In 1855, the new Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society began mission work in Sierra Leone - our first international ministry. The work there grew to include over 60 churches, dozens of primary schools, five high schools, and a hospital.
We launched a school in Canton, China. After World War II, the work relocated to Hong Kong, where United Brethren churches formed. From this base, the ministry eventually spread to other parts of Asia.
Opportunities arose to begin mission work in the Western hemisphere, specifically, Jamaica and Honduras. Thriving conferences started in both places.
UB overseas conferences began starting churches in new countries. Honduras's efforts eventually led to work in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Hong Kong started work in Macau, Thailand, and Myanmar. Sierra Leone guided churches in Liberia and Germany.
UB Global recruited Denis Casco, of Honduras Conference, to start Hispanic churches in the U.S. UB immigrants from Hong Kong and Jamaica started churches in NYC. Sierra Leoneans spearheaded churches that consisted mostly of immigrants from Africa.
Churches in seven countries were established as self-governing national conferences. No longer were they under the direction of a board in the U.S. The Canadian and American churches formed what became UB Global to cooperate in advancing missions.
We launched work in Chiang Rai, Thailand, among the ethnic Thai population, which is less than 0.4% Christian. The Lord brought together a truly international team consisting of people from Honduras, Hong Kong, Thailand, United States, and a closed country.
