It was my privilege to represent South Carolina Baptists on the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) for 10 years.
During that period, hundreds of missionaries were sent out after being carefully questioned regarding their conversion and beliefs.
I share the concern of many Baptists regarding the persistent requirements that are being added to which prospective missionaries must subscribe.
The recent decision to require candidates for missionary service to exclude the gift of tongues from their private devotional life seems to me to be majoring on incidentals. I know of many fine Christians, including present missionaries, who are grateful for this gift of the Holy Spirit. I believe that this action is going to hurt our missionary movement abroad, and is going to divide our denomination even further. What a shame!
We are getting to the place where the trustees are jeopardizing support for our missionaries.
Baker James Cauthen, perhaps our greatest missionary statesman of the past 50 years, said to me: “If I was the devil, I would make it my priority to divide those who are preaching the gospel.” Think about it!
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