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The Mission League: History in Review
by Dr. Joe Torosian

             The Mission League dates back as early as the 1830’s. Dougan Harris, a pastor in England, came to know George Müller, who is well known in Christian history for starting orphan houses in Great Britain. As their friendship developed, they had deep spiritual discussions. They came to realize that they had in common the gift of Intercession, or communication with God. Müller especially, was given great commissions from God. Even though he had no money, after much prayer and planning, he followed God’s calling anyway, and God provided. 

Harris saw how God worked through Müller, and Harris began to understand a calling of his own from God. He knew that God wanted to bring other men with the gift of Intercession together. He began to seek these men out and train them in how to recognize and use their gift.

Some time later there was a group of thirty-four men in Great Britain connected mostly by a newsletter written by Harris titled The League. God prodded Harris to seek out leaders in this group of men who had been called to missions. Harris trained eight men and sent them to eight different countries to train other men who had similar Intercession gifts from God.

In the 1840’s, David Livingstone was called to be a missionary to Africa. He set a foundation for The League in that continent by pushing to explore new areas where the Gospel had never been, and planting with each new mission station a League contact, opening up Africa to Christianity.

And so The League grew and started to expand the globe. Still somewhat secret and unofficial, these men called into God’s service completed their specific tasks and continued to train others starting groups in uncharted places. All along, they referred to themselves as The League, after Harris’ newsletter. 

 

Much progress was made in recruiting young men to The League after The Young Men's Christian Association or YMCA was founded in London, England, on June 6, 1844.  By 1851 the Y arrived in North America. During the years from 1844-1855 The League saw a membership gain of 450%.

In 1864, with the onset of the Civil War in the United States, League membership experienced a drop as young men marched off to battle. Many League members joined the battle as well, especially in forming the U.S. Christian Commission to assist the troops and prisoners of war. This commission was endorsed by President Abraham Lincoln. Dwight L. Moody, who was president of the Chicago YMCA at the time, coordinated a huge effort to organize League members in operating various safe houses and rescue operations. Another achievement of The League during this time was distributing than 1 million Bibles to fighting men.

In the early 1860’s, God spoke to William Booth calling him to win the poor, the homeless, the hungry, and the destitute of London to Christ. He went into the streets of London to preach the hope and salvation of Jesus Christ taking the message to the people. He called his congregation “The Christian Mission.” Those who worked with him became known “Hallelujah Army” with Booth as the “General.” In 1878 they became officially known as “The Salvation Army.”

The Northfield Bible Conferences began in 1880 and were founded by Dwight L. Moody. God called him to bring some of the best speakers from around the world. At this same time he was integral in setting up the first League Conference. It was held during the evenings, the same days as the Northfield Bible Conferences. Many of the same speakers spoke there as well. The League Conferences continued every four years in various locations around the world.

In 1901 God called Amy Carmichael to go to Dohnavur, India, where she served fifty-six years as God's devoted servant without a furlough. A major part of her work there was devoted to rescuing children who had been dedicated by their families to be temple prostitutes. Carmichael recruited many into The League during her years in India. She also trained some of the first young women into The League.

Harmon Schmelzenbach opened Swaziland up to God’s word in 1911. He had a great respect for David Livingstone, who died some 30 years before Schmelzenbach arrived in Africa. During the League Conference of 1912, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Schmelzenbach was credited with defining the paths of The League based on the knowledge that not all missionaries working in the field can teach and train new League members and remain true to their call. It was decided that only people who were called to teach and be a missionary should train League members while on field locations.

Many undercover League members were lost during the first world war.

Mother Theresa arrived in India in 1929. She served the Lord her whole life in India following the Lord’s call in everything. In 1946 she began working specifically with the poor. In 1955 she opened a children's home. In 1957, she began her work with lepers. She bought land for leper town in 1961. Her work continued until her death in 1997. She said, “There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them. Put your love for them in living action. For in loving them, you are loving God Himself.”

In 1934 the Wycliffe Bible was translated into many languages. This was invaluable to the League’s work in foreign countries, as they were now able to put the gospel into the hands of the people.

Beginning in 1933, Nazism led to millions of deaths. Christians fled Germany with the exception of a group led by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. As a Lutheran pastor and leader of underground Church in Germany, Bonhoeffer’s team was responsible for saving thousands of lives. He was captured and killed in 1945 for plotting to kill Hitler.

In 1949 Billy Graham made national headlines with his Billy Graham Crusade in Los Angeles. Many people were converted to Christianity and God worked wonders through Graham. He became an example for other evangelists to learn from. He started training conferences for other evangelists.

In 1952, The League became “The Mission League, International” and was officially formed as a public organization to minister to special situations across the world. Rev. Wilbur Stafford, E. C. Taylor, Dr. George Webber, Rev. Ken Kimura and Joseph Galloway were the founding members as they were already designated as leaders of The League in each of their regions. Rev. Wilbur Stafford of Kansas City, Missouri, was head of North America League regulation, E. C. Taylor, missionary to Peru, was head of the Central/South America League regulation, Dr. George Webber, missionary to Zaire, was head of Africa League regulation, Rev. Ken Kimura of Nagasaki, Japan, was head of Asia League regulation, and Joseph Galloway of London, England was head of Europe League regulation. These five men were responsible for the formation of The Mission League as it is today.

In 1957, God called in a new area. The Mission League came into the High School Level and the Juvenile Agent Development Program (JADP) was founded. The Mission League came into schools as an organization sending kids on summer mission trips. Officially, The Mission League now divided into three levels: Level One- Juvenile Agent Development, Level Two- College Agent Development, and Level Three- Career Agents. The Mission League was quickly becoming a vast and well-connected organization in all areas of the world.

In 1964, Martin Luther King fought in the Civil Rights Movement. He became one of the most highly respected members in League history. He stood up for the truth no matter what the consequences. He presented the message that everyone deserved freedom and equality no matter of race or economic standing. He was highly gifted in Evangelism and Prophecy. He was arrested thirty times participating in civil rights activities. He was killed in 1968 in a conspiracy against him.

In the 1970’s Keith Green searched for God until he found him. He was highly gifted in Creative Ability and Prophesy. He was responsible for starting many revivals and bringing the Gospel into college campuses by his singing and plating his piano. He strove daily to be like Jesus. God used him to bring the Gospel to the lost including homeless and those in prisons.