September 8, 1960
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 p.m. on
Thursday, September 8, 1960, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: . L. Howard Jenkins, Joseph Edmondson, Horace Ford, Stuart Grizzard,
Oscar Hite, Josiah Hoover, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, Elton Phillips, Ryland 0.
Reamy, Meredith Roberson, Emmett Y. Robertson, James Todd, Mrs. John C. Tyree,
C. Bailey Jones, Norfleet Gardner, Baker J. Cauthen, Cornell Goerner, Frank
K. Means, Elmer West, Eugene Hill, E. L. Deane, E. L. Wright, James G. Stertz,
Jess Fletcher, Bill Cody, Rogers Smith.
On the motion of Dr. Hite the following candidates were appointed as
missionaries:
Rev. and Mrs. Walter E. Allen, Africa (Special Appointees)
Miss Carol June Henson, Chile
Dr. and Mrs. Gene Pitman, Nigeria
Rev. and Mrs. Daniel R. White, Spain
Dr. and Mrs. William E. Wyatt, Nigeria
Each candidate gave a brief testimony of his Christian experience and call to
missionary service.
Dr. Cauthen gave the charge to the new missionaries and Dr. R. J. Robinson,
Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Augusta, Georgia, led in the prayer of
dedication.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
We welcome to the staff of the Foreign Mission Board Dr. Jess Fletcher who
comes as an associate secretary in the Department of Missionary Personnel with
special responsibility for candidates in the southwestern and western area
of the Convention. Dr. and Mrs. Fletcher and their family have been in
Richmond for several weeks, but this is the first Board meeting for them to
attend.
It is important that we constantly strengthen all our efforts in laying the
urgent needs for more missionaries upon the hearts of Southern Baptists.
Each year the missions recommend urgent needs for missionaries which total
more than 700 people. It is obviously impossible to appoint that many at
this time. We have made it our purpose to appoint in 1960 150 missionaries.
At present there is considerable question as to whether we will be able to
bring that many to appointment this year. Even though it is still possible
that the number may be reached, we are reminded, however, that growing
personnel requirements which will call for appointing a minimum of 200
missionaries annually by 1964 is a major undertaking challenging all of us
to prayer and effort. It is urgently hoped that the possibility of our
coming short of 150 appointees in 1960 will occasion much examination of
heart on the part of many fully prepared pastors and other Christian workers
who in their middle thirties are still eligible for appointment and could
go to meet critical needs on mission fields at an early date.
We also welcome to the Board meeting today Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Fowler who
are medical missionaries to Latin America. Dr. Fowler began our medical work
in Paraguay and led in the establishment of the splendid hospital in Asuncion.
He has more recently reinforced the hospital in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Dr. and Mrs. Fowler have agreed to spend their furlough year in Richmond so
that he may serve as missionary associate for medical work during this period.
During this furlough year Dr. Fowler will be in position to render many distinct
services. We shall be calling upon him for counsel with regard to many matters
related to medical work and will be benefited by his rich experience both in
hospital administration and professional practice.
When the tragic earthquake disasters came upon Chile some months ago, we were
all greatly concerned for the widespread suffering in that stricken land.
A careful survey was made of the needs resulting from human suffering and
damaged property. The mission recommended items totalling $125,150 with the
urgent request that these funds be provided if at all possible. It gives us
