When a young minister, David Abeel, first traveled to Asia in 1831, he hoped to spend many years serving churches and communities. But when his health declined, he made his way back West, inviting Christians to get engaged in God’s global work. He made a special plea to women – explaining that they were uniquely positioned to make Christ known by serving holistically. The seeds were planted, and two women, one in London and the other in New York, eventually responded to Abeel’s call. On June 9, 1833, Abeel wrote in his diary,

“I have done very little in the way of direct labor. I thankfully believe, more, indirectly. I hope others will be stirred up to attempt what my health forbad, and what may much more redound to the glory of God than the labors of a single individual.”

In London, Lady Mary Jane Kinnaird swung into action. She’d learned from David Abeel about zenanas, or special women’s quarters, in India. Because men, the only ones trained to teach and practice medicine, were not allowed to enter zenanas, women often lacked access to education and medical care. So, Kinnaird established the Calcutta Normal School. The mission of the school was simple: to train women to serve and meet both physical and spiritual needs. This interdenominational ministry became known as the Zenana Mission and later expanded to become Interserve. In 1851, Kinnaird said,

“If we can give the women of India the power to read and the book to read, God will bless His Word.”

In America, Sarah Doremus also responded to Abeel’s call. She was convinced that single women played a key role in making Christ known – a radical notion at the time. Swimming against the current of her day, she founded the Woman’s Union Missionary Society (WUMS). It was the first sending organization run by American women – and the first to prioritize sending single women to work overseas. Written on Sarah Doremus’ tombstone is Ecclesiastes 9:10 – a verse that Interserve workers continue to live out today.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

The Zenana Mission expanded its focus on medical education, established its first hospital, and gained the attention of an Indian prince. In 1881, the maharaja of Punnah invited Elizabeth Bielby, a physician working with the mission, to come treat his sick wife. After she recovered, the maharaja asked Bielby to petition Queen Victoria on his behalf – and urge her to improve health care for women in India. Moved, the queen agreed. She established the Countess of Dufferin Fund, which played a key role in helping the mission build new hospitals and train more females to practice medicine. To better reflect its focus, the organization officially changed its name to the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission (ZBMM).

As ZBMM and the WUMS worked in tandem, both continued to grow and serve in new places. In the 1870s, not long after sending its first workers to India and Burma, the WUMS sent women to Japan to establish a school for girls. Then, in the 1880s, the WUMS began educational and medical work in China. ZBMM also launched efforts in new regions, and by the 1960s, it had opened auxiliaries in new countries to become a truly global organization.

After more than a century of service, ZBMM made a landmark decision to begin admitting and sending men. Sending both women and men into the harvest allowed the mission to explore new opportunities, increase its capacity to collaborate with local organizations, and begin work in new places – including the Middle East.

Seeing the potential to make a deeper and wider impact as one organization, ZBMM and WUMS decided to merge. Together, as the Bible and Medical Missionary Fellowship, they carried on the legacy begun by David Abeel in 1833 – making Christ known in the hardest places through service.

Eager to reflect its global status and its emphasis on humble, practical service through a variety of professions, our global fellowship adopted the new name International Service Fellowship, more commonly known as Interserve, in 1987.

Near the turn of the millennium, Interserve’s work spread into Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and North Africa, and the fellowship resumed work in East Asia.

In our 170+ years of work around the globe, God has worked through us to transform communities, bless nations, and make Christ known through humble, practical service. Still, there’s more work to be done. Physical and spiritual needs remain great, and 3.4 billion people around the world still lack proximity to Christ’s people. That’s why we continue to recruit, train, and send Christians to serve in places where few, if any, have encountered Christ.