nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

HOME MISSION BOARD . 329
with faith and belief. To you, Jacob, I give my thanks for your help
and thank God for showing me the truth and leading me in His way."
IV. Friends of Israel
Invaluable service is being rendered by these faithful groups scattered in
many of our communities. Their reports tell of some marvelous results. For
example, in one of our cities a Friend of Israel personally contacted onehundred
families, distributing tracts, and Testaments. Many of them have
voluntarily come to her home to seek more knowledge.
It has been a dream of mine to see such an organization in every town and
city of our Southland, for it is only through such faithful voluntary service
that we can ever hope to reach the one million Jews in our midst.
Has not the time come for our Board to give more serious consideration
to the evangelization.of these people, who are wielding a powerful influence,
especially in this unparalleled time in their history when their hearts are
responding to the Gospel message as never before?
SECTION VIII
THE CITY MISSION PROGRAM
SOLOMON F. DOWIS, Superintendent
The City Mission Program became a Southern Baptist Convention Program
in 1943, when the Convention approved the type of program presented in the
Home Mission Board report. The Program is jointly promoted by the Home
Mission Board and the State Mission Boards. The immediate direction of the
City Mission Program is by the local City Missions Committee, named by the
Association or Council interested in the work. This is a church-centered and
church-sponsored Mission Program for the local community. It is to be carried
on by volunteer workers from the local church under the direction of the
Church Mission Committee. The purpose of the program is to reach and win
to the Lord the unchurched masses of our cities, baptize them into the fellowship
of the churches, and develop them in the Grace of Christian living.
I. THE NEED FOR A CITY MISSION PROGRAM
The need for such a church-centered Mission Program is evident from the
following facts: In the 70 largest urban centers of the Southern Baptist Convention,
whose metropolitan population was 75,000 and above at the close of
1944, we had 20,000,000 people. This is 36% of the entire population in the
S.B.C. at the close of 1944. At the same time there were about 28,000,000 unchurched
people in the 20 States of our Convention area. Of this number
13,500,000 were in these 70 urban centers, which means that about 49% of
our unchurched population at the close of 1944 was in our cities.
II. OUR ADEQUACY FOR THE PROGRAM
This large unchurched population of our cities would be an impossible task
for us through employed misisonaries. But when we realize that so many of our
large churches, strongest church programs, and good ministers are in these cities,
then the task simply becomes one of enlisting these great churches and inspiring
them to reach these multitudes. There are many capable and well-trained members
of our city churches who will be happy in a Church Mission Program
that reaches these multitudes around them. The churches need the program
to challenge them for a greater Kingdom service.
m. THE PROJECTS OF CITY MISSIONS
Since the beginning of the City Mission Program, a number of projects
have become a part of this Mission Program.
1. The City Mission Committees have sponsored Bible schools for preachers,
teachers, deacons, and church leaders. These schools have run for a period
of eight or nine months out of the year. Local pastors have served as teachers,
and enrollment has been without charge to the students. Credit has been
given by the Seminaries for some of this work.
homes. ported cultivate 2. Home mere Five fellowship than Fellowship groups 14,000 between are Hour hours being the is of reached a fellowship church program through and in of the this homes church unchurched Mission for to 1945. make effort, people contacts The which in groups
their and re