United German Missionary Aid

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United German Mission Aid V.
legal form Registered association
founding 1961
founder Willi Bohlmann, Ernst and Robert Bühler
Seat Bassum , Germany
motto By missionaries for missionaries
main emphasis Promotion of worldwide evangelism and church building, theological training, social missionary work
people Christian Schöps (Head of Mission), Markus U. Köhler (Managing Director)
Employees 18th
Website www.vdm.org

The United German Missionary Aid (VDM), based in Bassum, is one of the largest evangelical missionary societies in Germany . The VDM is a member of the Working Group Evangelical Missions (AEM) and works on a supra-congregational basis based on the faith of the German Evangelical Alliance .

Goals and work areas

The VDM promotes evangelism and church building, theological training, social missionary work and services that support missionary work worldwide . It does not have its own areas of activity, but works together with foreign and local mission societies and local churches. The missionaries are always involved in the structure of the mission partner on site. The VDM sees itself as a “partner for missions” in that it takes on supporting services such as administrative and communication tasks, advice and support for the sending congregations and the sent missionaries.

history

The association was founded in 1961 by the missionaries Willi Bohlmann and Ernst and Robert Bühler in Gerlingen near Stuttgart. Initially, Willi Bohlmann managed VDM's business from South Africa. From 1985 to 2001 Karl Klapprodt acted as head of mission. When the offices in Gerlingen became too narrow for the growing missionary society and no suitable replacement could be found in the Stuttgart area due to the high prices, their headquarters were relocated to Bassum near Bremen in 1990 . At that time there had been close contact with the evangelical St. Matthew's community in Bremen for a long time.

Initially, the mission society cared for five missionaries. When Heinrich Finger took over the management in 2001, 158 missionaries were promoted. In 2020 there were 350 missionaries in over 50 countries. In addition, VDM employs 18 people at its headquarters in Bassum. In 2020 Christian Schöps was appointed head of mission.

Periodicals

  • VDM-Report , quarterly magazine, since 1992 (1973–1991 under the name Vor dir ... an open door )

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Our new self-image. In: VDM Report 4/2011, p. 6
  2. ↑ Partner of the mission: About us> Self-understanding: at www.vdm.org
  3. ↑ Looking back over 50 years. In: VDM Report 4/2011, p. 5
  4. ↑ Christian Schöps is the new head of the United German Missionary Aid, idea.de, notification from April 23, 2020.

Coordinates: 52 ° 51 '2.4 "  N , 8 ° 43' 36.1"  E