nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

HOME MISSION BOARD 323
REPORT OF MISS IRENE CHAMBERS. FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
From January 1945 to January 1946 as Field Representative my work has
taken me into the following states: Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia,
Illinois, Tennessee, Louisiana, Virginia, District of Columbia, New Mexico,
Arizona, Alabama, Mississippi, and into Cuba.
As to the types of work done: Annual Associational W.M.U. Meetings 42:
Schools of Missions 7
Colleges and Schools of Nursing 7
Indian Bible Institutes 2
Seminaries visited 1
State Conventions 1
Youth Camps 2
Mission fields visited 15
There are three impressions of all these contacts that are outstanding:
Eager Youth and interested adults who respond to the needs of the mission
fields remind one of those in the parable who were idle because "no one has
hired us."
Over against this encouraging view is that of the unconcerned, unenlisted
church members whose influence in promoting the Kingdom could go far in
turning the tide in our Southland.
And then that vast group who continue to wait for the Message of Light
which ever reminds one how white the harvest is and how few are the laborers.
SECTION V
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF EVANGELISM
FRED C. EASTHAM
Your Secretary of Evangelism shares with you the joy of knowing that at
least 500,000 souls were won to Christ in 1945. This is far short of the
million which was our goal, but as we look back we must recognize the fact
that this is 100,000 more" souls than were won in 1944.
The latest report from Dr. Porter Routh reveals the following facts: 5,846,-
203 Southern Baptists report 256,144 baptisms in 1945, a ratio of 1 to 22.8
Baptists. In 1944, 5,667,922 Baptists reported 218,223 baptisms or a ratio of
1 to 25.1 Baptists.
If we count Conversions and not baptisms, the figure will run over 500,000
souls won to Christ. In 1945 for example, our chaplains reported 100,000 conversions
and not all of these were baptized. Many associations and churches
have not reported for 1945; therefore we are safe in our estimate of a half
million.
May I express my deep appreciation to our State Secretaries, Editors, City
Missionaries, Superintendents of Evangelism and all of the departments of our
Convention for the wonderful cooperation and help they gave the Department
of Evangelism.
We are now well into the year 1946. Crusades, revivals and bush-arbor
meetings are being held all over our Convention. Our State Boards are electing
Superintendents of Evangelism and, without exception, they give to these departments
a substantial budget with which to work. In the near future there
will be available to you free of charge an attractive folder which will "contain
all data necessary for the launching of a Crusade in your city or association
and among the rural churches. By writing this department you will be
furnished with a generous assortment of tracts that will be of help in soulwinning.
We are anxious to secure the names and addresses of all workers in the
field of evangelism. Constant requests come to this office for names of evan:
gelistic singers.
A meeting will be held in Atlanta before the close of the year at which
we hope to have in attendance all of the Superintendents of Evangelism, the
Committee on Evangelism appointed by the Convention and our State Secre-