gives encouragement and strength.
The other chief source of funds for the work of the Foreign Mission Board is the
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. The sum of $2,500,000 from this offering is in¬
cluded in the budget to be adopted by the Board at this meeting. In addition to
this sum of $2,500,000 the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering will provide more than
$4,000,000 for capital and other needs. We are grateful to God for the spirit of
dedication and world mission compassion that produces the financial reinforcement
for missionary advance.
We should, however, keep in mind that these sums of money are far from adequate
as we face the needs across the world. There will be at least $3,000,000 of
needs we will be unable to meet in 1959 with all of the resources available.
Many people inquire if missionaries are kept waiting for appointment because of
lack of money. We follow a deliberate policy of sending the missionaries who
are qualified and doing the best we can about other responsibilities.
