CrossWorld History

CrossWorld’s history begins in the Congo with C.T. Studd. He was an Englishman who had given away his fortune, turned his back on fame, and became a part of seven men from Cambridge who went to China as missionaries. Now in Africa at the end of his life, Studd dismissed his Home Council due to his personal illness. This led to the resignation of some missionaries. Feeling responsible to them, the Home Council formed a new mission in 1931 taking on the name Unevangelized Fields Mission.

In the early 1930’s John Dale founded the Mexican Indian Mission, working among the Aztecs. MIM focused primarily on the rural indigenous people living throughout Mexico. Because of a need for a stronger home support base, the Mexican Indian Mission merged with Unevangelized Fields Mission in 1971. UFM continued working among the indigenous peoples, particularly the Totonac, Aztec, and Zapotec. They eventually expanded their work to include the upper class and the growing middle class.

UFM historian Homer Dowdy tells us that through the years, “Much of the work centered on the Indians, but the Spanish-speaking Mexican was also included. Evangelism and church planting, Bible teaching, children’s work, literature and literacy training, health and agronomy constituted the assignments of twenty missionaries and scores of national workers in 1994…UFM also went to Mexico City and other burgeoning urban centers, specifically to minister to the transplanted Totonac and Aztec and members or descendants of other ancient tribes.”

Two individuals who have been instrumental in this work are Larry and Doris Puckett. They joined the mission in 1953 and forged the work among the Totonac Indians in Mecatlan, a rural village in southern Mexico. Theirs is a story of pioneering a work in extremely difficult conditions including poverty, superstition, idolatry, and witchcraft. Today Mecatlan is 50% born again Christians, with churches in many surrounding villages. Their work was taken over by a couple we know personally Ken and Sandy Bowyer.

UFM changed its name to CrossWorld in 2005. The purpose was to better convey the work of the Mission. Every day, missionaries take up their cross and follow God's call to the nations. Every day, missionaries cross the world to speak Good News. Every day, lives around the world are changed by the message of the cross of Christ.