Kent.......UK........World

                           OAC International HISTORY

1892  An English Barrister, E.P. Field, preached to lunch-hour crowds in Martin Place, Sydney, Australia, and formed the NSW Prayer Band to support this growing ministry.

1922 W Bradley changed the name to ‘Open Air Campaigners’. Gospel wagons were used to take the gospel message to people throughout NSW.

1939 OAC worked among the armed services during World War II.

1940 – 1950 The work extended to the states of Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and overseas, firstly to New Zealand. It was during this period that the typical sketch-board painting method became the ‘trademark’ of the work.

By 1970 OAC was well established in North America, Britain and Germany. During the 1970s residential ministry extended to the Netherlands and Italy, with openings being made in many other countries.

The 1980s saw definitive expansion beyond the traditional protestant homelands and the following decade saw the establishment of branches in the former Communist Block, Latin America and India. The WA branch also commenced in 1988.

1982 Some branches changed their name to “OAC Ministries,” reflecting their desire to present the message in more culturally attuned ways, and to work together with churches in Outreach And Church ministries.

1990’s Presentations in schools increased, as did Community Contact Weeks hosted by local churches. OAC presenters became sought after for camps and other outreach settings.

   Currently  Approximately 200 evangelists, based in 28 countries, go wherever non-Christians can be reached effectively with the gospel. City-centre open-air meetings are an important part of the work in many countries, but we also work in schools, on beaches, in factories, on ships, in hospitals and retirement homes...

We have pioneered a number of visual techniques for presenting the gospel, most notably the sketchboard. Our evangelists also use visual aids and object lessons to keep the attention of audiences of all ages. Our manner and methods of presentation aim to attract and hold a crowd, allowing them the greatest possible opportunity to understand and respond.

       Much of our work consists of training Christians to communicate their faith more effectively. We give regular courses at many Bible colleges around the world, as well as in hundreds of local churches, with whom we work closely.