The England cricketer had already worked as a missionary in China and India. Charles Thomas Studd had gone out to China as part of the 'Cambridge Seven'. These seven Cambridge university graduates had hit the headlines of Edwardian England as society men, who turned their backs on a privileged life, to go and preach Christ in inland China.

After 21 years abroad, CT was described as ‘a museum of diseases’. Yet one night he saw a meeting advertised with the words ‘Cannibals want missionaries’. Intrigued, he went in, and was challenged by the need of people in the heart of Africa who had never had the opportunity to hear about the Lord Jesus. As a result CT Studd sailed for Africa, heading for its very heart, now part of north-east Congo. On the journey God spoke to him:

‘This journey is not for the heart of Africa only,
but for the whole unevangelised world.’

As a result, what began as only the Heart of Africa Mission became, in time, a worldwide fellowship of workers under the umbrella of WEC International, which numbers just under 2,000 people from all parts of the globe today.

The mission was headed by Studd and his wife Priscilla, who worked tirelessly at the home end while her husband lived in the forests of central Africa.

After CT’s death in 1931, leadership was taken over by Norman Grubb. CT had exemplified the character that gave WEC the guiding principles of sacrifice, faith and holiness. Norman Grubb added fellowship to these, and moulded WEC’s organization and development over the following years.

For more on CT and Priscilla Studd read the biography No Sacrifice Too Great by Eileen Vincent. For more on Norman Grubb read the book Faith on Fire by Stewart Dinnen. Both books can be ordered online .

And now it's grown to this …

Today WEC works in more than 70 countries