Our History

The Lott Carey movement was founded in 1897 by African-American Baptists who were committed to a substantial international missions thrust – especially on the African continent. They believed that nothing should distract the church from executing its primary objective of advancing God’s mission throughout the world. Since our founding as the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society, we have single-mindedly engaged in Christian missions around the world.

We bear the name of the Rev. Lott Carey, whose fascinating story has served as inspiration for generations. Born enslaved in 1780 in Charles City County, Virginia, Lott Carey became a disciple of Jesus in 1807, purchased his freedom in 1813, and led the first Baptist missionaries to Africa from the United States in 1821. His pioneering missionary team settled in Liberia, where he engaged in evangelism, education, and health care. Rev. Carey served as a well-respected and gifted missional and civic leader until his death in 1828. He was also the organizing pastor for the first Baptist church in Liberia – the Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia. His life of commitment, leadership, vision, and perseverance continue to guide us.

In the 19th and early 20th Centuries, we were a black Baptist organization that engaged in missions on the African continent. In the 21st Century, we are a multicultural, ecumenical, global Christian missional community born of African-American Baptist heritage, that provides prayer partnership, financial support, and technical assistance to indigenous communities around the world who engage in ministries of evangelism, compassion, empowerment, and advocacy. We work with people from various ethnic identities, diverse Christian traditions, and different faith communities around share values and interests to help to build a better world. Together, we are touching lives with transforming love.

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Our Mission

The Lott Carey Global Christian Missional Community extends the Christian witness around the world. Through prayer partnership, financial support, and technical assistance, we come alongside indigenous communities to support ministries of evangelism, compassion, empowerment, and advocacy. Together, we are touching lives with transforming love.

2017-2023 Strategic Priorities

• Strengthen global partnership impact
  • Recruit churches and provide technical assistance for project implementation
  • Support multi-year program planning with partners
  • Assist partners in grant proposal development and submissions
• Heighten brand awareness
  • Increase quality and quantity of marketing
  • Engage social media effectively for general awareness, engagement and support
  • Grow network, church and individual partnerships in the South and Southeast
• Expand depth and breadth of church participation
  • Increase prevention, response and recovery disaster services
  • Implement annual short-term missions assignments for units
  • Support congregational short-term missions deployments
• Strengthen youth engagement (Children and Youth)
  • Develop and distribute a toolkit to implement regional Hope Missionary Days
  • Enlarge Annual Youth Seminar participation
  • Create project opportunities that connect and equip youth for leadership and service
• Widen young adult involvement (Millennials and Generation X)
  • Develop Emerging Leaders Gathering for 18 – 24 with a focus on college campuses
  • Design regional service impact weekends in North America for Millennials and Generation X
  • Engage younger pastors for greater involvement and leadership
• Provide missions education and leadership training (congregational, pastoral and seminary)
  • Implement an additional doctor of ministry in global leadership partnership with an accredited graduate theological school
  • Implement a master’s degree partnership accessible to global and domestic students
  • Implement digital visual and audio capacity for missions education and leadership formation
• Fortify organizational strength
  • Enlarge network of congregational and individual donors
  • Increase giving amounts from existing donors
  • Expand administrative capacity to manage resources and partnerships