OMF International

Last updated
OMF International
Formation1865 June 25
Founder Hudson Taylor
TypeEvangelical Missions Agency
FocusUnreached People Groups, discipleship, church planting
HeadquartersShanghai (formerly) Singapore (1950s-Present)
Location
OriginsChina Inland Mission (till 1964)
Area served
East Asia & East Asians globally
Key people
Hudson Taylor, DE Hoste, JO Fraser, A.J. Broomhall, Patrick Fung, Cambridge Seven,
Website http://omf.org
Formerly called
China Inland Mission

OMF International (formerly Overseas Missionary Fellowship and before 1964 the China Inland Mission) is an international and interdenominational Evangelical Christian missionary society with an international centre in Singapore. It was founded in Britain by Hudson Taylor on 25 June 1865.

Contents

Overview

The non-sectarian China Inland Mission was founded on principles of faith and prayer founded by James Hudson Taylor in 1865. From the beginning it recruited missionaries from the working class as well as single women. The original goal of the mission that began dedicated to China has grown to include bringing the Gospel to East Asia. Following the departure of all foreign workers in the early 1950s, the China Inland Mission redirected its missionaries to other parts of East Asia. The name was changed to the Overseas Missionary Fellowship in 1964, and then to the current name in the 1990s. [1]

History

Missiological Distinctives of the CIM

1. Priority is given to unreached inland provinces while seeking to evangelize the whole of China.

2. No solicitation of finance, or indebtedness; looking to God alone; pooling support in life of corporate faith
3. Identification with Chinese by wearing Chinese dress and queue (pigtail), worshipping in Chinese houses
4. Indigenization through training Chinese co-workers in self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating principles
5. Recruitment of missionaries not based on education or ecclesiastical ordination, but spiritual qualification; deployment of single women in the interior and Christian professionals
6. Interdenominational-International Membership

7. Headquarters on the field, director rule; leaders and workers serving shoulder to shoulder

[2]


"We wish to see churches and Christian Chinese presided over by pastors and officers of their own countrymen, worshipping the true God in the land of their fathers, in the costume of their fathers, in their own tongue wherein they were born, and in edifices of a thoroughly Chinese style of architecture."

J. Hudson Taylor, [3]

Origins

Hudson Taylor c. 1865 J Hudson Taylor 1865.jpg
Hudson Taylor c.1865

Hudson Taylor made the first decision to found the China Inland Mission at Brighton, England during his first furlough from China. Like his missionary forebear Karl Gützlaff and contemporary William Chalmers Burns, Taylor was convinced that Chinese clothing should be worn when engaged in missionary work in inland China. On 3 October 1865, Taylor sent John and Anne Stevenson and George Stott to China, where they arrived on February 6, 1866. Including the five missionaries previously sent to Ningbo -James Joseph Meadows, Jean Notman, Stephen Paul Barchet, and George and Anne Crombie, these eight were already in China when Taylor returned in 1866. On 26 May of that year, Taylor accompanied the largest group of missionaries that had ever sailed to China on the Lammermuir . There were 16 missionaries as well as Hudson, his wife, Maria and their 4 children that became known as the Lammermuir Party . This journey took 4 months.

The Lammermuir Party sailed on 26 May 1866. Lammermuirparty.jpg
The Lammermuir Party sailed on 26 May 1866.

Inland pioneering

In 1872, the China Inland Mission's London council was formed. In 1875, it began to evangelise China systematically. Taylor requested 18 missionaries from God for the nine provinces which were still unreached. In 1881, he requested a further 70 missionaries, and, in 1886, 100 missionaries. In 1887 "The Hundred missionaries" were sent to China. Taylor travelled across several continents to recruit for the China Inland Mission. By the end of the nineteenth century, the CIM was well known around the world. Richard Lovett wrote about the practices of the missionaries in 1899. He noted that they were humble and not from the upper classes and they were having good success because they were willing to "rough it". [4] That year Henrietta Soltau set up a training home for women missionaries in North London. She was secretary of the ladies' council of the CIM and hundreds were trained there. [5]

Boxer Crisis of 1900

Missionary preaching in China using The Wordless Book Open Air Preaching WB.jpg
Missionary preaching in China using The Wordless Book

In 1900, attacks took place across China in connection with the Boxer Rebellion which targeted Christians and foreigners. The China Inland Mission lost more members than any other agency: 58 adults and 21 children were killed. However, in 1901, when the allied nations were demanding compensation from the Chinese government, Hudson Taylor refused to accept payment for loss of property or life in order to demonstrate the meekness of Christ to the Chinese. In the same year, Dixon Edward Hoste was appointed to the directorship of the mission.

Growth amid war and revolution

The early 1900s saw great expansion of missionary activity in China following the Boxer Rebellion, during the Revolution of 1912 and the establishment of the Chinese Republic. William Whiting Borden, wealthy heir of the Borden, Inc. family, who graduated from Yale University in 1909, left behind a comfortable life in America to respond to the call for workers with the Muslims of northwest China. He died in Egypt while still in training.

A musician and an engineer named James O. Fraser was the first to bring the Gospel message to the Lisu tribes of Yunnan in southwest China. This resulted in phenomenal church growth among the various tribes in the area that has endured to the 21st century.

The Warlord period brought widespread lawlessness to China and missionary work was often dangerous or deadly. John and Betty Stam were a young couple who were murdered in 1934 by Communist soldiers. Their biography, "The Triumph of John and Betty Stam", inspired a generation of missionaries to follow in the same steps of service despite the trials of war and persecution that raged in China in the 1930s and 1940s.

The Japanese invasion further complicated efforts as the Japanese distrusted anyone with British or American nationalities. When the Japanese invaded China in Second Sino-Japanese War, the China Inland Mission moved its headquarters upstream the Yangzi River to Chongqing. Many missionaries were put into concentration camps, such as Weifang, which lasted until the end of the war. The entire Chefoo School run by the mission at Yantai was imprisoned at a concentration camp. As the children and teachers were marched off they sang:

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…. The Lord of Hosts is with us,

The God of Jacob is our refuge. (Psalm 46:1,7)

[ citation needed ]

The number of Christians in China despite of the hardships increased from 100,000 in early 1900s to 700,000 by 1950. The Chinese church was beginning to develop into an indigenous movement, with the assistance from key leaders such as John Sung, Wang Ming-Dao, Watchman Nee and Andrew Gih.

From CIM to OMF

Phyllis Thompson wrote that between 1949 and 1952 in the immediate aftermath of the Chinese Communist Revolution, there was a "reluctant exodus" of all of the members of the China Inland Mission. [6] The leaders met at Bournemouth, England to discuss the situation and the decision was made to redeploy all of the missionaries into the rest of East Asia. Headquarters were moved to Singapore, and work commenced in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Indonesia. In addition to reducing some languages to written form, the Bible was translated, and basic theological education was given to neglected tribal groups. The publication and distribution of Christian literature were prioritized among both the rural tribes people and the urban working classes and students. The goal remained for every community to have a church in East Asia and thereby the Gospel would be preached "to every creature". The proclamation of the Christian message also included medical work. Three hospitals were opened in rural Thailand as well as a leprosy control programme. Many of the patients were refugees. In the Philippines, community development programs were launched. Alcoholic rehabilitation began in Japan, and rehabilitation work among prostitutes was begun in Taipei and Bangkok.

In 1980, Hudson Taylor's great grandson James Hudson Taylor III was appointed General Director for the mission work. According to Taylor in 1989,

"The fellowship has no desire to re-establish itself there (in China) in the form it used to have", but he also affirmed that "OMF is still deeply committed to the Chinese people. We can never forget that we came into existence as the China Inland Mission. Ever since our ‘reluctant exodus’ we have called the church worldwide to prayer for our brothers and sisters in China, and to share in proclaiming the gospel and nurturing millions of new believers through radio broadcasts and the provision of Bibles and Christian literature."

[ citation needed ]

Dr. Patrick Fung, a Chinese Christian appointed in 2006, is the first Asian to lead the mission. The work continues to the present day.[ citation needed ]

The old London headquarters building

The China Inland Mission, one of two Grade 2 listed buildings on Newington Green. (October 2005). China inland mission.jpg
The China Inland Mission, one of two Grade 2 listed buildings on Newington Green. (October 2005).

The original headquarter was located at Newington Green in North London. By the late 19th century, when the CIM building was commissioned, what was once a rural village had long been subsumed into the metropolis. Newington Green had grown up around a core of English Dissenters and their famous academies. The CIM headquarters sits between two other listed buildings on the green, Newington Green Unitarian Church (1708), and the oldest brick terrace in London, 52-55 the Green, where the notable minister Richard Price lived.

The building was refurbished by Haworth Tompkins. [7] Now known as Alliance House, it is run by Sanctuary Students as accommodation for City University. [8]

Chronology

1860s

Taylors and missionary candidates in 1865 CIM in 1865.jpg
Taylors and missionary candidates in 1865
A map showing the nine Chinese provinces in black that were considered unreached by the Gospel message in 1865 TheNineMap.jpg
A map showing the nine Chinese provinces in black that were considered unreached by the Gospel message in 1865

1870s

Cover of the Occasional Paper of the China Inland Mission in 1875 Occasional Paper 1875.jpg
Cover of the Occasional Paper of the China Inland Mission in 1875
Dixon Edward Hoste and fellow China Inland Mission missionaries in native dress Dixon Edward Hoste and fellow China Inland Mission missionaries in native dress.jpg
Dixon Edward Hoste and fellow China Inland Mission missionaries in native dress

1880s

Cover of China's Millions for 1885 Chinas Millions 1885.jpg
Cover of China's Millions for 1885
First Party of Americans to join the CIM in 1888 AmericanCIM.jpg
First Party of Americans to join the CIM in 1888

1890s

The China Inland Mission Headquarters in Shanghai. Late 1800s. CIMHQ.jpg
The China Inland Mission Headquarters in Shanghai. Late 1800s.
First Party of Australians to join the CIM in 1890 AustralianCIM.jpg
First Party of Australians to join the CIM in 1890

1900s

CIM missions as of 1902 CIM1902.jpg
CIM missions as of 1902

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

List of General Directors of CIM & OMF International

NameInformationYears in office
James Hudson Taylor Married to Maria (née Dyer, d. 1870), Jennie (née Faulding)1865-1902
Dixon Edward Hoste Married to Gertrude (née Broomhall)1902-1935
George W. GibbMarried to Margaret (née Emslie, d. 1936), E. G. (née Kendon)1935-1940
Frank Houghton Married to Dorothy (née Cassels)1940-1951
The DirectorateDuring these transition years, the Mission was led by the Directorate made up of the following directors of the Mission: Arnold J. Lea (Overseas Director), J. Oswald Sanders (Home Director for Australia and New Zealand) Rowland J. R. Butler (Assistant Overseas Director), Ford L. Canfield (Assistant Overseas Director), H. M. Griffin (Home Director for North America), and Fred Mitchell (Home Director for Great Britain).1951-1954
John Oswald (J.O) Sanders Married to Edith (née Dobson, d. 1966), Mary (née Miller)1954-1969
Michael C. GriffithsMarried to Valerie1969-1981
James Hudson Taylor IIIMarried to Leone. Taylor was the great grandson of Hudson Taylor 1981-1991
David PickardMarried to Sue1991-2001
David HarleyMarried to Rosemary2001-2006
Patrick FungMarried to Jennie2006–present

See also

Archives

The papers of the China Inland Mission are held by SOAS Archives, the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton College , the OMF International Center in Singapore , the Hong Kong Baptist University, and several regional offices.

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hudson Taylor</span> British Protestant missionary in China

James Hudson Taylor was a British Baptist Christian missionary to China and founder of the China Inland Mission. Taylor spent 54 years in China. The society that he began was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to the country who started 125 schools and directly resulted in 20,000 Christian conversions, as well as the establishment of more than 300 stations of work with more than 499 local helpers in all 18 provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Broomhall</span> British author

Benjamin Broomhall was a British advocate of foreign missions, administrator of the China Inland Mission (CIM), and author. Broomhall served as the General Secretary of the China Inland Mission,. A boyhood friend of James Hudson Taylor, he became husband to Hudson Taylor’s sister Amelia. As General Secretary of the CIM, he was involved in fund-raising and recruiting missionaries to send to China and acted as editor of the mission magazine, "China's Millions".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Dyer</span> British missionary

Samuel Dyer was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China in the Congregationalist tradition who worked among the Chinese in Malaysia. He arrived in Penang in 1827. Dyer, his wife Maria, and their family lived in Malacca and then in Singapore. He was known as a typographer for creating a steel typeface of Chinese characters for printing to replace traditional wood blocks. Dyer's type was accurate, aesthetically pleasing, durable, and practical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Jane Taylor</span> British missionary

Maria Jane Taylor was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and "Mother" of the China Inland Mission with her husband, founder James Hudson Taylor. She was a pioneer missionary and educator there for 12 years. In 1858, she married Taylor and was an invaluable assistant and influence to him. In her time with the CIM, she was instrumental in training single women to be missionaries in China, when opportunities for women to serve had been previously dependent on having a missionary husband.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geraldine Taylor</span> Author and Missionary to China

Mary Geraldine Guinness, often known as Mrs. Howard Taylor, was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and author of many missionary biographies on the history of the China Inland Mission (CIM).

Marshall B. Broomhall, was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China with the China Inland Mission. He also authored many books on the subject of Chinese missionary work. He was the most famous son of the anti-opium trade activist and General Secretary of the CIM Benjamin Broomhall and Amelia Hudson Taylor. Thus he was also the nephew of the founder of the mission, James Hudson Taylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred James Broomhall</span> British missionary

Alfred James Broomhall, also known as Anthony James Broomhall, or A. J. Broomhall, was a British Baptist Christian medical missionary to China, and author and historian of the China Inland Mission.

Herbert Hudson Taylor, British Protestant Christian missionary to China, author, speaker and eldest son of James Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission and Maria Jane Dyer. He served there for over 50 years – the last three as one of the prisoners of the Japanese at the Weifang internment camp during World War II along with Eric Liddell and 1500 others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Thomas Berger</span> Christian manufacturer

William Thomas Berger (1815–1899) was a Christian starch manufacturer in London and owner of Samuel Berger & Co., a patent rice starch manufacturer, who became the first home (England) director of the China Inland Mission with James Hudson Taylor in 1865. At this time the headquarters of the mission agency was located at Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, England. As the Home Director he was responsible for editing the Occasional Paper of the China Inland Mission and carrying on the work of sending more missionaries to follow Hudson Taylor to China.

Mary Ann Aldersey was the first Christian missionary woman to serve in China proper. She founded a school for girls in Ningbo, Zhejiang. Her pioneering the field of mission work for single women in China was the most remarkable outcome of her life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick W. Baller</span>

Frederick William Baller was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, Chinese linguist, translator, educator and sinologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennie Faulding Taylor</span>

Jane Elizabeth "Jennie" Faulding Taylor, was a British Protestant missionary to China with the China Inland Mission. She pioneered the work of single women missionaries in China and eventually married the founder of the mission, James Hudson Taylor, after the death of his first wife, Maria Jane Dyer. As Taylor's wife, she assumed many roles within the mission agency when Taylor was overseas - acting at times as a home director for the mission. She encouraged women, both married and unmarried, to participate in the work of the China Inland Mission in ways that had previously only been reserved for male missionaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Blatchley</span> British Protestant missionary to China

Emily Blatchley was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China with the China Inland Mission. She pioneered the work of single women missionaries in China and served as personal secretary to the founder of the mission, James Hudson Taylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lammermuir Party</span> British group of Protestant missionaries to China

The Lammermuir Party was a British group of Protestant missionaries who travelled to China in 1866 aboard the tea clipper Lammermuir, accompanied by James Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission. Mission historians have indicated that this event was a turning point in the history of missionary work in China in the 19th century. This was the largest party of Protestant missionaries to date to arrive at one time on Chinese shores. It was also noteworthy that none of the members of the mission were ordained ministers, and only two had any previous overseas experience. In addition to this, there were among them nine unmarried women traveling to a place where single European women were rare for many reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chefoo School</span> Private boarding school in from Yantai to Kuling, Jiujiang

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">William David Rudland</span>

Reverend William David Rudland (1839–1912) was a Christian Evangelist from Cambridge, England, and pioneering member of the China Inland Mission. Described as a man of intense purpose, Reverend Rudland brought simplicity, humility, and a focus on realism to those he met. Rising above a difficult beginning, he pragmatically tackled obstacles keeping his focus on stretching his hand out in friendship to the Chinese people. His organization, supervision, and a firm belief in native ministry built a single church in Taizhou, Zhejiang, China, into thirty-one outstations and baptized almost two thousand converts in twenty-eight years. He translated the New Testament and most of the Old Testament into a Romanized Taizhou dialect. He supervised the printing and oversaw distribution for several thousand documents in the local dialect. Reverend Rudland brought new technology to the press room which improved quality and quantity. He served as printing supervisor for the other mission districts as well. The British & Foreign Bible Society appointed him Honorary Governor for Life in 1911. Reverend William Rudland was the last surviving adult member of the Lammermuir Party before his death in 1912.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Judd (missionary)</span> British Protestant missionary

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">China Martyrs of 1900</span>

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References

Citations

  1. "About OMF International". OMF International. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  2. Taylor (2005), reference to Daniel W. Bacon, "From Faith to Faith" 1983
  3. Broomhall (1984), 356
  4. Lovett (1899), 74
  5. "Soltau, Henrietta Eliza (1843–1934), evangelist and promoter of missionary work" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/47063 . Retrieved 2020-08-09.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  6. China: The Reluctant Exodus, by Phyllis. Thompson, Sevenoaks [England], Hodder and Stoughton, 1979.
  7. "Newington Green". Haworth Tompkins. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  8. "Alliance House". Sanctuary Students. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  9. "Re-occupation of the Field, June 1929, Page 86". China's Millions. China Inland Mission.
  10. "Editorial Notes, China's Millions, 1929, Page 79". China's Millions. China Inland Mission.
  11. "Article by W.H.Aldis ' The completion of the 200'. China's Millions Jan 1932, Page 3". China's Millions. China Inland Mission.

Sources

Further reading