Foreign Mission Board Chapel
September 13, 1956
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 p.m. on
Thursday, Sent ember 13, 1956, with Mr. Jenkins nresidi ng.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, Levering Evans, H. B. Tillman, J. £. Boyles, Elton
Phillips, H. P. Thomas, Neal Ellis, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, Perry Mitchell,
Mrs. Earl Brown, Emmett Robertson, Oscar L. Hite, Howard Arthur, Bailey Jones,
Claris T. Long, P. Earle ’ ood, laker J. Caothen, George W. Sadler, Frank K.
Means, Rogers M. Smith, Winston Crawley, Fon H. Scofield, E. L. Hill, E. L,
Wright, E. L. D-^ane.
Mr. Mitchell led in prayer.
Dr. Can then gave the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Our meeting today finds us -non the threshold of Lb rid Missions Year during
which time the attention of the entire Southern Baptist Convention mil be
focused noon our worldwide responsibilities in the name of Christ. Throughout
the year in every state, district, and associations! meeting o? Southern Bap¬
tists the urgency of missions will be presented. We enter this year grateful
for the concern of heart which has brought it about. Democracies move slowly
but when once they are actuated by deep conviction extending throughout the
ranks of those who are .i pined together, a mighty nower result's.
The Southern Baptist Convention has vast potential for worldwide missions. Our
thinking is being reconstructed on world terms, and it seems evident that a
larger world ministry lies just ahead.
There is much to cheer our hearts as we look back upon the months which have
immediately closed. We have seen throughout the simmer in Baptist assemblies
at Glorieta and Hidgecrpst real evidence of a growing conviction concerning
our world task. Attendance at the Foreign Missions Weeks has been higher than
ever in our history. Large numbers of young people, not only ira foreign
missions weeks but in all the other weeks of the summer assemblies have made
commitment of life for Christ's service wherever He may lead. A vast reservoir
of dedicated youth is being built up out of which there will go missionaries
throughout the world.
Strong efforts are being made to follow these young people as they continue
their -reparation . The work being done by Mr. Bill Cody in our Personnel
Department can well turn out to be one of the most strategic developments we
have made in many years. The young people who volunteer for world missions
are being given much encouragement in their local churches and in the schools
where they study.
In addition to the summer assemblies two very significant world mission confer¬
ences have recently been conducted, one in Nashville for the State of Tennessee
and one in Alabama at Birmingham. These conferences were well attended and
gave evidence of the deep concern for world missions prevailing throughout the
churches. The program of world missions depends upon information. When people
know the facts, they are inclined to do something about meeting world need.
These conferences give opportunity for large num ers of people to hear more
about missions than they have ever heard. We anticipate many more states will
conduct world mission conferences in 1957.
This upsurge in world mission concern is a vital part of the large program of
advance in Southern Baptist life leading up to
196Ц
which will mark the 150th
anniversary of the Triennial Convention. There is reason to believe that
Southern Baptists will come to the conclusion of this special period of emphasis
with a larger mission undertaking both at home and throughout the world than
ever before.
It is unusual today that we are not appointing missionaries. Our meetings in
1956 have been characterized by the appointment of missionaries repeatedly.
We are deferring the appointment of missionaries today and waiting for the
annual meeting of the Board in October, at which time a large public service
will be conducted as has been done previously.
