Since our founding in 1892, Avant Ministries has been passionate about the local church. Formerly known as Gospel Missionary Union, Avant is one of the oldest missionary sending agencies in the United States and Canada. Early Avant missionaries were some of the first North American missionaries to travel to distant places, entering Ecuador in 1892 and Mali in 1913. They suffered illness, persecution, separation from family and friends and sometimes death in order to share the gospel with people who had never heard it. we're proud of the legacy we inherited from them. more... See more text