Development in Africa
Canadian Walter Gowans, Roland Bingham and American Thomas Kent came together with the same vision: to bring the gospel to Africans living in sub-Saharan Africa. But as soon as they arrived on African soil, they contracted malaria. Gowans and Kent died in 1894. Bingham continued the work alone, but a new and severe attack of malaria forced him to return to Canada. Unable to return to Africa, he mobilised and sent people. The Sudan Interior Mission was born.
Development in South America
George Allan and Mary Stirling from New Zealand founded "The Bolivian Indian Mission" (BIM) in 1907. Over time, this mission spread to other countries and, in 1965, adopted the name "Andes Evangelical Mission" (AEM). It joined SIM in 1980.
Development in Asia
Charles Reeve and Mac Gavin from Australia founded the International Christian Fellowship (ICF). As early as 1893, they began work in India and Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka). This organisation, which has also grown considerably, joined the SIM in 1989.
More recent developments
Throughout its history, SIM has merged several times with other organisations pursuing the same objectives. While in the past the missionary dynamic evolved essentially from North to South, today it is present everywhere.
