Grace Baptist Mission

What Grace Baptist Mission does

Grace Baptist Mission (GBM) is a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity No. 1157506) that has operated as a church-based mission agency for over 150 years, since its 1861 founding as the Strict Baptist Mission. Headquartered at a Mission Centre with radio studios in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, GBM helps UK Grace Baptist churches send, support, and care for approximately 60 cross-cultural missionaries serving in 12+ countries across four continents, including Austria, Colombia, France, India, Kenya, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal-Madeira, Serbia, and Uganda.

GBM's core products fall into three streams. First, the Envision short-term mission programme offers three tiers — Teams (structured group expeditions), Placements (3-week to 1-year tailored individual assignments), and Apprenticeships (1–2 year commitments for prospective long-term missionaries). Second, a Radio Ministry produces Bible-teaching programmes in English (Serving Today, launched September 2002 to serve pastors and church leaders; Sound Words, a basic teaching programme whose production ceased in 2012 but still airs on some stations) and French (Espérance Aujourd'hui, distributed via TWR Africa and over 100 local FM stations across francophone Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean, with additional shortwave coverage). Third, GBM publishes the Herald mission magazine (three issues yearly since 1899), the Let's Go! children's magazine (£3 annual subscription), the Partnership in Prayer daily prayer diary, and free downloadable Bible-study PDFs.

GBM operates as a non-profit funded almost entirely by donations: designated church gifts channelled to specific missionaries or projects, individual donations (with UK Gift Aid adding 25%), legacies, and interest-free loans from supporters during income shortfalls. Distribution combines direct church relationships, deputation preaching by staff and missionaries, regional mission days, an annual mission day (described as one of the largest UK world-mission gatherings), a biennial Family Camp, and a Week of Prayer. Day-to-day operations are run by a 6-person UK office (CEO, Mission Director, Head of Communications, Finance Manager, Finance Administrator, and Support Ministries PA), overseen by a Mission Council of up to 19 trustees drawn from member churches. A leadership transition is underway: Adrian Brixey was announced as incoming CEO in January 2026, succeeding long-serving Mission Director Daryl Jones.

Name

Grace Baptist Mission

Legal name

Grace Baptist Mission CIO

Website

https://gbm.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1861

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grace Baptist Mission (GBM) is a UK-registered church-based mission charity, founded 1861, that helps UK Grace Baptist churches send, support, and care for approximately 60 cross-cultural missionaries serving in 12+ countries, alongside a Bible-teaching radio ministry in English and French.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Mission Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAE

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYEDAIAGAI

Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

SECONDARYMPABALAC

Evangelical & Charismatic Broadcasting

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Religious/Faith-Based Broadcasting

SECONDARYBPAGAJAG

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Church-based mission agency
• Missionary support services
• Bible-teaching radio ministry
• Short-term mission programmes
• Christian publishing and resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Abingdon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Church Donations and Designated Giving: Missionaries supported through GBM gather most of their support from several local churches. Churches make 'designated' gifts channelled through the Mission office for specific missionaries or projects.
2. Individual Donations: Individual supporters can give to particular missionaries or to support the work of GBM through the General Fund.
3. Gift Aid: UK tax payers can increase value of gifts by 25% through Gift Aid scheme.
4. Legacies: Legacies form an important part of GBM's income, often arriving at moments of greatest need.
5. Interest Free Loans: Interest free loans from supporters used during times when giving is low and significant bills need to be paid.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Grace Baptist Mission is a church-based mission agency that supports around 60 cross-cultural missionaries worldwide through a network of UK Grace Baptist churches providing prayer and financial backing. It produces Bible-teaching radio programmes in English and French broadcast on Christian radio stations globally (including 100+ stations for the French programme), and runs the Envision short-term mission programme with three tiers (Teams, Placements, Apprenticeships) for individuals exploring cross-cultural mission service.

Product overview

Grace Baptist Mission operates as a church-based mission organization supporting missionaries worldwide. Its core products and services include the Envision short-term mission programme (offering Teams, Placements, and Apprenticeships), the GBM Radio Ministry producing Bible-teaching programmes in English (Serving Today, Sound Words) and French (Espérance Aujourd'hui), publications including the Herald magazine (3x yearly since 1899), the Let's Go! children's magazine, and Partnership in Prayer daily prayer diary. Additional resources include literature downloads, videos via Vimeo (including Prayer Waves and the SEND course), and books and DVDs. The Radio Ministry includes a Radio Search tool for accessing the back catalogue of programmes, audio clips, and transcripts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Envision: Short-term mission programme offering teams, placements, and apprenticeships for those wanting to experience cross-cultural mission.
• Serving Today
• Espérance Aujourd'hui
• Sound Words
• Herald
• Let's Go!
• Partnership in Prayer

Products and services

• Envision Programme GBM's short-term mission programme offering structured cross-cultural service opportunities for Christians aged 18+, with three tracks: Teams (group expeditions with leaders), Placements (individual 3-week to 1-year placements with missionaries), and Apprenticeships (1-2 year commitments for those considering long-term mission).
• GBM Radio Ministry Bible-teaching radio programmes produced in English and French for broadcast across Christian radio stations worldwide, including programme-specific booklets and correspondence resources for listeners; produced at the Abingdon Mission Centre studios.
• Serving Today English-language radio programme produced by the GBM Radio Team, aimed at helping pastors and church leaders study the Scriptures and prepare sermons, with contributors from experienced pastors and elders.
• Espérance Aujourd'hui French-language radio programme for the francophone world broadcast on over 100 local radio stations across francophone Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, with additional shortwave transmission to Central and West Africa and Madagascar.
• Sound Words Programme of basic Bible teaching in English in a conversational style anticipating listener questions, some programmes evangelistic; production ceased in 2012 but still airing on some radio stations.
• Literature Downloads Free downloadable PDF studies on biblical books including Numbers, John, Galatians, Hebrews, James, Obadiah and Malachi, and studies on preaching, available via the GBM website.
• Let's Go! Children's mission magazine published twice yearly for primary school children, featuring missionary stories, Bible stories, recipes, crafts, facts about different countries, and competitions; available by annual subscription (£3/year).
• Partnership in Prayer (Prayer Diary) Daily prayer diary available by email, post, or via the PrayerMate app, providing monthly prayer focus for GBM's worldwide mission work; backed by a PrayerMate app integration for Android and iOS.
• Radio Team The internal production team producing GBM's radio programmes: Andrew Cook and Colin Grimwood for Serving Today, Ian and Hélène Flanders for Espérance Aujourd'hui, and Marea Cook providing administrative support.
• GBM Media Podcast Podcast containing Prayer Waves video updates, Across the Nations missionary interviews, and talks from camps, conferences and events, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts/iTunes, YouTube, Amazon Music, Podbean and Podchaser.

Quantifiable outcome

• Broadcast across 100+ local radio stations in francophone Africa
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wycliffe Bible TranslatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Wycliffe Bible Translators and GBM for Philip and Heidi Knight's work in Uganda, supporting an Old Testament translation project for the Keliko people from South Sudan. Heidi serves as translation advisor and exegete, Philip works in scripture engagement and practical support.
• Christian Compassion Ministries (CCM Manila)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCM operates boys' and girls' homes, a weekly drop-in centre for street families, and community outreach in Metro Manila. GBM Envision teams serve with CCM, and the organisations collaborate on mission activities in the Philippines.
• Grace Baptist NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Grace Baptist organisations that seeks to promote evangelism and church planting projects and engage in strategic discussions about future church planting projects in the UK.
• Morning Star Children's CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvision placements available in Welkom, South Africa, working with Morning Star Children's Centre and Welkom Baptist Church, caring for young children with HIV/AIDS.
• TWR AfricacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBM radio programmes broadcast via TWR Africa network across Central, East and West Africa.
• Local FM Radio Station NetworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor100+ local FM radio stations broadcast Espérance Aujourd'hui in francophone Africa, Europe and Caribbean.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tearfund: Larger UK Christian relief and development agency, broader in scope than GBM but overlaps on community outreach, disaster response and church-based fundraising networks.
• TWR UK (Trans World Radio): Larger global Christian broadcaster that distributes GBM's programmes via TWR Africa; overlaps directly on the radio ministry dimension and francophone African distribution.

Direct peers

• Africa Inland Mission UK: Historic evangelical mission society sending missionaries from UK churches into Africa and beyond, overlapping with GBM's Kenya and Uganda fields.
• Pioneers UK: UK church-based mission agency that mobilises, trains and sends missionaries to unreached people groups, operating on a comparable support-raising model with member churches.
• BMS World Mission: UK-based Baptist mission agency sending cross-cultural missionaries globally, structurally very similar to GBM's church-based mission model with similar donor base among UK Baptist churches.
• Wycliffe Bible Translators UK: Bible translation mission organisation directly partnered with GBM on the Keliko OT project in Uganda, sharing the same church-based sending model and missionary-support structure.
• Crosslinks: UK-based evangelical mission organisation sending missionaries from UK churches worldwide, with a comparable structure of partnerships, publications and short-term programmes.
• OMF International UK: UK-anchored mission organisation focusing on East Asia with comparable church partnership, prayer support and missionary member-care infrastructure.
• Serving In Mission (SIM) UK: International evangelical mission agency with UK office that recruits, trains and supports missionaries in church planting and community ministry across multiple continents.

Emerging players

• FEBA Radio: UK-based Christian radio ministry producing gospel programming for global broadcast; comparable niche to GBM's radio team and a likely peer in faith-based broadcasting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLYiW0I6tWzBfsURI4sHSMBD_Gru2oB4g7
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grace-baptist-mission
• Xx.com/GBMission
• Facebookfacebook.com/gracebaptistmissions

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grace Baptist Mission