Historical Timeline

GOD WEAVES A VISION INTO THE LIVES OF JACK AND ROSE MARIE MILLER

Founders Dr. Jack and Rose Marie Miller begin teaching evangelism classes and sharing the gospel with people in and around Jenkintown, PA. They also start meeting in their home with troubled people who were struggling to connect in a traditional church setting. This fellowship eventually becomes New Life Presbyterian Church.

Jack and Rose Marie Miller
PLANTING SEEDS

Small teams from New Life Church are sent to Ireland and Africa. The seeds planted during this trip will eventually give life to permanent work in these countries.

DR. MILLER DEVELOPS THE SONSHIP COURSE

Early on, when it became apparent that the rigors of cross-cultural life and work could easily undermine one’s spiritual life, Dr. Miller develops a leadership training program to help prepare missionaries with a deep understanding of the gospel before they go overseas. Much to our surprise, this “commando training program” and its deeply applied gospel message find a much wider constituency, and the Sonship curriculum is born.

WORLD HARVEST MISSION (now called Serge) IS OFFICIALLY FORMED,

as a response to God’s growing work in Uganda through New Life Presbyterian and other partner churches. WHM establishes its first official team in Uganda.

A SEASON OF GROWTH AND CHANGE

The impact of the Sonship course leads WHM to launch a US-based Renewal team called Gospel Resource Network (GRN) to disciple ministry leaders, families, and individuals. These renewal materials have since been translated into 6 languages and taught in over 40 nations. WHM teams are sent to Kenya and the United Kingdom for the first time.

WORLD HARVEST MISSION SURVIVES THE NEW ERA CRISIS

…a widespread Ponzi scheme that caused the demise of several Philadelphia area ministries. WHM expands work into Germany.*

DR. JACK MILLER GOES HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD

Steve Smallman is appointed Executive Director and leads the organization through a season of growth and change as the identity of WHM moves from being largely focused around Dr. Jack Miller to the core values at the heart of the organization.

WHM begins work in Spain, Chile, South Asia, Italy* and Russia*.

WHM LAUNCHES THE MISSIONARY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

With the desire of empowering the next generation of missionaries, WHM launches MAP, a Missionary Apprentice Program. This program enables young people to explore their calling by serving on an existing ministry team for 18-24 months, while experiencing deep personal mentoring through Sonship, a robust team life and focused ministry training.

NEW LEADERS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

Clyde Goodwin is appointed Executive Director. WHM expands work in Romania and Czech Republic.

BOB OSBORNE IS APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

bringing over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and a vision for empowering our seasoned leadership. He also focuses on clarifying the organization’s vision, mission, and strategies and growing the financial base. WHM begins to serve in Austria.

WHM LEADERS HOLD A VISION SUMMIT IN EAST AFRICA

Key mission leaders meet in East Africa to establish a mission and vision statement for the future of ministry in Africa. WHM teams are sent to South Sudan*.

WORLD HARVEST MISSION IS RENAMED SERGE

While the name World Harvest served us well over the years, it didn’t adequately represent the fullness of our work, or our renewal work, in addition to global missions.

We often had to clear up misconceptions (explaining that we don’t only do agricultural programs, for example). And it tended to have a lot of negative connotations with non-believers and younger Christians.

Because “Serge” is a bit more abstract, it’s a conversation starter and more inviting to those we most want to serve.

SERGE EXPERIENCES RAPID GROWTH

The year 2014 began with 217 missionaries serving in 16 countries, representing approximately 40% growth since just 1999. By 2018, over 300 missionaries served with Serge in over 26 countries. During this time, we send new teams to Nicaragua*, Japan, Guatemala, Peru, and Thailand.

SERGE LAUNCHES GOSPEL-BASED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS

…to develop the next generation of grace-motivated leaders within Serge, by enabling new leaders and team members to apply Sonship principles to leadership, with practical applications in a cross-cultural ministry context.

SERGE’S APPRENTICE PROGRAM EXPANDS TO 7 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES,

…to empower people from a broad range of backgrounds to follow God’s call in their lives. A high percentage of apprentices continue to serve sacrificially both in long-term missionary service and, grounded in the gospel with a vision for God’s mission, they continue to bless the wider US church and their home communities.

Serge teams begin work in Malawi, Dominican Republic, and Rwanda.

*Indicates that Serge is not actively serving in these countries at this time.