Our History

In 1882, he was disappointed that his college professors weren’t aware of basic biblical truths. With tears of disappointment, he asked, “Oh God, is this the best thing you’ve got for a Christian?” God’s reply: “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

In 1883, he read The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life. “The tears ran down my face as I found one book that told me I could be supremely victorious, and told me how to do it.”

In 1887 and 1888, he wrestled with God over His call to missions, finally writing in his Bible:

Oh God, help me to do my part in keeping a poor lost world from the terrible rapids of sin, and that terrible fall which breaks over the edge of time and plunges the sinner into eternity. To this end I solemnly consecrate my every voluntary thought, word and deed. This one thing will I do, subject everything to one all-absorbing purpose – this world for Christ during my lifetime.

As a young pastor, he was offered a trip around the world, which he took in 1891. He was especially hit by the fact that even after 100 years of missionary work in India (following William Carey), two out of three people had never even heard that there was such a person as Jesus Christ.

That trip demolished all my sermons on the world’s speedy evangelization. I saw the utter foolishness of attempting such a vast undertaking by any of the methods then in existence.

At that time, few American pastors corroborated every point with a specific Bible passage like D.L. Moody did. Moody influenced Sandford with his loyalty to the Bible, his conversational style of preaching, the fact that he preached equally from the Old and New Testaments, his willingness to give up money-making, and his search for the Holy Spirit.

A.B. Simpson influenced Sandford in his focus on Bible study, refusal to go into debt, and desire to evangelize abroad and at home. And while in China, he decided to emulate Hudson Taylor’s refusal to publish needs in favor of asking God to meet them.

Each of these men’s examples affected him as he faced difficulties.

In 1891 and 1892, he experienced increasing pressure from those who paid his salary as a pastor. He was not allowed to preach against adultery, and he was not allowed to reach out to surrounding communities, though many were unchurched. Although he was enjoying regular prayer with the pastors of three other churches in town:

…the great hand of God seemed to be pressing me to something broader than denominational limits would permit…

I saw that the difficulties in effecting the evangelization of this world were simply insuperable. It was God, and God alone, with mighty signs and wonders as in the days of the apostles, that must arise, lay bare His arm and cause the ends of the earth to see His salvation. How dare I continue in methods which had already proved a failure to effect the desired result? How dare I, with my own written promise, God’s revelation concerning my lifework and the fact that one hundred thousand souls were going every day unprepared to meet God – how dare I, as a man of God, with these things staring me in the face, longer continue methods radically different from those which had once proved a success, methods which had enabled the apostle Paul to write of his day and generation that “the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven”?

The pressure grew more intense until one day, to my unspeakable delight, God whispered a word that changed my entire life, the gladdest I had ever heard Him utter. He made me understand by this message that I was never to take another pastorate, never to take another collection, never again to be bound by any existing organization, but that, like the Master, I was to step out in absolute abandonment to His will, His word, and His providences. That little word was the word, ‘Go.’”

After leaving his pulpit and giving away his savings in obedience to Jesus’ command to forsake all, sell and give to the poor, he began to realize that it would take apostles (Greek for “sent ones”) to evangelize the world. When he asked God to make him one of those apostles, though, God reminded him that this would come through patience (2 Cor. 12:12).

In 1893 and 1894, that patience began to come through the loss of his first child, through the humbling nature of living in others’ homes, and wearing shabby clothing, and through preaching in his hometown of Bowdoinham, Maine without visible results. He was disliked by the town, had the disapproval of his denomination, and was aware how silly it seemed to go from a large church to no church.

In September 1893, Sandford and eleven friends formally organized their work as the World’s Evangelization Crusade on Apostolic Principles. Its constitution and by-laws would be the Bible. They appointed no other officers than the Holy Spirit. Mindful of the example of Finney, Moody, A.B. Simpson, and Stephen Merritt, he longed to receive that Spirit for himself. Finally, in 1894, he received the Holy Spirit by a prayer of simple faith.

He was prompted to focus on the needs of Maine’s 300,000+ unreached people with the words “Give ye them to eat.” And in May 1895, he found a kindred spirit and coworker in Charles Holland. He also met Willard Gleason, who wanted to receive the Holy Spirit and find out the “some better thing” he had heard about from God.

In October 1895, with Gleason as the only student, he opened a Bible school in his sister’s attic. By December 1, that number had grown to seven students, all of whom lived by faith while they continued with evangelism. He wrote:

Personally, I can say God has taught me more of His deep hidden truths within these twenty-two days than during the nearly ten years of my ministry or the sixteen years of my Christian experience.

1901 — Over three months, 140 evangelists are sent out to contact every person in the state of Maine with the gospel. Nearly 1,000 are saved and the same number healed.
1901 — Shiloh begins observing a seventh-day Sabbath and later (1907) the biblical feasts.
1901 — Frank Sandford gets the message “Elijah is here,” and thus begins a ministry of restoration (Malachi 4:6; Acts 3:21; Matthew 17:11).
1901-1910 — About 50 people are involved in carrying out regular intercession in Jerusalem and Jaffa. During the same time, a total of about 150 students visit the Holy Land.
1902 — Twelve people renew the Kingdom by faith in Jerusalem, believing God for a renewed spiritual interest in Christ’s Kingdom and kingdom living world-wide.
1902-1909 — Students run a small mission outpost in Alexandria, Egypt.
1903 — Forty evangelists are sent to England.
1904 — The organization is incorporated in the State of Maine as “The Kingdom.”
1905 — The Kingdom purchases the Yacht Coronet.
1906 — The Kingdom purchases the barkentine Kingdom.
1906 — Frank Sandford, while in prayer with eleven others, declares in faith that God has restored the land of Israel to His favor after the centuries of desolation it had been under because of Israel’s sin and banishment from the land (Ezekiel 33:28-29; Ezekiel 36:33-36; Isaiah 62:4).
1908-1909 — Two former students travel the biblical borders of the Promised Land, which touch modern Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt.
1907-1909 — A group of 30 sail around the world on Coronet, interceding for all nations.
1910 — Coronet and Kingdom set sail for Gambia, western Africa, to establish a mission station. They are unable to land missionaries, due to a plague in the city of Bathurst.
1910 — Kingdom is wrecked off the coast of Gambia; the crew and passengers are transferred to Coronet.

1911 — Coronet embarks on a prayer voyage to north Atlantic latitudes. Six men die of scurvy before reaching home in Portland, Maine.
1911 — Frank Sandford is tried in Federal Court for the deaths of the six men on Coronet. He refuses legal defense and is sentenced to Federal Penitentiary for 10 years.
1918 — Frank Sandford is released early on good behavior.
1919 — At Shiloh, Frank Sandford recommences the Bible School.
1920 — “The Scattering”: threat of further litigation results in the disbanding of community life at Shiloh.
1920 — Frank Sandford begins secluded retirement in the Catskills of NY at a private farm.

1920s — House church is planted in Oakland, CA, later called “Golden Gate Church.”
1923 — Farm property is purchased in Hobart, NY, later called “The Hills.” A house church is planted here, later called “Good Shepherd Chapel.”
1924 — The Kingdom resumes regular observance of the three main biblical Feasts down to the present.
1925 — House church is planted in Amherst, Nova Scotia.
1925 — Annual spring Fast Day is observed and instituted movement-wide after the State of Maine discontinues it.
1926-1928 — Property is purchased and farmed in New Boston, NH, called “Chestnut Hill.” Property is also purchased and farmed in Drumore, PA, called “Goshen.” A house church is planted here, later called “Harvest View Chapel.”
1928 — House church is planted in Wauchula, FL, later called “Quail Hollow Chapel.”

1933 — New monthly periodical is launched: The College World.
1936 — Bible School recommences, located at Chestnut Hill, NH.
1930s — House church in CA is relocated to Castro Valley, CA in late 1930s.

1946-1947 — Coronet is refitted and restored to seaworthy condition.
1947 — First Annual Youth Convention is held at Chestnut Hill.
1948 — Frank Sandford dies; Victor Abram picks up overall leadership responsibility.
1949 — The College World is replaced by new monthly periodical called The Standard.

1950s — House church in Wauchula, FL moves to Tampa, FL.
1950s — House church in Castro Valley, CA moves to Concord, FL.
1950-1951 — Boston property is sold. Property called “Fairwoods Farm” is purchased in Dublin, NH, later called “Fairwood.”
1954 — House church is planted in Johnston, RI, later called “Woodhaven Chapel.”
1958 — Rhode Island church moves to North Scituate, RI.
1959 — Ravenswood Chapel begins public services in Gloucester, MA.
1959 — Bible School moves from Chestnut Hill to Fairwood, later called “Fairwood Bible Institute.”

1963 — Church is planted in Decatur, GA, later called “Open Door Chapel.”
1963 — Church meeting room is built for regular public services at Goshen.
1965 — New 700-seat Church building is dedicated at Fairwood.
1966 — New parsonage/chapel is constructed in Alamo, CA for relocated CA house church.
1966 — New chapel is dedicated in the Catskills, NY for the future “Good Shepherd Chapel.”
1967 — New parsonage/chapel is constructed in Mayville, MI, called “Restoration Chapel.”
1968 — Property is purchased in Israel, a building lot on Mt. Carmel known as “Lot 22.”
1969 — “Gospel Van” is purchased and dedicated for outreach ministry.
1969 — Wood Haven Chapel is dedicated in Rhode Island.
1970 — Parsonage and chapel are constructed in Essex, MA, called “Fair Haven Chapel.”

1973 — Victor Abram leads his first large tour to Israel, the first of seven tours.
1975-1976 — Quail Hollow Chapel, parsonage, and guest house are constructed in FL. Church services move from Tampa to Zephyrhills, FL (now Wesley Chapel).
1977 — Fair Haven Christian School is incorporated in Essex, MA.
1977 — Victor Abram dies.
1978-1988 — Leaders are informed that Victor Abram had had serious moral failure, repented of before his death. Leaders take steps to set up accountability among themselves. Group leadership is more prominent moving forward.
1978 — Parsonage for Open Door Chapel is constructed in McDonough, GA.
1979 — First Summer Bible School is held in Essex, MA.
1980 — Chapel is opened and dedicated in Nova Scotia, Canada, called “Living Waters Chapel.”
1980 — Parsonage for Harvest View Chapel is built in Drumore, PA.

1981 — Chestnut Hill Chapel is constructed in New Boston, NH.
1983 — Times of Restoration, a new periodical, replaces The Standard.
1984 — Chestnut Hill Chapel is dedicated.
1985 — Fairview Sheltered Care facility is dedicated, a care facility for the elderly at Fairwood.
1988 — Revival begins at Fair Haven Chapel.
1989 — Twelve men pray on Coronet for Jews to come to Jesus and to fulfill God’s plan as the Tribe of Judah.
1990 — New church building is dedicated at Golden Gate Church in Dublin, CA.

1991 — New church building is dedicated at Harvest View Chapel.
1993 — First Annual Women’s Retreat is held at Fairwood.
1994 — Coronet cruises to Newport, RI, her final voyage under Kingdom ownership.
1995 — New church building is dedicated at Open Door Chapel.
1995 — Coronet is donated to the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, RI.
1996 — House church is planted in Plains, VA, called “Light House Chapel.”
1997 — House church begins in Maine, called “Elim Ministry.”
1998 — Two philosophies about Kingdom ministry emerge in conflict during the March Convention. The Kingdom fellowship is restructured and issues local autonomy to all church congregations.
1998 — “The Kingdom Christian Ministries” (KCM) is established late in the year.
Churches that choose to join KCM:
Fairwood Bible Chapel
Good Shepherd Chapel
Woodhaven Chapel
Harvest View Chapel
Open Door Chapel
Quail Hollow Chapel
Elim Ministry
1999 — First Annual Family Convention is held at Fairwood.

2003 — House is leased for 12 months in Jerusalem. Fairwood Bible Institute students spend three months of praying, volunteering, and studying in Jerusalem, “marching on the ground” in faith. Many other KCM people travel to Jerusalem during the next 12 months.
2005 — WFBC FM 103.5 goes on the air, the first radio station owned and operated by KCM. WFBC later transitions into WVKJ FM 89.9 in 2011.
2005 — KCM prays movement-wide for God to prepare, save, and seal 12,000 from every tribe of Israel
(Rev. 7:3-8).
2007-2016 — Small prayer team ministers in Jerusalem, praying for Israel, its people, and all nations, as well as encouraging other Christians in the land and hosting small tour groups.
2010 — Apartment is purchased in Jerusalem.
2018 — Cornerstone gap year program is launched at Fairwood Bible Institute.
2018-2019 — KCM prays movement-wide for the fulfillment of key Scriptures.