IM has grown and evolved over more than two centuries of ministry. It is the oldest international Baptist mission agency in North America. Its central mission is to work cross-culturally to invite people to become disciples of Jesus Christ and to proclaim, through both word and deed, God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation.

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In 1782, George Lisle was the first freed African American Baptist missionary to travel from North America to serve in cross cultural settings in Jamaica. In 1812, Adoniram & Ann Judson left the shores of Massachusetts to serve in India.

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The American Baptist Foreign Mission Society seal depicting an ox, a plow and altar which symbolizes the global servant's unconditional response to God's call.