| History of the Christian and Missionary
Alliance
The Christian and Missionary Alliance, or "the Alliance"
as it is most often known, is an evangelical denomination
with an Australian representation of some 40 churches. Internationally,
the Alliance includes some 7,500 churches, 1,200 career missionaries,
and 2.5 million members on six continents.
Founded in 1887 at Old Orchard, Maine, by Dr. Albert B. Simpson,
a Canadian-born Presbyterian minister, the C&MA was originally
established as an evangelical foreign missionary organisation
that received support from an alliance of Christians from
several denominations and nationalities.
A.B. Simpson entered the ministry at age 21, after graduating
from Knox College in Toronto. He became pastor of the Knox
Presbyterian Church, Toronto, and in his eight years there,
saw some 750 persons added to the membership.
He then pastored a respected church in a major American city,
but his spirit soon grew discontented as he assessed his congregation
in light of the city and its need. During a time of fervent
prayer, he became aware that before anything could happen
in his church, something must first happen to him. As he sought
and surrendered to God, Simpson experienced an anointing of
the Spirit that transformed him and his ministry.
This experience not only revitalised his local evangelistic
ministry but also touched his spirit with the plight of the
unevangelised around the world. This burden for the whole
world led him to accept a pulpit in New York. He wanted to
be at the centre, in touch with the lives of those radiating
to the ends of the earth.
He began publishing an illustrated magazine on foreign missions
- believed to be the first of its kind. He founded the first
bible institute in America in 1882 known as the Nyack Missionary
College. He was the first to introduce the "faith promise"
method for missionary support. Between 1884 and 1919 he sent
300 workers around the world including the Congo, West Africa,
Jerusalem, the Philippines, Japan and South America.
The deep expression of his heart was revealed when he wrote:
"To the regions beyond I must go, I must go
Where the story has never been told;
To the millions that have never heard of His love,
I must tell the sweet story of old"
This experience was at the heart of Simpson's "Fourfold
Gospel"--the Alliance emphasis on the believer's relationship
with Christ as Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King--and
sparked what was to become the Christian and Missionary Alliance
of today.
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