In the 19th century, the Protestant world experienced an unprecedented missionary awakening. After the Reformation era, churches focused mainly on internal theological development. But at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, something changed: a new understanding of responsibility toward all nations appeared.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matt. 28:19
The rise of missionary societies
The first organized Protestant missionary societies emerged at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century:
- Baptist Missionary Society (1792) — founded in England by William Carey, the first great Protestant missionary who went to India.
- London Missionary Society (1795) — interdenominational, it sent missionaries to Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
- American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (1810) — the first major American missionary organization.
Main leaders
- William Carey (1761–1834) — the “father of modern missions.” He spent 40 years in India and translated the Bible into several Indian languages.
- David Livingstone (1813–1873) — missionary and explorer of Africa, opening the “darkest continent” to the gospel.
- Hudson Taylor (1832–1905) — founded the China Inland Mission and revolutionized the missionary approach by living among the local people and learning their language.
The Adventist dimension
At the end of the 19th century, the SDA Church also became actively involved in this movement. The prophetic text “and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world” (Matt. 24:14) was understood as a personal task for every generation and every congregation.
The missionary movement of the 19th century showed that Christ’s Great Commission is not an ideal but a concrete calling. And God sends those who are willing to go.
