OMS was birthed in a storefront building in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. In 1901 American missionaries Charles and Lettie (the author of the best-selling devotional, ‘Streams in the Desert’) Cowman partnered with a Japanese minister, Juji Nakada, holding Christian evangelistic meetings for 2,000 consecutive nights. Before long, Japanese churches were organised, and the new association, the Japan Holiness Church (JHC), grew rapidly.

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Originally known as the Oriental Missionary Society, later OMS International, One Mission Society is today engaged in ministry in over 50 countries on six continents. Partnership remains key to the effectiveness of One Mission‘s endeavours to“make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19)

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Working with and alongside like-minded Christian groups, organisations and indigenous churches, One Mission seeks to communicate the love of God, establish Christian churches, and train and equip a nation’s people to lead and multiply their churches.

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The first UK missionary to serve with One Mission was Manchester-born Lizzie Pearce, who served in Japan between 1907 and 1918. Earnest Kilbourne, a co-founder of OMS with the Cowmans, visited England in 1908. Under his ministry, God called John and Emily Thomas from Carmarthen, South Wales, to serve with OMS in Korea. In 1911, Rev. John Thomas became the first principal of a new Bible Institute established in Moo-Gyo-Dong, Seoul, (now the Seoul Theological Seminary).

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The One Mission UK Headquarters were established in Manchester and moved to its location at 1 Sandileigh Avenue, Didsbury in 1964. Then in 2018, the Headquarters was relocated to its current venue in Belfast at 114a Holywood Road. From here the UK Office Team, ably supported by regional personnel , endeavour to recruit, train, send, and support people who are called by God to serve the mission fields of the world.