World Gospel Mission
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
World Gospel Mission (WGM) is a Christian missionary agency headquartered in Marion, Indiana and founded in 1910. The mission's biggest works are in the nations of Kenya, Honduras, and Bolivia. It is aligned with the Wesleyan Holiness tradition of Protestantism. According to the organization's website, "World Gospel Mission is interdenominational in organization, evangelistic in method, Wesleyan in doctrine, cooperative with other evangelical agencies, and backed by an organized prayer network." All missionaries, short-term or career, and volunteers with WGM are responsible for raising their own financial support with the help of the organization's Church Ministries Department. Missionaries raise the funds needed to pay for salaries and housing, provide medical and life insurance, fund children’s educations, and provision for retirement. More than twenty Christian denominations, as well as non-denominationalists are represented among their missionaries. WGM is affiliated with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountablity (ECFA), the Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies (EFMA), and Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission.
[edit] History
In 1910, the Rev. and Mrs. Cecil and Ellen Troxel, along with the Rev. and Mrs. Woodford and Harriet Taylor became the first missionaries in China with the Missionary Department of the National Association for the Promotion of Holiness, directly under the Christian Holiness Association. Beatrice "Mother" Beezley was selected as secretary of the China Bureau by the Missionary Department, with her briefcase as her only office. Mr. C. Yang was a Chinese Christian who started a mission in his home. Over 100 Chinese attended Mr. Yang's special services. The Chinese Mission Field reported 15 missionaries, 50 Chinese workers, and hundreds of Chinese Christians.
In 1925, the organization's homeland headquarters moved from Mrs. Beezley's briefcase to the facilities at the Chicago Evangelistic Institute. In 1926, the Mission became incorporated in Illinois as the Missionary Society for the Promotion of Holiness. The organizations name was changed in 1937 to the National Holiness Missionary Society.
In 1946, the mission reported 102 missionaries within seven fields, including China, India, Kenya, Burundi, Honduras, Bolivia, and the Mexican border. In 1952, after two Chicago moves, the organization moved into the former YMCA building in Marion, Indiana, donated by local businessman, Merlin J. Loew. The Southwest Indian School was founded that year in Peoria, Arizona, as a school for American Indians. Students lived in dormitories on the campus, bussed in from reservations. In 1954, the organization officially changed its name to World Gospel Mission.
In 1967, WGM reported 16 fields, including China, Kenya, India, Honduras, Burundi, Bolivia, Mexico, Japan, the American Indian Field, Lebanon, Taiwan, Stockton Peniel (California), Egypt, Haiti, Brazil, and the Texas-Mexico Border. Between 1969 and 1992, WGM founded ministries in Indonesia, Argentina, Nicaragua, Haitian American Ministries, Israel, Tanzania, Paraguay, Hungary, and Uganda. In 1975, WGM's homeland headquarters was moved from downtown Marion, Indiana, to the present George R. Warner Missionary Center, to the east of the town. The Center was officially dedicated at the International Celebration of Missions in July 1976.
[edit] Present
Currently, WGM has nearly 350 missionaries and support staff serving on six continents, in more than 15 nations. The fields of service include the American Indian Field, Argentina, Bolivia, Haiti, Haitian American Ministries, Honduras, Hungary, India, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Muslim Ministries, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, St. Croix, Stockton Peniel (California), Taiwan, Uganda, and Ukraine. The current president is Hubert P. Harriman.
Recently, WGM announced plans to sell the land in Marion, and move to a presumably more economical location. The new location for their headquarters has not been disclosed.
