Adventist mission has grown from its humble beginnings in 1874 when the church sent its first missionary J.N. Andrews to Europe, to a worldwide mission movement. In the early years missionaries were sent mostly from the United States to the rest of the world, but today people go "from everywhere to everywhere." Missionaries are no longer limited to pastors and evangelists, but now include educators, nurses, agronomists, and various technicians who are involved in developing schools, hospitals and agricultural programs, and working in a host of other institutions and facilities that make life better for people around the world.

The issues in mission have increased in complexity as the church has grown and developed worldwide and as the world has changed.

Missiology and teachers in cross-cultural mission training have been added to a number of educational institutions within the church. Church administrators have been confronted with international issues, which have increased in complexity over the years. Missionaries in the field, as well as those who have returned back to their home base are valuable resources for the overall mission of the church, because of their insights and experience. Yet, the challenges of mission in the 21st century call for a deepening of the shared Adventist wisdom and understanding of mission.

PURPOSE

The International Fellowship for Adventist Mission Studies is a mission fellowship that brings together mission-minded Seventh-day Adventist practitioners, academics and administrators for fellowship, dialogue, academic scholarship and mentoring.