FAQ 10: What is your history?
CrossWorld began as the Unevangelized Fields Mission in 1931 and from the beginning was characterized by prayer, sacrifice and commitment to the unreached. 36 missionaries already serving in Brazil and the Congo formed a new agency centered in London, UK.
Unevangelized because of the many unreached regions of the world with people groups who had never heard the name of Jesus. Fields because of a commitment to missionaries on the field (geographical region) organizing themselves and setting their direction for ministry without top-down bureaucracy. Mission because of what Jesus left as His Great Commission.
The North American office was located in Toronto until 1941 when it moved to Philadelphia and then to Bala Cynwyd in 1954. We owe much to Edwin and Lilian Pudney who founded the mission and led UFM until retirement in 1961. Much of the growth of UFM took place under the administration of Alfred Larson (1966-91). Through the years many new fields were opened and smaller missions merged with UFM (World Christian Crusade – 1949; Alpine Mission to France – 1962; Egypt General Mission – 1964; Mexican Indian Mission – 1971; International Asian Mission – 1985; Berean Mission – 2000).
Many stories highlight the 75-year history of UFM/CrossWorld. They include the turning of the Brazil Wai Wai people group to Christ, as told in Christ’s Witchdoctor and Christ’s Jungle, the mass turning to Christ of the Dani people group of Papua, Indonesia in the 1960s. CrossWorlders have translated the entire Bible into the Wai Wai and Dani languages.
Crisis engulfed UFM in 1935 with the killing of the Three Freds who sought to reach the feared Kayap of Brazil’s Amazon, but today there is a Kayapo New Testament and a church in most of their villages. Nineteen UFMers were killed in the Congo in 1964 – yet today 1300 churches are a testimony to God’s grace in a troubled country.
Today missionaries from historic fields like Brazil and Haiti are going to unreached areas. In recent yearsa, CrossWorld is moving into the Muslim dominated world in Indonesia, Balkans and Central Asia. CrossWorld has a strong presence in Europe, focusing on people who are unreached with the Gospel.
Unevangelized because of the many unreached regions of the world with people groups who had never heard the name of Jesus. Fields because of a commitment to missionaries on the field (geographical region) organizing themselves and setting their direction for ministry without top-down bureaucracy. Mission because of what Jesus left as His Great Commission.
The North American office was located in Toronto until 1941 when it moved to Philadelphia and then to Bala Cynwyd in 1954. We owe much to Edwin and Lilian Pudney who founded the mission and led UFM until retirement in 1961. Much of the growth of UFM took place under the administration of Alfred Larson (1966-91). Through the years many new fields were opened and smaller missions merged with UFM (World Christian Crusade – 1949; Alpine Mission to France – 1962; Egypt General Mission – 1964; Mexican Indian Mission – 1971; International Asian Mission – 1985; Berean Mission – 2000).
Many stories highlight the 75-year history of UFM/CrossWorld. They include the turning of the Brazil Wai Wai people group to Christ, as told in Christ’s Witchdoctor and Christ’s Jungle, the mass turning to Christ of the Dani people group of Papua, Indonesia in the 1960s. CrossWorlders have translated the entire Bible into the Wai Wai and Dani languages.
Crisis engulfed UFM in 1935 with the killing of the Three Freds who sought to reach the feared Kayap of Brazil’s Amazon, but today there is a Kayapo New Testament and a church in most of their villages. Nineteen UFMers were killed in the Congo in 1964 – yet today 1300 churches are a testimony to God’s grace in a troubled country.
Today missionaries from historic fields like Brazil and Haiti are going to unreached areas. In recent yearsa, CrossWorld is moving into the Muslim dominated world in Indonesia, Balkans and Central Asia. CrossWorld has a strong presence in Europe, focusing on people who are unreached with the Gospel.
Top 10 FAQs
- What is CrossWorld and what do you do?
- Where do you work ?
- What do you believe?
- What is really important to you as you serve (values)?
- How can I serve with CrossWorld?
- What qualifications are required?
- How is CrossWorld funded?
- How is CrossWorld held accountable?
- What does CrossWorld provide for missionaries?
- What is your history?
