The story of the JMA

Click here for a link to the JMA page of the Methodist Church website which includes a history of the organisation.

Comments about this page

  • These JMA church boxes were in use until the 1980’s, each one was hand painted by a team of volunteers, but became uneconomical to continue. The adult MMS world “Globe” boxes were also hand pained, but likewise became uneconomical to produce in that way. My recollection that the JMA boxes were replaced by a carboard “church” shaped box that could be sent out flat and asembled at home. unfortunately they were not very durable and replaced by a white and red cylinder hard plastic box, then yellow when the name changed to Junior Mission for All in the mid 1980’s. As a JMA collector you could choose to either collect via the boxes (easier for younger collectors) or by using the books with regular subscribers – it was a great way to get adults and children to be involved in world mission. As a former employee of Methodist Overseas Division (MMS) Home Education Team between 1984-1989 I posted hundreds of these out each year.

    By David Alderman (10/09/2022)
  • Thank you for your comment, Roger.
    You can post a photo of your certificate on this site by clicking on ‘add your story’. We’ll then publish it in this section.
    No idea about ILB/JLB though!

    By Pamela Atkins (22/10/2021)
  • Thanks for all the information about JMA including collecting boxes, medals etc. I am going through family diaries and papers and have come across a lot of things relating to JMA and your material has been really helpful in allowing me to understand what’s what! In addition to medals, I have a certificate for the years 1961 to 1969 with seals for seven of those years. I would have attached a photo as I have not seen such certificates on your site but I could not seem to attach a photo.

    Finally, a question. In reference to a JMA Circuit Rally in March 1965, my grandad referred to it as ILB. Any idea what that stands for? (It could possible by JLB).

    By Roger Drew (21/10/2021)
  • Thank you for alerting us to that-I’ve fixed the link now.

    I think there were various designs of collecting boxes over the years, but I had one like the above in the 1960s.

    By Pamela Atkins (01/03/2018)
  • The link to the JMA page of the Methodist Church leads to a page titled “Page Not Found”.

    When I was a child many years ago (about 1970), I was in a Methodist Church Sunday School.  I collected money and got a medal with “JMC DSO FOR ZEAL FOR CHRIST” on it. I cannot remember whether or not I collected money in a collecting box like the one in the picture – is that what children used then, please?

    By E Bolton (23/02/2018)

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