Our History

The Sudan Interior Mission began in 1893, when Canadians Walter Gowans and Rowland Bingham, and American Thomas Kent journeyed to West Africa. They were compelled by a heartfelt desire to see the 60 million people of sub-Saharan Africa who were living and dying without Jesus come to know Him as their Lord and Saviour. Their vision was to evangelise the 60 million least-reached people of sub-Saharan Africa.

Despite established mission organisations saying it was impossible to reach Sudan, the three men willingly risked their lives to share the gospel with those who had never heard of Jesus.

They set out in faith to make Christ known. Their courage and commitment still inspire us today as we continue the work they began.

Unfortunately, illness took a toll on the team. Gowans and Kent died in 1894, and Bingham returned to Canada. After his second attempt to start work was halted by malaria, Bingham sent a third team. In 1902, they successfully established a base in Patigi, Nigeria, 800 kilometres inland, where SIM’s work in Africa began.

Over time, SIM has merged with other mission organisations in Africa, Asia and South America, some of which started even earlier than 1893, to become the global mission agency it is today.

What began with a few faithful pioneers has grown into a global mission that continues to grow and serve today.

Discover how that same heart shapes our understanding of mission today.