OUR HISTORY
Unshakable
conviction
The story of ordinary people stepping out to share the gospel in the world’s hardest places.
Evangelical Church of West Africa founders: Walter Gowans (23), Thomas Kent (25) and Rowland Bingham (21)
How it began
Some stories are born not from comfort or
convenience, but from an unshakeable conviction that no place on earth should remain beyond the reach of the gospel.
SIM has a rich history, founded by pioneers who journeyed to difficult places to share the gospel. Beginning in Nigeria, the SIM founders willingly risked their lives so people in sub-Saharan Africa could hear of Jesus. Over time, SIM merged with like-minded missions in Africa, Asia, and South America, some of which had started earlier than 1893. They joined under the single banner of SIM to become the global mission known as Serving in Mission. The legacy of a few faithful pioneers continues today to respond to need, proclaim the gospel, and equip the Church.
Our founders
The story of SIM (called “Soudan Interior Mission” at that time) began in 1893. Canadians Walter Gowans, Roland Bingham and American Thomas Kent had a vision to evangelise 60 million least-reached people of sub-Saharan Africa living in the Soudan region. Unable to interest established missions – most of which said reaching that area was impossible – the three set out alone.
Not long after they contracted malaria. Gowans and Kent died of the disease in 1894 and Bingham returned to Canada to recuperate. Determined not to give up, he left for a second attempt only to catch malaria again and this forced him to return home for good. But Bingham’s work was not finished, unable to return to Africa, he became a mobiliser and sent out a third team. They successfully established a base 800 kilometres inland at Patigi, Nigeria in 1902. From there, the work of SIM began in Africa.
Mission movements & pioneers
As SIM's founders responded to God’s call, others around the world were also laying foundations for global mission work
Across Africa, Asia-Pacific and South America, and the Middle East, these pioneering efforts gave rise to mission organisations that would shape the future of global evangelism. Founded by individuals responding to specific needs and opportunities, these movements began humbly but grew in reach and impact, laying foundations that continue to influence mission work today. Merging with SIM, provided strategic advantages for all to enhance missional impact.
Africa
1889 South African General Mission (SAGM)
Founded by Martha Osborn, Spencer Walton and Andrew Murray.
1891 South East Africa General Mission (SEAGM) Founded by Martha Osborn and George Howe.
1893 Walter Gowans, Roland Bingham, and Thomas Kent arrived in Lagos, Nigeria.
1894 SAGM & SEAGM merged maintaing the name, SAGM. In 1965 it became Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF).
1998 AEF merged with SIM.
Asia-Pacific
1892 Ceylon and India General Mission (CIGM)
Founded by Benjamin Davidson, a Scottish businessman.
1893 Poona and Indian Village Mission (PIVM)
Founded by Charles F. Reeve and E.W. McGavin from Australia.
1968 International Christian Fellowship (ICF). Merged from CIGM & PIVM.
1989 ICF merged with SIM
South America
1907 Bolivian Indian Mission (BIM). Founded by New Zealanders George Allen and Mary Stirling.
1965 BIM became Andes Evangelical Mission (AEM)
1982 AEM merged with SIM
Middle East
1860 Lebanon Evangelical Mission (LEM) was founded by Elizabeth Bowen Thompson to provide education and support to widows and orphans following civil conflict in Lebanon.
1878 The Nile Mission Press was established by Annie Van Somer to provide Christian literature in Arabic.
1898 The Egypt Mission Band was started by a group of 7 men from Belfast, Ireland to establish hospitals, schools, and churches in Egypt.
1959 Middle East Christian Outreach was offically formed as the 3 mission agencies merged.
2016 MECO (Middle East Christian Outreach) merged with SIM.
1878 The Nile Mission Press was established by Annie Van Somer to provide Christian literature in Arabic.
1898 The Egypt Mission Band was started by a group of 7 men from Belfast, Ireland to establish hospitals, schools, and churches in Egypt.
1959 Middle East Christian Outreach was offically formed as the 3 mission agencies merged.
2016 MECO (Middle East Christian Outreach) merged with SIM.
The journey continues
The sacrifices of our founders laid the foundation, but the work is not finished. There are still communities waiting to hear the good news, and the invitation to step out in faith is as open today as it was in 1893.