It was founded in October 1928 by three Australian missionaries, Hudson Southwell (Baptist), Frank Davidson (Anglican) and Carey Tolley (Church of the Brethren).
In 1975 the BEM merged with Overseas Missionary Fellowship (formerly the China Inland Mission).
The Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) was pioneered by Hudson Southwell together with two fellow missionaries Frank Davidson and Carey Tolley of Australia.
Travelling with them was Alexander Henderson, a pioneer of the Southeast Asian timber trade who had offered to help establish a base on the island of Borneo.
The Rajah, Charles Vyner Brooke, gave permission to establish a mission in Sarawak and recommended starting in the Limbang area to the north-east.