Alliance Community Fellowship
                                   .of the Christian and Missionary Alliance
Elkins,  West Virginia

                     . HISTORY OF THE C&MA
   A.B. Simpson
                   The Christian and Missionary Alliance began in 1887 by Dr. Albert
                   Benjamin Simpson. The C&MA family includes over two million people
                   in 57 countries.

                   We have a history rich in ministry. The cornerstone of our National Office
                   building in Colorado Springs is a visual reminder of our roots. It was first
                   laid at the Gospel Tabernacle in New York City in 1889.

                   Worldwide we are linked to other believers who share a passion to reach
                   those without Christ through The Alliance World Fellowship.

                   The message is Fourfold: Christ our Savior, Christ our Sanctifier, Christ
                   our Healer, and Christ our Coming King.

                 Chronological Highlights of C&MA History

                 1843   Dr. Albert Benjamin Simpson born to James and Jane Clark
                   Simpson at Bayview, Prince Edward Island.

                 1847   The James Simpson family moves to Chatham, Ontario.

                 1858   Albert Simpson believes in Jesus as his Savior and is convinced he
                   must preach the gospel.

                 1861-1865   A. B. Simpson begins and completes college and theological
                   studies at Knox College in Toronto.

                 1865-1873   Dr. Simpson pastors Knox Presbyterian Church, Hamilton,
                   Ontario. During his tenure 750 people became members of the church.

                 1874-1879   Dr. Simpson pastors Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church,
                   Louisville, Kentucky.

                 1874   Dr. Simpson gives control of his life completely to God.

                 1875   The Whittle/Bliss citywide evangelistic campaign in Louisville
                   radically alters Simpson’s view of the Christian ministry. Evangelism is
                   now his priority.

                 1875-1876   Dr. Simpson continues Sunday evening services in public
                   halls.

                 1880-1881   Dr. Simpson pastors the 13th Street Presbyterian Church,
                   New York City.

                   1880   The monthly missions periodical, The Gospel in All Lands, is
                   inaugurated.

                 1881   In August Dr. Simpson is miraculously healed of a heart disorder
                   during a vacation at Old Orchard Beach, Maine. A few months later he is
                   baptized by immersion in a Baptist chapel in New York City. Then in
                   November he resigns his pastorate to begin independent evangelistic
                   ministries in NYC.

                 1882   Dr. Simpson conducts evangelistic meetings in several public halls.
                   The first issue of The Word, Work and World, forerunner of Alliance
                   Life, appears. The Gospel Tabernacle Church in NYC is organized and
                   grows to 1,000 members within a few years. Dr. Simpson starts Friday
                   afternoon meetings for consecration and healing.

                 1883   Dr. Simpson organized The Missionary Union for the
                   Evangelization of the World. The Midnight Mission on 27th Street is
                   opened by women from the Tabernacle. It is the first of several rescue
                   missions. The first Healing Home is opened at the Simpson's residence. It
                   is the forerunner of the Berachah Homes. The first classes of the
                   Missionary Training College are held at 446 Eighth Avenue, NYC.

                 1884   Simpson conducts the first fall convention for deeper Christian
                   living and evangelism. Visitors come from several states.

                 1885   Dr. Simpson speaks at the Bethshan Conference for Holiness and
                   Healing in London, England, where he delivers the sermon “Himself.”

                 1886   The first Simpson convention at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, is
                   conducted. The assembly calls for an alliance for the promotion of
                   missionary work.

                 1887   The assembly of Old Orchard votes to form two societies, The
                   Christian Alliance and The Evangelical Missionary Alliance. The Board of
                   Directors of the Missionary Alliance appoints its first missionary
                   candidates, the William Cassidys, to go to China, and Helen Dawley to
                   India.

                 1888-1890   Thousands of Christians in the United States and Canada
                   join The Christian Alliance. About 20 missionaries are sent overseas.

                 1890   A building for the Gospel Tabernacle at Eighth Avenue and 44th
                   Street in New York City is dedicated. Dr. Simpson calls for a prayer to
                   accomplish the purpose of The Missionary Alliance. Prayer pledge cards
                   were distributed and returned to Alliance headquarters.

                 1891-1897   A period of rapid expansion of missionary activity.

                 1891   Support pledged by Alliance people for 100 missionaries. The
                   goal is increased to send 200 missionaries. By 1897 about 350 had been
                   sent overseas. More than 50 of these died or withdrew.

                 1897   The two Alliance organizations amalgamate to form The Christian
                   and Missionary Alliance. The Missionary Training Institute and Berachah
                   Home move to Nyack, New York.

                 1898-1911   A period of revival, stabilization, maturity, and growth both
                   overseas and in North America. The missionary force remains between
                   250 and 280.

                 1900   Nineteen Alliance Swedish missionaries and 13 children are
                   murdered in China during the Boxer Rebellion.

                 1906   The Pentecostal movement enters many Alliance branches and
                   conventions.

                 1906-1911   A revival movement strengthens the Alliance, but some
                   Alliance members and leaders go over to the Pentecostal movement.

                 1912   The C&MA adopts a new constitution at Boone, Iowa. New
                   departments and offices are created. The property reversion clause is
                   adopted. Dr. Simpson donates Christian Alliance Publishing Company to
                   the C&MA Board of Managers.

                 1913-1917   A period of consolidation of the work under the new
                   departments. Many independent congregations join the Alliance but are
                   not considered Alliance churches. The number of missionaries remains
                   about the same.

                 1918   Dr. Simpson suffers a stroke. He donates the Alliance Press (the
                   printing company) to the Board of Managers.

                 1919   The Board debates the nomination of Dr. Paul Rader to be the
                   vice president nominee. Council elects Dr. Rader as vice president. Vice
                   President Rader becomes the president of the C&MA upon the death of
                   Dr. Simpson.

                 1920-1923   The Rader period is characterized by growth overseas,
                   especially in the Near East and French Indo-China. Public awareness of
                   the Alliance in North America increases via citywide evangelistic
                   campaigns and the Rader-sponsored tabernacle movement. There is
                   dissent within the Board of Managers over Dr. Rader’s activities and
                   organizations outside the Alliance.

                 1924   Dr. Rader resigns. Vice President F. H. Senft assumes the
                   presidency. Mrs. A. B. Simpson and her husband’s biographer, Rev. A.
                   E. Thompson, die at Nyack, New York.

                 1925   Vice President H. M. Shuman is installed as president upon the
                   death of Dr. Senft. Dr. Shuman served as president until 1954, a total of
                   29 years.

                 1926-1939   By a quiet transition the Alliance begins to change from a
                   “movement” to a denomination.

                 1939-1945   World War II interrupts some missionary activity. Ten
                   missionaries are killed or die as a result of internment. Overseas work
                   grows some. The missionary force increases from 469 to 522. The
                   number of churches and branches increases from 632 to 690 and
                   baptized members from 57,294 to 58,016.

                 1949   All Alliance missionaries leave China due to the takeover of the
                   government by Communists.

                 1954-1959   Dr. H. L. Turner succeeds Dr. Shuman as president in
                   1954. Similar growth of previous years continues. The number of
                   missionaries increases to 824, overseas churches to 1,486, and baptized
                   members to 131,843. In North America, branches and churches total
                   1,151 and membership 67,641. Missionary contributions in 1959 climb to
                   $3,511,691.

                 1960   Dr. Nathan Bailey is elected to the presidency of the Alliance and
                   serves until 1978.

                 1967   The Alliance Youth Corps is organized.

                 1973   The Alliance Key 73 program for aggressive evangelism is
                   lanuched.

                 1974   A new constitution is ratified by Council, effectively making the
                   Alliance a denomination.

                 1975   The Indochina fields of Laos, Cambodia, and Viet Nam are
                   closed by a Communist takeover of the governments.

                 1977   The number of missionaries has increased to 890, overseas
                   churches to 4,453, and baptized church members to 332,443. Inclusive
                   membership now numbers 952,000. Missionary contributions reach
                   $12,331,273. North American churches total 1,561; baptized members,
                   112,867; inclusive membership (including adherents) 192,336.

                 1978   Dr. Louis L. King becomes the seventh president of the Alliance.
                   Council votes a goal of doubling Alliance membership by Council 1987.

                 1981   The Christian and Missionary Alliance of Canada becomes
                   autonomous. Dr. Melvin Sylvester is elected president.

                 1985   By this date the number of missionaries has increased to 1,134;
                   organized churches overseas number 10,649; 569,743 baptized members
                   are associated with overseas churches; inclusive members in those
                   churches total 1,836,277, a net gain of 883,834 persons since 1978. In
                   the United States, churches number 1,646, with 227,846 inclusive
                   members. Canadian Alliance churches total 287, with 56,768 inclusive
                   members.

                 1987   The Christian and Missionary Alliance celebrates its centennial
                   Council in St. Paul, Minnesota.



Click on logo to return to home page