The Mission Society
The Mission Society is an interdenominational Christian organization that recruits, trains, and sends missionaries around the world. Based in Norcross, Georgia, United States, The Mission Society was incorporated on January 6, 1984. The Mission Society is Wesleyan in theology and currently supports more than 225 missionaries to 32 nations.[1]
When founded, The Mission Society was known as The Mission Society for United Methodists. It was created as a supplemental mission-sending agency to the United Methodist Church. The Mission Society's board of directors voted to change the name to "The Mission Society" in 2006, in order to reflect the interdenominational nature of the organization.[1]
The Mission Society receives no denominational funding and is supported by individuals and churches, primarily located in the United States. All missionaries are responsible for raising their own financial support. The Mission Society is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), accreditation agency dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship.
In addition to recruiting the training missionaries, The Mission Society’s church ministry department offers seminars, workshops, and mentoring for congregations in the United States and abroad, in order to help local churches get involved in missions locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Mission Society published a quarterly magazine, Unfinished, about its work around the world. The magazine was formerly named "Heartbeat," before undergoing a design change in 2006. Unfinished was awarded an Award of Merit from the Evangelical Press Association (EPA) on May 9, 2008. Awards honor the best work contributed by EPA publications during the 2007 calendar year.
Beliefs
The Mission Society’s statement of faith is…
The Great Commandment (Matt 22:37) calls each of us to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul.
The Great Commission (Acts 1:8) calls each Christian believer to spread the Gospel locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Great Commandment and the Great Commission are inextricably linked and one is not possible without the other.
There is only one Gospel.
Jesus Christ is the only Savior and is the one and only human form of God. Jesus gave Himself as the only payment for sinners and sin. Jesus is the only intermediary between God and humanity.
All humans are sinners, and yet all of us are loved by God. God does not want any human to perish and wishes that each one of us will ask forgiveness for their sins.
To proclaim Jesus as "the Savior of the world" does not mean that all are automatically or ultimately saved, nor does it mean that all religions offer salvation. Rather, it proclaims God’s love for a world of sinners and invites all people to accept to Jesus as Savior and Lord—with a total commitment of repentance and faith.
That spreading the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures is part of our responsibility as Christians.
Jesus now offers forgiveness of sins now and always. Jesus also offers the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who ask forgiveness and believe in Him.
Evangelism, or spreading the Gospel, is the declaration of the historical, biblical Christ as Savior and Lord, with a hope and expectation that people everywhere will be persuaded to come to know Christ personally and be made whole with God.
That Christ sends His saved people into the world just as the Father sent Him.
We affirm the need for wholeness in persons and in society and recognize this is a goal for mission.
The Church, as the community of God's people, must not be identified with any particular culture, social or political system, or human ideology.
History 1984–2010
The Mission Society is celebrating its 26th year of global service. It was originally founded as a supplemental mission-sending agency to the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM). H.T. Maclin, the founding president and president emeritus, had previously served with GBGM for 20 years in Congo and Kenya before coming on staff with the organization. He resigned in 1983 to found The Mission Society, along with other United Methodists.[1]
Founders
Gerald Anderson, John Brackman, Douglas Burr, Ken Callis, Norman Carter, Tom Collins, Patrick Flaherty, Ira Gallaway, John Grenfell, Carl Harris, Nick Harris, James V. Heidinger II, William Henderson, William Hines, Ellsworth Kalas, R.L. Kirk, William Mason, Virgil Maybray, Malcolm McVeigh, Paul Morell, Edgar Nelson, James H. Pike, Edmund Robb, David Seamands, J.T. Seamands, R.O. Sigler, Robert Souders, Neil Stein, L.D. Thomas, Jr., Mike Walker, Charles Whittle, Sewell Woodward, Jr., Phil Worth, and Clarence Yates.[1]
Leadership
President and CEO
- 1984–1991 - H.T. Maclin
- 1991–1994 - Julia McLean Williams
- 1994–2000 - Alvern Vom Steeg
- 2001–2009 - Phillip R. Granger [1]
- 2009–2014 - Dick McClain
- 2014-present - Max Wilkins
Fields
The Mission Society currently has more than 225 missionaries from more than 12 denominations serving in 32 countries. The countries include Bolivia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Senegal, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela, Zambia, and other locations not listed for security reasons.[1]