nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

FOREIGN MISSION BOARD 269
station. Beautiful gospel music directed by Mrs. L. L. Johnson, and an evangelistic
message delivered by a Baptist preacher are the attractive features
which have enlisted the interest of many throughout the North.
NEW INTERIOR STATION
In the hinterland, two hundred miles from the end of the railway, Mr.
and Mrs. A. E. Hayes bought a small farm and are living up there where
heretofore Baptists had little work. Thirteen have been baptized in a nearby
river, and Sunday school and preaching services are held weekly. Mr. Hayes
and the evangelist of the State Board visit our three churches and scattered
homes of believers in that neglected part of the state.
LANGUAGE SCHOOL
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Underwood arrived in November of 1944 and while
studying Portuguese, they directed B.S.U. activities in the American Baptist
College. Mr. and Mrs. David Mein came out in June and, since he is a missionary's
son and knew Portuguese from childhood, he began preaching at once.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Kolb also arrived in June and, while studying, have
exercised their musical talents in the various churches. Edith Rose Weller
came in October and resides in the Training School while learning the language.
ALAGOAS-SERGIPE
Twenty-five churches have been faithful to their task of testifying to the
Lord's grace, and their total membership of 1,312 was increased by 112 baptisms.
The annual institute for the edification of the workers and pastors of the two
states was held at Alagoas Baptist high school in September. During the day
there were Bible classes and a Bible school for children; and at night the open
pavilion was packed with believers from the town.
Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Bice have been instrumental in helping Farol Church
to acquire a lot and funds to build a new house of worship. The work there
is going forward in an encouraging way.
Under the direction of Dr. Carlos Camara, the Baptist school with a student
body of 559 (including the primary and affiliated high school), is a real blessing
to the cause. The teachers, with the exception of one or two, are Christians
and the attitude of the students in the daily chapel service is conducive to
worship. Several were converted during the school year. This was due in
part to the influence of the nearby Farol Church whose energetic pastor,
Alberico Souza, is Bible teacher and B.S.U. counselor. Miss Onis Vineyard
directs the girls' dormitory with its thirty-five boarders. Miss Ruby Hines is
in charge of the primary department. These two departments are acquiring
new houses during 1946, the former to be built, and the latter remodeled from
an adjoining residence, recently purchased.
BAHIA
The "land of the Cacao" is the most prosperous and fertile as well as
most accessible of our northern states. Well-to-do farmers and merchants
constitute a large part of our Baptist constituency. The two conventions have
100 churches with a total membership of 7,000. In October, the Convention
with which Mr. and Mrs. White and Mr. and Mrs. Lunsford work initiated an
evangelistic campaign of gigantic proportions, calling it after Dr. R. L. Scarborough.
A beautiful new house of worship was inaugurated in the town of
Djalma Dutra, having present at the occasion most of the messengers on their
way home from the State Convention. Another church was reorganized in
Pombal with a new building.
Encampment
The fifth annual Baptist Encampment was held in Jaguaquara in February
with 220 average attendance at morning classes and approximately 700 for
night services Over 50 people accepted the Lord during the messages of
Pastor Queiroz of Sao Paulo and those of missionary Edgar Hallock of Rio.
Student
Luiz de Meneses, a pre-law student, converted in Taylor Egidio in 1944, is
now studying in the capital and residing in a boarding-house for students.
His constant testimony has won the attention of his fellow boarders and since
school started he has sold sixteen Bibles.