Serving In Mission
Serving In Mission ( SIM) is an international, interdenominational Christian mission organization. It was founded in 1893 by the Canadian Walter Gowans and Rowland Bingham and the American Thomas Kent and is an association of missionary organizations, including the Africa Evangelical Fellowship, Andes Evangelical Mission, International Christian Fellowship and Sudan Interior Mission. In 2008, SIM had about 1,800 active missionaries from 37 countries who do service in 43 countries on 5 continents. In Germany, SIM works V.A. with the German Missionary Fellowship (DMG ) together. Around 40 staff / inside the DMG are active around the world in fields and projects of the SIM.
History
1893 came Walter Gowans, Rowland Bingham and Thomas Kent to Lagos in Nigeria with the aim to evangelize the African " Sudan region." While Gowans and Kent died of malaria, drove Bingham, who also fell ill, back to Canada. However, he managed to send another team that built deep inside Nigeria a mission station in 1902. After the base was built, managed the mission to others, first expand West African countries. After 1920, the SIM began to proselytize also in East Africa. By 1998 the mission field in Africa extended to Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan and Togo.
The activities of the AEM ( Andes Evangelical Mission ) began in 1907 with a couple from New Zealand, which a missionary in Bolivia. The AEM joined in 1982 with the SIM together and the work expanded within South America to Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. In the 1890s, two small mission organizations had in Ceylon ( now Sri Lanka), South India, and the Philippines started its activities, which together later joined the International Christian Fellowship (ICF). In 1989, the ICF then on the SIM. Today, the SIM also works in Bangladesh, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal and Pakistan.
Another merger took place in 1998 when the AEF ( Africa Evangelical Fellowship ) joined the SIM. The history of the AEF began in 1879 with the establishment of a soldier 's home in Cape Town, South Africa. From this root is a mission that after the first Anglo-Boer War was active in 1889 and was called South African General Mission was formed. Your mission extended over all of South Africa, to the islands of the Indian Ocean. When the AEF in 1998 merged with the SIM, their work extended to the countries of Angola, Botswana, Gabon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
SIM Switzerland
The SIM Switzerland is constituted as an independent association. Contractual agreements with the SIM at the international level regulate the collaboration. 1962, the Swiss branch was founded in Lausanne with the aim mainly French-speaking employees to recruit for the French-speaking countries in Africa. The name " Société Internationale Missionnaire " was chosen, which was maintained until today. It provides an apt description of the SIM dar. From these beginnings emerged SIM -France, SIM Italia ( ONLUS ) and SIM Belgique. Which are also constituted as independent associations according to the law of each country. SIM Switzerland motivates and advises Christians who are willing to make foreign missions. It trains and supports their efforts from Switzerland. In this framework, it provides community service workers the opportunity to make bets. The activities of expatriates include:
- Health (hospitals, AIDS prevention, health education and personal radio, training programs for local doctors and nurses, etc. )
- Help for the socially disadvantaged ( street children, women's groups, etc. )
- Development programs ( agriculture, water, forestry, etc. )
- School / training (teacher promotion, student care, theological training, etc. )
- Culture ( music, radio programs, mediation reconciliation work, exploration of indigenous languages and literacy, translation of the Bible, creation of encyclopedias, etc. )
- Non-violent conflict resolution in prisons
The basis and motivation for these activities is the biblical image of man: Every man has his dignity from God regardless of economic opportunities, education, cultural backgrounds, religion, gender and age. From this perspective, the SIM understands faith in Christ as an offer that anyone can accept or reject in a free conscience vote. The exercise of faith leads to loving acceptance of others and to practical humanitarian activities
Operation
The SIM is aware of its need for supplementation and therefore works in partnership relationships with organizations that share their value system. Through sustainable work the SIM helps holistically: physical, emotional and spiritual needs will be equally met. As a global organization, the SIM live consciously an attitude of supplement on cultural differences.
Even in the church sees itself as the SIM in need of completion. As work with evangelical beliefs she is aware interdenominational. It is in connection with churches and communities of different embossing and encourages their cooperation
Management style
The SIM aims to promote employees. Long-term employees are encouraged to become members and obtained by voting and vote. Executive positions are filled by the election of the members. A participative management style is to allow employees to contribute their ideas.
Financing
Funding for the work of the SIM is exercised by individual donors, various Christian churches and in individual cases by public authorities. The gifts are earmarked for the most part. The SIM is committed to use these in accordance with the intended purpose. The accounts are prepared in accordance with generally accepted guidelines for good accounting and subjected to regular internal and external controls. ( In Switzerland, according to GAAP FER 21 and annual audit by an independent auditor. )