Southern Baptist Church Sets Out to Save the 13 Million White Southerners Who Do Not Claim to Be Christians, Oct. 13, 1919

From the front page of the Hertford County Herald, Ahoskie, N.C., Oct. 3, 1919

13 Million White People Not Saved. . . This Is One of the Pressing State Mission Problems in the Southland

Within the 18 states comprising the territory of the Southern Baptist convention are 13 million white people who are not only not identified with any church, but who do not claim to be Christians, according to information gathered by the Baptist 75 Million Campaign. Try to and reach these people with the gospel is one of the aims of the campaign and to meet the problem the state mission organization in the various states will get themselves. To help these organizations in meeting that problem the sum of $11 million has been apportioned form the total of $75 million that is sought for all purposes, and during the next five years the state mission forces will seek to reach these millions of people right here at home with the gospel and enlist them in some phase of Christian work.

According to the same source of information, it is learned that there are 3,391 towns and villages in the South with a population of 200 or more in which there are no Baptist church organizations or no Baptist houses of worship. Inasmuch as these towns influence more or less the surrounding territory an effort will be made to reach them and the territory surrounding them during the five-year program of the Baptists, it is announced.

There are 74 county seats in the South without a single Baptist church or meeting house, it has been ascertained by the campaign headquarters. By reason of the large number of public officials residing there, and the large number of people who go there form 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 especially importance and it is hoped that before the next five years have passed there will be an active Baptist church in every county seat in the South.

Engaged in the work of state missions at present are 1,524 missionaries, and while this may seem like a reasonable number, when the vast territory to be served is considered it has been found that fully 1,000 extra men and women are needed at once, for in addition to reaching the people who are not christians there are many weak, struggling churches which need assistance and whose members need development. In the several states of the Southern Baptist convention, for instance, there are 9,000 churches with a membership of many thousands 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 pastor, there are in the various states a total of 19,688 churches which have preaching services only once a month, 3,000 churches which have services only once a month, and only about 2,200 full time churches. Part of the $11 million apportions for state missions 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 million that is asked in cash and five-year pledges during Victory Week, November 30 to December 7, when the final drive will be made, but they recognize that the future development of the churches at home which is the peculiar task of state missions.