Baptists in Australia
The first interest in Australian Baptist
missionary work commenced in the late 1850s and early 1860s when
a Baptist Missonary Society (UK) worker from Dacca, Bengal came
to Victoria for health reasons.
Another BMS worker came for the same reasons in 1864-65 and travelled
throughout Australia stirring up interest.
Societies were formed in Adelaide in 1864 and soon fostered work
in Faridpur, and Melbourne in 1865 for work in Mymensingh
These arrangements meant Australian Baptists did not need to send
funds for missionary support to the BMS in London.
No Australia workers were involved until 1882 – funds supported
national workers
A key early leader was Rev. Silas Mead,
Flinders St Church, Adelaide. He encouraged two ladies, Miss Marie
Gilbert and Miss Ellen Arnold to go to Faridpur in 1882 under
the Faridpur Mission.
Ellen Arnold soon returned to Australia for health reasons but
she travelled the country appealing for more workers.
In 1885, the ‘five barley loaves’ sailed for India to
boost work there – Ellen Arnold herself with Misses Wilkin
& Fuller (Vic.) for Mymensingh, Miss Pappin (SA) Faridpur,
and Miss Martha Plested (Qld) Noakhali
Miss Arnold also visited NZ and so a NZ Missionary Society was
formed. Miss Rosalie MacGeorge went out as their first missionary
in 1886
Assam and
Bengal Fields
Further staff was sent by the various state missionary societies
in the following years to build up an effective work in different
centres in East Bengal.
Federation of the state societies took place in 1913 under the
name Australian Baptist Foreign Mission with Rev J.C. Martin as
full time secretary, based in Adelaide and field councils in India.
The work progressed strongly and expanded, but extensive changes
occurred as a result of partition of India and Pakistan and later
in the creation of the state of Bangladesh. Just prior to Partition,
it was decided to commence work among the Boro people of Assam;
later there was work among Garos and Rabhas.
Today the churches are independent national bodies; Australian
staff assist as co-workers in some areas.
Australian Baptist Missions in Papua
New Guinea
Baptist chaplains and servicemen on duty in New Guinea during
World War II became aware of the need for missionary work in this
area. Chaplains A.H. Orr and A.C. Prior in particular pressed
the challenge
The Chaplains’ Commission recommended to the NSW Assembly
in 1948 that initial responsibility for a new missionary venture
be accepted by that state.
It was decided to commence in 1949 on condition that the work
be handed over to the Federal body when it was ready to accept
responsibility.
Prayer support and fund raising began immediately
A survey of the highlands area selected the Baiyer Valley as the
centre. A pioneer party consisting of Committee Secretary, Rev.
A.H. Orr and missionary Rev Albert Kroenert arrived May 1949
Work was extended to various other highland area in later years.
A mission was established in the Dani Valley of West Irian in
1956. These churches are now all autonomous, with ABMS assistance.
The New Guinea work became part of the Federal Mission in 1950.
At first regional committees based in NSW and SA managed the New
Guinea and Asian fields.
Papua New Guinea
Field
The name was changed from Australian Baptist Foreign Mission to
Australian Baptist Missionary Society in 1958. It has since changed
again to Global interAction.
Many changes have taken place due to the growth of the churches,
nationalism and new approaches in missionary work.
The ABMS operates in 11 areas and has fraternal relations with
many of its old fields.
There are 145 missionary families in the ABMS
In addition, Australian Baptists are active in support of many
non-denominational missionaries
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