St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1919-09-27
IS MILLION WHITE
.. PEOPLE NOT SAVED
THIS is ONE OF TIE PRESSING
STATE MISSION PROBLEMS
IN THE SOUTHLAND.
THE SITUATION Is OUTLINED
Baptist rs Million Campaign Has Ap-
{ portioned $11 100000 To Be En-
/ pIoyed During the Next Five
Years in Meeting Need.

Within the eighteen states comprising
the territory Of the Southern Baptist
convention are 100000 white people
who are not only not identified with any
church, but who do not claim to Ia
christians, according to information
gathered by the Baptist IS Million
Campaign. To try and reach these
people with the gospel is one of the
aims Of the campaign and to meet the
problem the state mission organiza-
ton in the various states will set
themselves. To help these organiza-
tons in meeting that problem the sum
Of $11,000,000 has been apportioncd
from the total of $75,000,000 that IS
sought for all purposes, and during the
EeXt five years the state mission
forces will seek to reach these mil
lions Of people right here at home with
the gospel and enlist them in some
phase Of christian work.
According to this same source Of in
formation, it is learned that there are
1891 towns and villages in the South
with a population of 200 or more in
which there are no Baptist church or
CARNATIONS or no Baptist houses CT
worship. Inasmuch as these towns in
fluence more or less the surrounding
territory an effort will be made to
reach them and the territory sur
rounding them during the fiVe-year
program of the Baptists. it is an.
nounced.
There are seventy-four county seats
in the South without a single Baptist
church or meeting house, it has been
ascertained by the campaign head
quarters. By reason of the large num-
Der Of public officials residing there,
and the large number Of people who
go there from every section Of the
county to attend the sessions of the
various courts, pay their taxes and
the like it is regarded that the county
seat towns are of especial importance
and it is hoped that before the next
five years have passed there will be
an active Baptist church in every
countyseat in the South.
Engaged in the work of state mis-
sions at present are 1924 missionaries,
and while this may seem like reason
able number, when the vast territory
to be served Is considered it has been
found that fully 1000 extra men and
women are needed at once, for in ad-
dition to reaching the people who are
not christians there are many weak,
struggling churches which need assist
ance and whose members need devel-
opment. In the several states of the
Southern Baptist convention, for in
stance, there are 5000 churches with
membership of many thousand which
give but very little to any interest of
the denomination and which are doing
but very small things for the uplift Of
their communities.
! In addition to these very weak
churches, many Of which have no pas
tor, there are in the various states a
total Of 1858 churches which have
preaching services only once a month,
5000 churches which have services
only once a month, and only about
1900 full time churches. Part of the
$11,0O0,000 apportioned for state mis-
sions will go to the strengthening of
the weak churches and the bringing Of
them to full-time pastorates where
possible.
: Leaders in the campaign have
sought to care for every interest OF
the denomination in the $75,000,000
that Is asked in cash and five-yeaI
pledges during Victory Week Novem'
Der 30-December 7, when the final
drive will be made, but they recognize
that the future development of the
church depends in a great measure
upon the development of the churches
at home which Is the peculiar task OF
state missions.