Our One Story
Our story began in 1901, when two telegraph operators, Charles Cowman and Ernest Kilbourne, moved from Chicago to Japan to work alongside Japanese evangelist Juji Nakada. Together, their vision was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with every person in Japan. They formed The Oriental Missionary Society, now called One Mission Society. More than 120 years later, the one mission continues in 78 countries, in more than 50 languages, and with about 300 full-time missionaries.
OMS was founded on the principle that the most effective way to spread the Gospel is by training a nation’s sons and daughters to multiply believers and churches to reach their own people for Christ and then partner with them to reach the rest of the world. Our current ministry strategy follows the innovative vision of our founders, and includes multiplying disciples, churches, leaders, and missionaries.
Our One Calling
“We believe the power of the Gospel,
in the hands of disciple-makers,
will transform all nations.”
- OMS Purpose Statement
One Mission Society was founded on the principle that the most effective way to share the Gospel is to train a nation’s sons and daughters to lead and multiply believers and churches in their own culture and their own nation. Our strategy has stood the test of time for nearly 120 years and includes multiplying disciple-makers, churches, missionary movements, and theologically trained leaders to build up a healthy body of believers in each nation and to promote sustainability across generations.
Our compassion ministries, working together with local churches, meet tangible needs by serving as the hands and feet of Jesus. We strive to keep the message of the Gospel of Christ at the center of our efforts while encouraging the nation's people to be engaged in the process.
OMS focuses on engaging the one to reach the many by multiplying disciples, churches, leaders, and missionaries. We currently send missionaries from five signatory countries, with the goal of sending workers from anywhere to everywhere throughout Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe/Middle East, and Latin America/Caribbean regions.
OMS founded and continues to lead the Billion.Global network uniting more than 170+ partners to give a billion people at least one opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel.
OMS typically engages nearly 600 participants annually in short-term mission trips. Through our One Mission Kids ministry, OMS offers training to grow missional hearts in children and equip children’s ministry directors and teachers, homeschool teachers, and parents in mission training.
ENGAGING THE ONE TO REACH THE MANY.