1832

James Hudson Taylor is born.

1853

Hudson Taylor embarks on his first missionary voyage to China.

1865

Taylor founds the CIM (China Inland Mission).

1866

Taylor, his wife, four children and 16 missionaries, sail for China. During the journey 20 crew members become Christians.

1900

The Boxer Uprising. Thousands of Chinese Christians and hundreds of missionaries are murdered, including 58 adults and 21 children from CIM.

1905

Taylor dies in Changsha, China, aged 73.

1949

The Communists take over China.

1950

The evacuation of CIM workers begins.

1953

The ‘reluctant exodus’ of CIM workers is complete. OMF missionaries are now working in Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.

1975

OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) and BEM (Borneo Evangelical Mission) integrate their work.

1980

Rapid changes in East Asia’s economy enable Christians with professional skills to work in countries that are closed to traditional missionary work.

2006

Patrick Fung takes over as OMF's first Asian General Director

now

We currently have just under 1300 members from 30 nations working throughout East Asia, and serving in Western nations where East Asians work or study.