Our story

It all began in 1937, deep in the Amazon

For almost ninety years God has provided for the needs of His servants. This is the story of how ordinary people took the Gospel from Northern Ireland to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, and from there to Portugal and the Canary Islands.

1937 · The pioneers

Challenged by a great spiritual need

Acre Gospel Mission is an evangelical faith mission that was founded in 1937, when William and Margaret McComb and Mollie Harvey, challenged by the great spiritual needs of the people, went to the remote region of the Acre in north-west Brazil.

It was not their intention to form another mission agency, but with the outbreak of World War II it was impossible to transfer funds to individuals in Brazil. Supporting friends at home made the decision to register them as “Acre Gospel Mission” to facilitate their financial support.

1946 · Mollie Harvey

Back to the Acre, alone

After the McCombs arrived home from Brazil in 1946, their health did not allow them to return to the Acre. Mollie Harvey faced the challenge to go back to the Acre alone.

Soon other missionaries followed her, until there were twenty-five missionaries of Acre Gospel Mission serving God all over the states of Amazonas and Acre. They were engaged in pioneer evangelism, church planting, leadership training, medical assistance, and educational and school programmes. The work was demanding and great sacrifices were made. However, God richly blessed that work.

Timeline

From the Acre to three nations

1937William and Margaret McComb and Mollie Harvey reach the Acre region of north-west Brazil.
1946The McCombs return home. Mollie Harvey goes back to the Acre alone, and soon twenty-five Acre missionaries are serving across Amazonas and Acre.
North-east BrazilBesides establishing many churches in Amazonas and Acre, the missionaries open a work in distant north-east Brazil.
1984Church planting begins in the Alentejo region of Portugal, later expanding to camps and outreach in the Algarve.
30+ yearsA Gospel witness in the Canary Islands, today with missionaries in Lanzarote.
TodayThe churches in Brazil are fully in the hands and under the leadership of Brazilians, many of whom are supported by Acre.

Today

The fruit of faithful work

The evidence of God’s blessing on the ministries established by foreign missionaries is that they are now fully in the hands and under the leadership of Brazilians, many of whom are supported by Acre Gospel Mission.

For almost ninety years God has provided for the needs of His servants, and we are grateful for His faithfulness. We are also grateful for the friends who stand by the mission’s work through prayer and financial support.

The Apostle Paul rested on the promises of God, was confident of the power of the Gospel, and was grateful for the support of God’s people. That is where we stand today.

From “A History of Acre Gospel Mission”, by Victor Maxwell.

Read the full story

When God Steps In

The amazing story of Acre Gospel Mission: how God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things, from the devotion of the early pioneers to the faithful men and women who trusted the Lord in the most adverse situations.

From the archives