The Berlin Mission Society began in 1824 and was primarily comprised of artisans and landed gentry. The purpose of the BMS was to “supporting protestant missions among ‘the heathens’ in overseas territories.”[1] The BMS started sending missionaries to South Africa in 1833. South Africa would remain its primary focus, but the BMS would also establish missions in East Africa and China.[2]
At the height of the BMS, “it had established 49 stations in southern Africa.”[3] However, “in spite of [the] apparently favorable circumstances and the immense efforts on the parts of the missionaries, [the Berlin Mission Society’s] success at converting the indigenes to Christianity was, to put it mildly, extremely modest,” due to the social power of the native chiefs, the villainization of native culture, and other competing mission societies.[4]
The BMS suffered due to Germany’s losses in World War I and World War II. When Germany was split after WWII, the BMS lost its offices in Eastern Berlin and was “cut off from its mission,” making it impossible for German missionaries to serve internationally.[5] The BMS established a missionary branch in Western Berlin in 1961 and continued serving in South Africa for the next 28 years. The BMS was restored to its original office in Eastern Berlin in 1991 and today serves an integral role in the Evangelical community.[6]
[1] Pakendorf, Gunther. ”From Berlin to Bethel: Albert Kropf and the Berlin Mission in Eastern Cape”, Missionalia 21:3, November 1993, page 229.
[3] Pakendorf, ”From Berlin to Bethel”, pg. 230.
[4] Pakendorf, ”From Berlin to Bethel”, pg. 232-233.
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