The Mission Initiative program in Asia began in the early 1990s with work in Cambodia. Since then, Southeast Asia has become one of the fastest-growing regions of United Methodism ever witnessed. With efforts through the Mission Initiative program, Global Ministries has developed missions in the following five countries: Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, and Thailand. Since the inception of the Mission Initiatives program in Asia, more than 600 new churches have been developed in these five countries. Currently, 21 missionaries are serving in the Mission Initiatives throughout Asia.
The purpose of the Mission Initiatives program is to develop UM missions in regions where there is little to no Methodist Church presence. For this reason, we have been addressing the implementation of mission work in the above five countries, which include faith community development, program development, and financial support.