Our Faith Story

The history of Baptist Mission Australia dates back well over a century.

In 1864, prior to our nation’s federation, individual Baptists began their faithful work in the Australian colonies.

On 28 October 1882, Ellen Arnold (above left) and Marie Gilbert (above right) set sail from Adelaide for India.

Today they are remembered as Australia’s very first Baptist missionaries.

In 1864, prior to our nation’s federation, individual Baptists began their faithful work in the Australian colonies.

In 1864, prior to our nation’s federation, individual Baptists began their faithful work in the Australian colonies.

On 28 October 1882, Ellen Arnold (above left) and Marie Gilbert (above right) set sail from Adelaide for India.

Today they are remembered as Australia’s very first Baptist missionaries.

These early pioneers paved the way for Baptist Missionary Societies in other Australian colonies to send missionaries of their own in the years that followed.

The Australian Baptist Foreign Mission (ABFM) was formed in 1912.

Up until WWII, the work of ABFM focussed on the region of Bengal. But after the horror and devastation of not one, but two world wars, Australian Baptists felt challenged to extend the reach of their overseas missions to other countries in the region. And to Papua New Guinea in particular. Work with Australia’s First Peoples also began.

Over the years we have been known by a number of names, the Australian Baptist Missionary Society (ABMS) and Global Interaction, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is our passion to share the love of Jesus far and wide.

Today, thanks to those who went before us, our ministry extends to Africa, Asia and The Pacific.

Around 1,800 active faith communities are operating with a formal membership. That’s more than 150,000 believers… not to mention the wide range of medical, health and development initiatives that are now led by these national churches. What an incredible legacy.

We give thanks for the steadfast obedience of His early followers. Great is His faithfulness!

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Thanks to the pioneering work of those who have gone before us, the work of Baptist Mission Australia now extends to 15 nations.

Where we serve

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Ministry locations: Where our teams currently live and serve
Ministry partnerships: Where we partner with established faith communities
Australian Intercultural Team
Indochina
Cambodia
Mozambique
South East Asia
Thailand
South Asia
Malawi
Silk Road Area
Myanmar & border areas
Papua New Guinea
Bangladesh
Zambia and Zimbabwe
Papua
India