Who is CMA  Vision and Mission  CMA History  Our Symbol  Doctrine  Reflections  GAC Early Years

The Christian and Missionary Alliance began in 1887 by Dr. Albert Benjamin Simpson. The C&MA family includes over two million people in 57 countries.

We have a history rich in ministry. The cornerstone of our National Office building in Colorado Springs is a visual reminder of our roots. It was first laid at the Gospel Tabernacle in New York City in 1889.
Worldwide we are linked to other believers who share a passion to reach those without Christ through The Alliance World Fellowship.

The message is Fourfold: Christ our Savior, Christ our Sanctifier, Christ our Healer, and Christ our Coming King.

Chronological Highlights of C&MA History

1843   Dr. Albert Benjamin Simpson born to James and Jane Clark Simpson at Bayview, Prince Edward Island.

1847   The James Simpson family moves to Chatham, Ontario.

1858   Albert Simpson believes in Jesus as his Savior and is convinced he must preach the gospel.

1861–1865   A. B. Simpson begins and completes college and theological studies at Knox College in Toronto.

1865–1873   Dr. Simpson pastors Knox Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Ontario. During his tenure 750 people became members of the church.

1874–1879   Dr. Simpson pastors Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church, Louisville, Kentucky.

1874   Dr. Simpson gives control of his life completely to God.

1875   The Whittle/Bliss citywide evangelistic campaign in Louisville radically alters Simpson’s view of the Christian ministry. Evangelism is now his priority.

1875–1876   Dr. Simpson continues Sunday evening services in public halls.

1880-1881   Dr. Simpson pastors the 13th Street Presbyterian Church, New York City.

1880   The monthly missions periodical, The Gospel in All Lands, is inaugurated.

1881   In August Dr. Simpson is miraculously healed of a heart disorder during a vacation at Old Orchard Beach, Maine. A few months later he is baptized by immersion in a Baptist chapel in New York City. Then in November he resigns his pastorate to begin independent evangelistic ministries in NYC.

1882   Dr. Simpson conducts evangelistic meetings in several public halls. The first issue of The Word, Work and World, forerunner of Alliance Life, appears. The Gospel Tabernacle Church in NYC is organized and grows to 1,000 members within a few years. Dr. Simpson starts Friday afternoon meetings for consecration and healing.

1883   Dr. Simpson organized The Missionary Union for the Evangelization of the World. The Midnight Mission on 27th Street is opened by women from the Tabernacle. It is the first of several rescue missions. The first Healing Home is opened at the Simpson's residence. It is the forerunner of the Berachah Homes. The first classes of the Missionary Training College are held at 446 Eighth Avenue, NYC.

1884   Simpson conducts the first fall convention for deeper Christian living and evangelism. Visitors come from several states.

1885   Dr. Simpson speaks at the Bethshan Conference for Holiness and Healing in London, England, where he delivers the sermon “Himself.”

1886   The first Simpson convention at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, is conducted. The assembly calls for an alliance for the promotion of missionary work.

1887   The assembly of Old Orchard votes to form two societies, The Christian Alliance and The Evangelical Missionary Alliance. The Board of Directors of the Missionary Alliance appoints its first missionary candidates, the William Cassidys, to go to China, and Helen Dawley to India.

1888–1890   Thousands of Christians in the United States and Canada join The Christian Alliance. About 20 missionaries are sent overseas.

1890   A building for the Gospel Tabernacle at Eighth Avenue and 44th Street in New York City is dedicated. Dr. Simpson calls for a prayer to accomplish the purpose of The Missionary Alliance. Prayer pledge cards were distributed and returned to Alliance headquarters.

1891–1897   A period of rapid expansion of missionary activity.

1891   Support pledged by Alliance people for 100 missionaries. The goal is increased to send 200 missionaries. By 1897 about 350 had been sent overseas. More than 50 of these died or withdrew.

1897   The two Alliance organizations amalgamate to form The Christian and Missionary Alliance. The Missionary Training Institute and Berachah Home move to Nyack, New York.

1898–1911   A period of revival, stabilization, maturity, and growth both overseas and in North America. The missionary force remains between 250 and 280.

1900   Nineteen Alliance Swedish missionaries and 13 children are murdered in China during the Boxer Rebellion.

1906   The Pentecostal movement enters many Alliance branches and conventions.

1906–1911   A revival movement strengthens the Alliance, but some Alliance members and leaders go over to the Pentecostal movement.

1912   The C&MA adopts a new constitution at Boone, Iowa. New departments and offices are created. The property reversion clause is adopted. Dr. Simpson donates Christian Alliance Publishing Company to the C&MA Board of Managers.

1913–1917   A period of consolidation of the work under the new departments. Many independent congregations join the Alliance, but are not considered C&MA churches. The number of missionaries remains about the same.

1918   Dr. Simpson suffers a stroke. He donates the Alliance Press (the printing company) to the Board of Managers.

1919   The Board debates the nomination of Dr. Paul Rader to be the vice president nominee. Council elects Dr. Rader as vice president. Vice President Rader becomes the president of the C&MA upon the death of Dr. Simpson.

1920–1923   The Rader period is characterized by growth overseas, especially in the Near East and French Indo-China. Public awareness of the Alliance in North America increases via citywide evangelistic campaigns and the Rader-sponsored tabernacle movement. There is dissent within the Board of Managers over Dr. Rader’s activities and organizations outside the Alliance.

1924   Dr. Rader resigns. Vice President F. H. Senft assumes the presidency. Mrs. A. B. Simpson and her husband’s biographer, Rev. A. E. Thompson, die at Nyack, New York.

1925   Vice President H. M. Shuman is installed as president upon the death of Dr. Senft. Dr. Shuman served as president until 1954, a total of 29 years.

1926–1939   By a quiet transition the Alliance begins to change from a “movement” to a denomination.

1939–1945   World War II interrupts some missionary activity. Ten missionaries are killed or die as a result of internment. Overseas work grows some. The missionary force increases from 469 to 522. The number of churches and branches increases from 632 to 690 and baptized members from 57,294 to 58,016.

1949   All Alliance missionaries leave China due to the takeover of the government by Communists.

1954–1959   Dr. H. L. Turner succeeds Dr. Shuman as president in 1954. Similar growth of previous years continues. The number of missionaries increases to 824, overseas churches to 1,486, and baptized members to 131,843. In North America, branches and churches total 1,151 and membership 67,641. Missionary contributions in 1959 climb to $3,511,691.

1960   Dr. Nathan Bailey is elected to the presidency of the Alliance and serves until 1978.

1967   The Alliance Youth Corps is organized.

1973   The Alliance Key 73 program for aggressive evangelism is launched.

1974   A new constitution is ratified by Council, effectively making the Alliance a denomination.

1975   The Indochina fields of Laos, Cambodia, and Viet Nam are closed by a Communist takeover of the governments.

1977   The number of missionaries has increased to 890, overseas churches to 4,453, and baptized church members to 332,443. Inclusive membership now numbers 952,000. Missionary contributions reach $12,331,273. North American churches total 1,561; baptized members, 112,867; inclusive membership (including adherents) 192,336.

1978   Dr. Louis L. King becomes the seventh president of the Alliance. Council votes a goal of doubling Alliance membership by Council 1987.

1981   The Christian and Missionary Alliance of Canada becomes autonomous. Dr. Melvin Sylvester is elected president.

1985   By this date the number of missionaries has increased to 1,134; organized churches overseas number 10,649; 569,743 baptized members are associated with overseas churches; inclusive members in those churches total 1,836,277, a net gain of 883,834 persons since 1978. In the United States, churches number 1,646, with 227,846 inclusive members. Canadian Alliance churches total 287, with 56,768 inclusive members.

1987   The Christian and Missionary Alliance celebrates its centennial Council in St. Paul, Minnesota.