Mission History
How it all began
The English cricketer, Charles Thomas (CT) Studd, had already worked as a missionary in China and India. He had gone out to China as part of the Cambridge Seven, a group that had hit the headlines in England as society men who turned their backs on lives of privilege to go and preach Christ in inland China.
But one night he saw a meeting advertised with the words 'Cannibals want missionaries'. Intrigued, he went in, and was challenged by the need of people in the heart of Africa who had never had the opportunity to hear about the Lord Jesus. As a result CT Studd sailed for Africa, heading for the very center, now part of northeast Congo. On the journey, God laid on his heart:
'This journey is not for the heart of Africa only, but for the whole unevangelized world.'
As a result, what began as the Heart of Africa Mission became in time a worldwide fellowship of workers under the umbrella of WEC International, which numbers about 2000 people from all parts of the globe today.
Today WEC International works in more than 70 countries.
Our primary objectives are:
- To bring the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the remaining unevangelized peoples with utmost urgency
- To demonstrate the compassion of Christ to a needy world
- To plant churches and lead them to spiritual maturity
- To inspire, mobilize and train for cross-cultural mission.
WEC is a multi-ethnic, multi-national and inter-denominational family. We are bound together by shared convictions, a desire to live a godly lifestyle and an unwavering commitment to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Our oneness in Him makes it possible for us to work together as brothers and sisters. It compels us to accept each other irrespective of gender, ethnicity, nationality or church affiliation. It constrains us to care for the wellness of our entire missionary family, and calls for international co-operation with local and national churches, and with other Christian agencies.
And now it's grown to this...
WEC International certainly lives up to its name! We are a fellowship of God's people drawn from many national, ethnic and denominational backgrounds. Workers from about 50 nationalities are currently working in over 70 countries around the world, and involved in many different tasks. There are now about 2000 people actively serving with WEC around the world, and about a quarter of them are from non-Western countries.
We have 18 centers scattered throughout the world which encourage, screen, send, and help support workers. Naturally, we also need workers in these centers, as well as in ministries such as media which are located in sending countries. In the last 90 years WEC has planted hundreds of churches in Africa and South America, Asia and Europe.
