History

The Origin of the City Mission Movement

David Nasmith was born in Glasgow, Scotland in March 1799 to a wealthy family. Nasmith knew little about the poverty, abuse, and inequality that existed in Glasgow until he was a young man apprenticing in the manufacturing industry and was forced to come face to face with this harsh reality. Nasmith found his calling among the poor and had a vision for an interdenominational organization which would unite churches and other Christian agencies to combat spiritual and physical poverty in the city. In January 1826 Nasmith founded the Glasgow City Mission, and then began travelling all over Britain, Canada, and the US establishing missions wherever he went. He called the Church to “go to the poor” and to have a highly visible presence in poor communities meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of the poor.

KCM’s History within the City Mission Movement

In 1999 Shaji O. Amos attended a conference in Glasgow, Scotland where he learned of the City Mission Movement and its commitment to reach the urban poor by responding to both their physical and spiritual needs. His Glasgow experience remained with Amos until 2007 when he felt called to move to the city of Kolkata to serve India’s urban poor. In March of 2007, with support from the Compassion Service Society of India (KCM’s sister movement), Amos moved his family to Kolkata and began forming relationships with the poor in various slum communities. The following month Amos was joined by Edwin Orton (of the Birmingham City Mission) for a time of prayer and planning before attempting to launch the Kolkata City Mission. In 2008 KCM was officially recognized as a charity by the Government of West Bengal, and in February of 2009 Orton joined Amos and the KCM team for a dedication ceremony of KCM’s ministry.