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.

And now it's grown to this …

Today WEC International works in more than 70 countries.

 Our primary objectives are:

• to bring the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the remaining unevangelised peoples with utmost urgency

• to demonstrate the compassion of Christ to a needy world

• to plant churches and lead them to spiritual maturity

• to inspire, mobilise and train for cross-cultural mission.

WEC is a multi-ethnic, multi-national and inter-denominational family. We are bound together by shared convictions, a desire to live a godly lifestyle and an unwavering commitment to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Our oneness in Him makes it possible for us to work together as brothers and sisters. It compels us to accept each other irrespective of gender, ethnicity, nationality or church affiliation. It constrains us to care for the wellness of our entire missionary family, and calls for international co-operation with local and national churches, and with other Christian agencies.

WEC International certainly lives up to its name! We are a fellowship of God's people drawn from many national, ethnic and denominational backgrounds. Workers from about 48 nationalities are currently working in over 65 countries around the world, and involved in many different tasks. There are now about 1,750 people actively serving with WEC around the world, and about a quarter of them are from non-Western countries.

We have 18 centres scattered throughout the world which encourage, screen, send, and help support workers. Naturally, we also need workers in these centres, as well as in ministries such as media which are located in sending countries.

In the last 90 years WEC has planted hundreds of churches in Africa and South America, Asia and Europe. For example the number of churches begun by WEC workers in Congo alone number more than 1,400, whilst in Colombia, South America, over 60,000 people attend more than 250 churches started by WEC.

Download a full A4 PDF of 'Where is WEC in the World?'