Echoes of Service is a missionary support agency founded in 1872 based in
Bath
Bath may refer to:
* Bathing, immersion in a fluid
** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body
** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe
* Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities
Plac ...
,
England. Their main purpose is to serve missionaries around the world, and those commended from Christian
Brethren assemblies/
churches in particular, amongst whom missionary activity is common.
History
The society began as a periodical named ''
The Missionary Echo'', taking inspiration from an earlier publication, ''
The Missionary Reporter'' edited by
James Von Summer
James is a common English language surname and given name:
*James (name), the typically masculine first name James
* James (surname), various people with the last name James
James or James City may also refer to:
People
* King James (disambiguat ...
of
Tottenham.
''The Missionary Echo'' was first published in 1872 by Henry Groves and J.L. McLean and became ''Echoes of Service'' in 1885.
The
Continental Lands Company
Continental may refer to:
Places
* Continent, the major landmasses of Earth
* Continental, Arizona, a small community in Pima County, Arizona, US
* Continental, Ohio, a small town in Putnam County, US
Arts and entertainment
* ''Continental'' (al ...
and the
Stewards Company
Steward may refer to:
Positions or roles
* Steward (office), a representative of a monarch
* Steward (Methodism), a leader in a congregation and/or district
* Steward, a person responsible for supplies of food to a college, club, or other inst ...
were set up as private businesses in 1895 and 1898 to enable the organisation to hold property and assets for missionaries who were not able to do so where they were serving.
Role
The society exists to support missionaries serving outside the
United Kingdom, who follow the principle of "
living by faith", pioneered by missionaries such as
Anthony Norris Groves and
James Hudson Taylor
James Hudson Taylor (; 21 May 1832 – 3 June 1905) was a British Baptist Christian missionary to China and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM, now OMF International). Taylor spent 51 years in China. The society that he began was respons ...
. When the magazine assumed the new name of 'Echoes of Service', the editors included the following explanation:
"''For the information of those who have not seen this periodical in its small form as the Missionary Echo, we would say that its special object is to give tidings regarding the work of servants of Christ who have gone forth to other lands with the gospel in the Lord's name only and in dependence on Him for the supply of their daily need.''"
Echoes provides information for local churches and individuals through the Echoes missionary magazine, published monthly, and the Echoes Daily Prayer Guide, a directory of UK overseas workers, produced annually. Telephone Echoes (recorded twice-weekly) and weekly prayer update, by fax or email, with up-to-date news and prayer requests are also offered, as well as books and fact files about many aspects of cross-cultural missionary service. They also act as a fee-free channel for funds donated to missionaries and their work, and provide information, advice and practical support for missionaries and local churches.
Echoes day is held each year in a different location around the UK.
Echoes of Service — Forthcoming Events
References
{{reflist
Christian missionary societies
Organisations based in Bath, Somerset
Christianity in Bath, Somerset
Religious organizations established in 1872
1872 establishments in England