Brief History

Interserve is an international evangelical mission organisation with about 800 partners in a wide range of ministries in Asia and the Arab World. We have National offices around the world including Malaysia.

Interserve was started in 1852 by two women who saw a need to share God’s love to the oppressed women and children of India. Today, the organization has grown worldwide.

Recognising the need to recruit Malaysians to serve overseas, Interserve International began looking for a local board to represent them in Malaysia. They identified Malaysian CARE as being the most appropriate body to represent Interserve in Malaysia since they were already sending workers overseas for long-term missions. By 1986, the first partner was sent by Malaysian CARE through Interserve. All the workers who had been sent overseas came under the responsibility of the Overseas Department of Malaysian CARE.

In 1991, Malaysian CARE decided to set up a separate legal entity to take over the operations of the Overseas Department of Malaysian CARE.

It changed its name to Interserve Fellowship Berhad in 2005 after being made a council by Interserve International.

Interserve Malaysia Today

Our Malaysian Partners come from very diverse backgrounds. They represent different denominations and professions and are involved in church planting, theological education, training of indigenous pastors and workers, youth and children’s ministries, community development work, relief work, orphanages, hospital work, and administration. Our partners include single men and women, couples with children and even those above the age of sixty. Though most are supported by churches and individual Christians, a few partners are “tentmakers” and are self-supporting.

As for our locally-based partners, they mainly provide administrative support for our international office or are involved in member care, mission mobilisation or creative ministries.

Core Values

1. Inclusivity: We embrace a variety of Biblical-based traditions. We welcome a rich diversity of cultures. Women and men share ministry and leadership roles.
2. Integrity: We strive for excellence and integrity in every aspect of our lives. We aim for transparency in leadership and communications.
3. Humility: We respect and accept each other and those who we are called to serve. We do not seek recognition for ourselves or the name of Interserve.
4. Relationship: We are a family, bound together by relationships of mutual accountability. As a Fellowship, we are committed to pray, care for and respect one another. We are committed to excellent standards of support, pastoral care, and personal development.
5. Service: Our call is to enable others to experience the Kingdom of God and live as Jesus’ disciples. We do not seek our kingdom or our disciples.

Membership

Interserve Malaysia is a member of NECF Malaysia and an associate member of the Council of Churches of Malaysia.

Our Motto

We are often known as the “people for the hard places” or the “Hardplace People”.