Founded in 1865, we have been proving God's faithfulness ever since. We're 140 years young, and learning all the time.
OMF was founded by James Hudson Taylor in 1865, to work in China. By 1951 the communists had taken control and all Christian workers had to leave. Many moved to other Asian countries. Now OMF is working alongside the church in ten countries on the Asia Pacific Rim, and we have workers with professional skills in several more.
CIM / OMF Factfile
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.
1902 – D E Hoste succeeds Taylor as General Director.
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 – 1200 OMFers from over 25 nations are teaching, preaching, discipling and planting churches today throughout East Asia.