Why We Exist

In the late 1930s, as WWII loomed, Japan invaded China. At this time, many Western missionaries in China found themselves forced out due to the war. One of the last missionaries to leave China, Duncan McRoberts, had a deep burden to see the Gospel reach the lost. McRoberts spoke to a gathering of businessmen in the Seattle area led by N.A. Jepson who had a special burden for China. The businessmen formed a partnership model that allowed Western Christians to fuel the vision of indigenous leaders in China. The China Native Evangelistic Crusade (CNEC) was formed in 1943 with Calvin Chao as their first leader. Partnerships quickly multiplied and by 1949 there were 150 local leaders in China supported through this model. 

In 1960, Allen Finley became the first president of CNEC, and partnerships expanded throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Allen focused on coming alongside local leaders to truly fuel their vision for their community —our partnership model that still exists today. In the mid-1980s, CNEC officially became Partners International, and in 1999 God gave a new vision to reach those in the world who do not have access to the Gospel. At this time, the least reached became our sole focus.