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In 1917 Anton and Viola Andersen boarded the ship The City of Calcutta to plant their lives in Africa for the sake of the Gospel. Through more than forty years of ministry, thousands came to Christ. In 1955 the Andersen's son Fred, a student at Tennessee Temple, impressed upon Dr. Lee Roberson the need for helpers in the Belgian Congo. In response Dr. Roberson, along with nine other pastors, organized the Southern wing of the Congo Gospel Mission. When the Congo closed in 1960 because of revolution, Dr. Roberson made the motion that the Mission be enlarged to embrace the world. That led to the formation of Baptist International Missions on June 28, 1960. Since 1960 BIMI has extended its ministries into 100 fields around the world. With one thousand missionaries the Mission continues to assist local churches with their efforts to fulfill the Great Commission.

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