"I will make you a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6) 

For many Australians, SIM's story begins in Africa. Yet over the past century, God has opened doors far beyond a single continent, creating opportunities for Australians to serve across Asia, South America, the Middle East and beyond.  

That wasn’t always the case. 

Over time, God extended the reach of SIM through partnerships with like-minded mission organisations serving in different parts of the world. Though they worked in different places and cultures, they shared a common passion: to make Christ known among people with little chance to hear the Gospel. As these ministries joined the SIM family, new opportunities arose for Australians to serve around the world.  

Reaching Beyond Africa 

SIM began in Africa, where generations of Australians served faithfully among communities with little access to the good news of Jesus. For many years, this was the place that first came to mind when most Australians thought about SIM.  

But God’s mission has never been confined to one region. As partnerships were formed with other mission movements, SIM Australia was able to send workers to places previously beyond its reach.   

Reaching South America 

One important step came through the Andes Evangelical Mission (AEM), which began as ministry among Indigenous communities in Bolivia and eventually expanded across the Andes region. Its workers carried the Gospel into remote Andean communities that were geographically isolated and often difficult to reach. 

When AEM joined SIM, Australians gained opportunities to serve in South America alongside people who were already sharing Christ and strengthening local churches.  

Reaching Asia 

Another development came through the International Christian Fellowship (ICF). ICF itself was formed through the merger of several organisations, including the Poona and Indian Village Mission (PIVM), founded in 1893 by Australians Charles F. Reeve and E.W. McGavin. Their vision was to bring the Gospel to communities across South Asia where Jesus was little known. 

By the time ICF became part of SIM in 1989, its workers were also serving in places in South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia. For SIM Australia, this created new opportunities to send Australians across Asia, joining with mission work that had already been established over many years. 

Reaching Further 

The reach then expanded further to one of the least reached regions of the world through Middle East Christian Outreach (MECO). As its ministries became part of SIM, Australians gained opportunities to serve among Arabic-speaking peoples across the Middle East which then also extended into North Africa. 

Each development expanded the regions where Australians could serve. More countries. More cultures. More partnerships with those already faithfully serving. More opportunities to bring the Gospel to those who had little opportunity to hear about Christ.  

From Australia to the Nations 

It is easy to look back and see a series of organisational changes. Yet the more significant story is what those developments made possible for God’s mission.  

As movements became part of the SIM global family, Australians found new opportunities to serve among peoples and places far beyond what earlier generations might have imagined. From Africa to South America, from Asia to the Middle East, Australians are still being mobilised to take the Gospel where Christ is least known. SIM Australia’s reach has grown, but the mission remains the same: seeing the good news of Jesus carried to the ends of the earth.  

As we celebrate 100 years of SIM Australia, we give thanks for the generations of Australians who have answered God's call and pray for those He is sending today. Pray for our workers serving around the world by visiting www.sim.org.au/praywithus