It is now 160 years since Hudson Taylor launched his famous and transformative missionary movement.
It was on 25 June 1865 that he prayed on Brighton beach for 24 “willing, skillful workers” to take the gospel to those with the fewest opportunities to hear it in the inland provinces of China.
That moment marked the founding of the China Inland Mission (CIM), which became OMF International. Today the mission continues because, as OMF General Director Dr Joseph Chang observes: “The task of sharing the fullness of the gospel to and from, through and with East Asia’s peoples remains unfinished. So many in this region have yet to know the Lord, and many churches are striving to serve Him faithfully.”
The China Inland Mission served the people of China for almost 90 years; starting churches, opening schools and hospitals as well as engaging with many of the nation’s social needs of the time. By 1939, the mission had over 1,300 missionaries from around seven countries, and almost 200,000 Chinese and minority people had been baptised.
The rise of communism in China meant that, in 1950-51, CIM workers had to leave the country. Yet rather than disband, the mission decided their work should expand into other areas to share the good news of Jesus in Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan. The organisation became known as the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) to reflect this new work of serving Chinese people overseas, though the ministry quickly grew to include other East Asian people groups too.
As well as growing teams in East Asia, a new area of work from the late 1970s was sharing the gospel with East Asians outside East Asia. Beginning with efforts to respond to the needs of Vietnamese boat people in Germany in 1979, this expanded to other East Asian people groups and many countries around the world, with a special focus on serving those preparing to return home with new-found faith.
Today OMF continues this work as an increasingly diverse organisation. In 1965 they welcomed their first Asian missionaries, and over half their colleagues today are from the majority world.
Patrick Fung comments: “What started off as a British mission to China has grown to become a truly international organisation with brothers and sisters from different nations, regions, and ethnic backgrounds. We pray that the Lord will bless and preserve our diversity in unity, not just multi-culturally, but also inter-generationally. We aim to see brothers and sisters from both the Western world and the majority world in OMF joining hands in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in all its fullness with East Asia’s peoples.”
An enduring legacy
OMF Global Ambassador Dr Patrick Fung reflects on Taylor’s legacy: “Taylor was physically weak, considered not especially intelligent, and ordinary. Yet, he had one sole focus all his life: that the gospel would reach inland China. With all the challenges that faced him, it was a passion for the impossible.” Indeed, Taylor has been quoted as saying that “there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”
Fung continued: “As we celebrate the 160th anniversary of the China Inland Mission, we believe in the same God who can make possible what is impossible … God will raise up a new generation of ordinary servants to serve His extraordinary purpose: making His name known. OMF carries forward the CIM’s focus and vision. It is as needed today as it was 160 years ago. We will continue until all have heard.”
Read more about what’s happening in China today
