Foreign Mission Board Rooms
September 15, 1955
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 300 p.m. on
Thursday, September 15,
1955»
with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Presents L. Howard Jenkins, Garis T. Long, Elton Phillips, Perry Mitchell,
J. Hundley Wiley, J. E. Boyles, E. P. Buxton, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, H. B.
Tillman, Mrs. Earl Brown, H. P. Arthur, W. Rush Loving, Baker J. Cauthen,
Frank K. Means, Rogers M. Smith, Fon H. Scofield, Bill Cody, E. L. Deane,
E. L. Wright.
Dr. Tillman led in prayer.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Those of us who attended the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Southern
Baptist Convention in Nashville last week came away greatly encouraged. The
meetings of the Executive Committee were preceded by a full day spent in the
Promotion Conference. Highlighting the meetings was the emphasis placed upon
steps which should be taken to implement the recommendations of the Committee
on World Evangelization adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention at its last
meeting in Miami, Florida.
The Convention is focusing all of its efforts upon an advance in world missions.
This means not only advance in foreign missions but in every aspect of our world
task. It is obvious that any advance must come to its culmination in a larger
outreach in giving the gospel to the world beyond the borders of our own country
The years 1956 and 1957 will give special emphasis to world missions. Special
emphasis is to be placed on world missions in the meetings of the Southern
Baptist Convention in 1956 and 1957. All states are being urged to use the
theme of world missions in the 1956 annual state conventions. Intensified
emphasis on world missions is being encouraged in the fall of 1956 and all of
1957 in all southern Baptist Convention, state, and associational meetings,
including summer assemblies, Sunday school, Training Union and B.S.U. conven¬
tions and special world mission conferences.
The period beginning October, 1956 and running through all of 1957 is to be
designated world missions year. It is to be opened by a special week of
Christian stewardship emphasis October 29 - November 5, 1956 designated "world
missions week."
Throughout all of 1957 all institutions and agencies of the Southern Baptist
and state conventions will be urged to join in laying stress upon world missions
One Sunday in June, 1957 will be set apart as a day to challenge young people
to dedicate their lives for the world mission task. Special stress will be
laid upon world mission conferences in many of the states throughout the
Southern Baptist Convention, Some are already planning such conferences for
1956 and others will be planning conferences in 1957.
Churches will be encouraged to adopt a goal of at least 50 per cent of all
resident members tithing by the end of 1957. Special stress will be laid upon
supporting world missions through the Cooperative Program.
A goal will be set for 1956 of $52,000,000 (or $1,000,000 a week) for world
missions through the Cooperative Program.
Indications are that the year 1956 will be set apart as a year for calling upon
Baptists everywhere to unite in prayer for revival* looking forward to a year
of special evangelistic effort in 1959 on a nationwide scale, which we hope
may be extended through all parts of the world where Baptists are working.
These plans will be followed by five years of special emphasis on advance lead¬
ing up to the year 196H, which will mark the 150th anniversary of the organiza¬
tion of the Triennial Convention in America, which convention came into
existence by the going of Adaniram Judson to Burma and the ministry of Luther
Rice in America, whereby he called the Baptists to form a convention for the
support of foreign missions.