BMS World Mission


BMS World Mission is a Christian missionary society founded by Baptists from England in 1792. It was originally called the Particular Baptist Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Amongst the Heathen, but for most of its life was known as the Baptist Missionary Society. The headquarters is in Didcot, England.

History

The BMS was formed in 1792, at a meeting in Kettering, England, where twelve Particular Baptist ministers signed an agreement. They were: Thomas Blundel, Joshua Burton, John Eayres, Andrew Fuller, Abraham Greenwood, William Heighton, Reynold Hogg, Samuel Pearce, John Ryland, Edward Sherman, John Sutcliff, Joseph Timms. William Staughton, present at the meeting, did not sign since he was not a minister. The first missionaries, William Carey and John Thomas, were sent to Bengal, India in 1793. They were followed by many co-workers, firstly to India, and subsequently to other countries in Asia, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and South America. Timothy Richard is perhaps one of the most well-known Baptist missionaries to China.
Francis Augustus Cox wrote a history of the Baptist Missionary Society from its formation until 1842. Brian Stanley was commissioned to write a history of the society for its bicentenary.
The current name was adopted in 2000.

List of missionaries

BMS works in many ways around the world, including church planting, development, disaster relief, education, health, and media and advocacy. Mission personnel can go long-term, mid-term, short-term or as part of a team.