nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

478 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
tions and answers which he supplied, catechism fashion. Other churches followed
his plan rapidly; the Foreign Mission Board gave space in its Journal
for his Lessons, signed "Cousin George." When more Sunbeam Bands were
started than he could care for, he turned the growing movement over to the
Foreign Mission Board, who in 1896 handed the responsibility to Woman's
Missionary Union.
Woman's Missionary Union has continued to follow the fundamentals established
in early Sunbeam Band days. This year a new and enlarged Manual
for Leaders of Sunbeam Bands has been distributed; it was written by Mrs. Jane
Carroll (J. T.) McRae, specialist in elementary education, herself a Sunbeam
member not too many years ago and now with her husband, medical mission
volunteer. We anticipate that this manual will greatly improve the work of
our 6920 Sunbeam Bands with more fruitful results in missionary zeal, as well
as create interest in the organization of more Sunbeam Bands. With 105,162
Sunbeam Band members and 885 A-l Sunbeam Bands, some churches are
providing excellent missionary education during these strategically formative
years; this is promise of more light for our weary world.
Girls' Auxiliary members numbering 115,385 in 10,378 G. A.'s, sing repeatedly
the W.M.U. hymn for the year because it is their organization hymn.
. Enthusiastic about their Forward Step and other Girls' Auxiliary activities,
G. A's. held 9022 mission study classes and busily served in their own communities.
Coronation services give merited recognition to individual work—
accomplishment of the required Scripture memorization, discovery of mission
facts, study of denominational plans, personnel and program of world-wide
activities.
In 4605 Young Woman's Auxiliaries, 58,861 young women continued to
develop their zeal for missions, remembering Daniel 12:3 as their watchword.
Young Woman's Auxiliary has organizations in at least 138 colleges and
hospitals which keep the missionary appeal before these students also. Young
women of today will soon be exerting determinative influences in world affairs
and it is reassuring to feel that in Young Woman's Auxiliary they are receiving
world understanding which will make them true world citizens, using their zeal
for Christ's Kingdom.
The growth of Order of Royal Ambassadors is most gratifying. While
this organization uses the symbolism of knighthood and international ambassador
relationships, definitely based on Paul's "I am an ambassador for Christ."
it assures the spreading of the light of the Gospel, for 59,488 boys are members
of its 6590 chapters and will not fail to lift high the torch of Gospel light.
The work of Mr. J. I. Bishon, southwide Royal Ambassador secretary, is supplemented
in five states by Royal Ambassador secretaries.—Mr. Alvin Hatton.
Ark.; Mr. Glendon McCulloueh, Ga.; Mr. John Wrenn, Kv.; Mr. A. T. Greene.
Jr., S. C: Mr. W. M. Haverfield, Tex. A Royal Ambassador monthly magazine,
Ambassador Life, will be launched this summer, the June issue being Volume 1.
Number 1. Ambasfador Life was named in an open request for a suitable name
by Bob Lutz of Biloxi, Mississippi A magazine of their own will add to the
pride boys have in their progressive missionary organization and no doubt
more than 1335 chapters will be A-l in their activities. Many ex-R.A's. returning
from the armed services are glad to serve as Roval Ambassador counselors,
grateful for the help the R. A. Allegiance and information gained in R. A.
were to them in the tense experiences of military training and service.
Last summer though there was no southwide Y.W.A. Camp or Young Men'?
Mission Conference at Ridgecrest there were some 30.000 young people in
distinctly missionary-centered camps conducted by state, district or associational
W.M.U. organizations. This camping program has grown with leaps and bounds
and will certainly add to the expanding circle of mission light. Similar camps
are being undertaken successfully in Nigeria, Brazil and elsewhere as quickly
as possible. The value of days of living in an environment of mission thoueht
and prayer, with mission classes and missionary speakers, is inestimable. Miss
Martha Franks of China, who spent the summer of 1945 in a succession of
Girls' Auxiliary camps, remarked she had never had such opportunity, China
included, to witness for Christ and His way of life.
Ambassador supplemented Window World of Comrades Y.W.A. Life by enthusiastic will similarly closed cultivate 1945 reported mission a with taste study 22,484. a for subscription missionary and We implemented believe list reading these of 58,642 into magazines which community
and will The with be