OMS International started as the Oriental Missionary Society in 1901 when an American couple, Charles and Lettie Cowman, answered God's call and moved to Japan.

They were joined by a national evangelist, Juji Nakada, and a year later by Mr and Mrs Kilbourne. Together they faithfully preached the gospel to the nation of Japan.

From this small beginning the team began to spread out and Juji Nakada, in 1904, moved to Korea to begin a new work.

In 1925 Ernest Kilbourne and his son, Bud, moved to Shanghai and our work in China began.

Over the years OMS has spread out and established works in almost 50 countries. Always the work has maintained the four principles of Partnering with local churches where possible; Evangelism at every opportunity; Training national believers to take responsibility; and enabling new churches to be born. It is not the aim of OMS to establish a foreign church, but to assist in the establishment of the indigenous church.

Click here to see our Missionaries and Homeland Missionaries.