Foreign Mission Board
September 11, 1958
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday
September 11, 1958, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: Dr. Howard Arthur, J. E. Boyles, Lawrence Bradley, Mrs. Kenneth Burke,
Horace Ford, J. Levering Evans, Oscar L. Hite, L. Howard Jenkins, C. Bailey
Jones, Elton Phillips, Emmett Y. Robertson, Herman P. Thomas, James Todd, Mrs.
John C. Tyree, P. Earle Wood, Baker J. Cauthen, Frank K. Means, Winston Crawley,
Cornell Goerner, Elmer West, E. L. Hill, E. L. Deane, E. L. Wright, Fon H. Scofield
Rogers M. Smith, R. A. Magee, Floyd H. North, James G. Stertz, Edna Frances Dawkins
lone Gray, Mary E. Fuqua.
Dr. Arthur led in prayer.
On the motion of Dr. Hite the following candidates were appointed as missionaries
of the Foreign Mission Board:
Rev. and Mrs. Robert Edward Beaty, Central Africa - Special Appointees
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar K. Bozeman, Korea - Special Appointees
Rev. and Mrs. Guy Henderson, Korea
Rev. and Mrs. William Estal Lewis, Jr., East Africa
Rev. and Mrs. William Harley Warren, South Brazil - Special Appointee
Dr. Cauthen gave the charge to the new missionaries and Dr. Bradley led in the
prayer of dedication.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Since the last meeting of the Board I have made a journey to the Near East due to
the emergencies prevailing in that area. The dedication, purpose, and courage
with which the missionaries in the Near East are following their Lord in service
at this time cannot be forgotten.
Amid instability and danger, the missionaries in Beirut for more than two months
continued their work in the mission compound. Only after strong persuasion on
the part of American authorities did they move to safer locations. Even then they
continued returning to the mission compound to see that essential functions were
maintained.
At all times the missionaries have been assured of unlimited support by the Foreign
Mission Board in making whatever emergency decisions were necessary. Each one has
known that he could stay or come away according to his own decision. Upon this
basis the missionaries have felt impressed to remain. Only one wife brought her
children away because there had been illness in the home and it seemed advisable
not to remain under the prevailing circumstances.
In Jordan the same spirit of commitment was found. There is considerable insta¬
bility in that country, but the missionaries stated that they have worked under
such conditions for a long time and do not regard the present situation as being
more than an intensified phase of that which long has confronted them.
In Gaza I found the missionaries engaged in medical and church work with effec¬
tiveness and devotion. The ministry of the hospital in Gaza has been of very
great value. The work done by our missionaries and their co-laborers in that
area is the only Christian witness in the Gaza strip. On every hand there are
high expressions of appreciation of the work of these missionaries on behalf of
of their fellowman.
After seeing first hand the situations being confronted by the missionaries and
the attitudes and spirit with which the uncertainties are being faced, it was
with joy that I sent word to Dr. and Mrs. August Lovegren and Rev. and Mrs. Finlay
Graham that it would be possible for them to return to the Near East at this time.
These two families have already arrived, and Miss Violet Popp and Miss Maurine
Perryman have also reached Jordan.
The service being rendered by these missionaries points up the fact that the most
essential elements in missionary service cannot be purchased with money. The
same high degree of commitment to Christ is necessary in the missionary enterprise
today as has been true throughout its history. We live in a day of continuing
crisis. Every servant of God who goes to the mission field does well to remember
the words of the Master who said, "Behold, I send you forth as lambs into the midst
of wolves."
