From a farming community in Otago to the rugged Andes, George and Mary Allan followed a call that would shape lives for generations.
Facing opposition, hardship, and uncertainty, they pressed on, planting seeds of faith that would one day grow into a thriving church movement. Read about their journey and the legacy that continues today.
“Yet George Allan declared the great need for prayer and fellowship. He was not fazed by what was happening, and this was what held the mission together.”
Hearing a word from God revealed an incredible gift for George Allan, giving him a sense of urgency to go to the unreached with the good news.
George Allan and Mary Stirling grew up in Otago as part of a strong evangelical farming community. They met through their church, and both showed a deep interest in missions.
After becoming engaged they both travelled to Australia to study at a missionary training college. While there, Mary and a friend (Lizzie Morton) felt compelled to spend much time praying for South America. George and Mary married and were later accepted by the Canada-based South American Evangelical Mission (SAEM). George was also given recognition to establish an Australasian SAEM council.
A year after their arrival in Argentina, their first child Margarita was welcomed. Their funds soon ran out. However, their trust in God did not waiver. “Borrowing is not faith,” they said, “not even from Christian friends.” George and Mary committed themselves to prayer, and their needs were met as they had prayed.
Into Bolivia
In 1906 George led a group on a trek into Bolivia. The following year he established the Bolivian Indian Mission (BIM), determined to bring the gospel to the Quechua and Aymara Indians. But not many welcomed them. Those who were of Catholicism opposed their Protestant background. They were shouted at, called devils and spat upon. At times dirty water was thrown at them. They were refused food at the marketplaces and during meetings, those opposed to them would ring the church bells to drown out their voices. George once received a nasty head injury from being stoned. Homes were also broken into, and possessions were demolished.
It was even harder for the Bolivians who decided to follow Jesus. Young people were locked in their rooms so they couldn’t attend meetings, bibles were burned and the dead were refused burials in public cemeteries. Yet George Allan declared the great need for prayer and fellowship. He was not fazed by what was happening, and this was what held the mission together. More travel to the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand solidified the Bolivian Indian Mission, which increased the number of missionaries going to Bolivia.
In the years to come, translation of the Bible into Quechua became a reality and the hearts of the people changed. The mission also opened schools and clinics, and an Indian Bible Institute began.
Margarita, daughter of George and Mary, later joined BIM as a missionary, along with the children of other missionaries. But the Allans didn’t live to see the fruition of the Bolivian church. Twenty-four years after George’s death, the Bolivian Indian Mission expanded into Peru to become the Andes Evangelical Mission (AEM).
Then, in 1982, AEM became part of SIM. Though George and Mary Allan never saw the full harvest of their labour, their obedience planted seeds that grew into a flourishing Bolivian church.
