On April 9, 1947 Ed and Esther Morrell returned home from Venezuela where they had been serving as missionaries. Ed was asked to join the staff of Baptist Mid-Missions for a deputation ministry. In 1948 Ed was asked to serve as Field Representative which he held until 1951 when he became Candidate Secretary.

While on a seven week tour of the West Indian stations for Baptist Mid-Missions the following incident occurred. "Please Minister, we want to hear Dr. Morrell preach just once more." The scene was Cataboo Baptist Church. The year was 1956. Little did that hinterland peasant-farmer in Jamaica realize that he had lit a fire in the bosom of a missionary evangelist that was not to be extinguished. Details surrounding the incident are too numerous to recount. But, God used a humble Baptist deacon to spark an agenda for world evangelization that has precipitated the salvation of thousands around the world in the past thirty years. The evangelist, Dr. "Ed" Morrell, Jr., was engaged in a West Indian itinerary that ended with a ministry to missionaries in Venezuela and a trip home on the S.S. Santa Paula via Columbia. Due to physical incapacitation Ed resigned from Baptist Mid-Missions in 1956. He was called to the pastorate of Bible Baptist Church of Bedford, OH where he served seven years until he entered full-time evangelism. During the homeward journey on the Santa Paula, Ed blurted out to his wife Esther, "When I am old enough to retire, I would like to dedicate myself to missionary evangelism at home and abroad. My desire is to hold evangelistic meetings in indigent areas where local churches cannot afford to care for the honorarium or the expenses of the itinerant preacher." That burden lay dormant through almost ten years of pastoral experience. Then one day it seemed the time had come. Having resigned a flourishing pastorate and with the circumstances cooperating and the Word confirming (Colossians 1:25-29) a great step of faith was taken and what was to become the Committee On Missionary Evangelism was begun. He continued in itinerant ministry for one year then assumed the pastorate of Immanuel Baptist Church, Arcanum, OH. In August of 1965 Ed returned to his itinerant ministry. The first invitation came from New Mexico for six weeks of ministry to the Navajos and Hopi Indians. God provided miraculously through the gifts of friends and churches who believed, as he did, that even small struggling churches need spiritual encouragement from an evangelist and Bible teacher. The summer of 1966 found Ed in Columbus, OH at Pine Hills Baptist Church. He made a promise to God that he would go anywhere, anytime regardless of remuneration. While at Pine Hills Baptist Church, he arranged to purchase the new house just built next door to the church. Little did he realize that the facility would "house" the first office of COME after its birth in 1968. For the next three years (1965-1968) Evangelist "Ed" Morrell accepted engagements among the American Indians; in mountain mission contexts; in inner-city parishes; and again, on the Island of Jamaica. When home and foreign missionaries realized that they could have an evangelist for "free" the invitations were heavier than any one servant could accommodate. Obviously the endeavor was to be larger than a "one-man operation" if the needs were to be met. Invitations to minister in indigent areas led Ed into the ministry of missionary evangelism. God put his stamp of approval on the ministry.

In September of 1966 while in Jamaica, Delroy Campbell was saved and now serves as a national pastor. From December 1967 to January 1968 Ed spent six weeks in St.. Lucia and St.. Vincent in cooperation with Baptist Mid-Missions missionaries In his travels the evangelist encountered stable, spiritual men who shared his burden and encouraged him to "Go for it!" Among these; a retired Army Colonel and Baptist deacon, a successful born-again attorney, a highly regarded educator, a C.P.A., a utilities sales representative and a Godly pastor. Ed asked these six men to join him in laying the ground work for the Committee On Missionary Evangelism with their key verse being taken from Acts 16:9, "COME over...And help us." With the evangelist on the team the ultimate birth of this new embryo was to be the work of "Seven Men of honest report." (Acts 6:3).

For almost a year the men met, prayed and planned, then the "call" came from the Field Council President of the missionary staff of Baptist Mid-Missions on the Island of Jamaica, would the evangelist come for a period of evangelization and co-labor with the national pastors and missionaries in local church evangelism? This really was too big a decision for one man to handle. The time had come for an "organization" to support such an endeavor. Meeting for this one occasion in the dining room of the Holiday Inn in Mansfield, OH the attorney spoke, "I believe we have prayed and planned long enough, now is the time to act. I move that we incorporate, as has been suggested, the Committee On Missionary Evangelism (COME Acts 16:9)."

Obviously the vote was unanimous. The attorney, with his expertise, filed papers of incorporation and C.O.M.E. was born May 15, 1968. Evangelist "Ed" Morrell, Jr. was named the first Missionary Evangelist of the new mission. After the addition of a number of Missionary Evangelists, the Board felt there should be an official General Director and Dr. Morrell was so named. Colonel Dan Hine was elected the first President; Rev. Don Rettger as Vice President; Attorney Roger Helzel as Secretary; and CPA Russell Sinzenger as Treasurer. The first office was located in the lower level of the Morrell home at 5192 Bagley Road, Columbus, OH with a desk and appropriate filing cabinets. A post office box was secured at the Livingstone Avenue Post Office and C.O.M.E. was open for business. February and March of 1969 found Evangelist Ed Morrell in Jamaica. This was the first invitation that fell into the supervisory hands of the Committee On Missionary Evangelism. Project Jamaica was officially launched under the auspices of C.O.M.E., with Ed doing most of the fund-raising and legwork. Hundreds were won to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ during these weeks of intensive evangelism on the "Emerald Isle of the Caribbean".

To assure his calling and encourage his spirit, the Lord gave Ed, Joshua 22:34, "And (they) called the altar (Ed); for it shall be a witness between us that the Lord is God." For years the Lord has proved, through the ministry of Evangelist "Ed" Morrell, Jr., that he is God. In 1971 Dr. Morrell authored a booklet entitled "The Golden Text of the Sacred Scriptures" which was published by BIBLICAL EVANGELISM. This booklet is a clear and concise treatment of John 3:16. This booklet is still being greatly used of God today to bring lost people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Committee On Missionary Evangelism was officially underway. Invitations came from Fellowship of Baptist for Home Missions in Sioux Indian work and from Association of Baptists for World Evangelism in the Orient. Fundamental Baptist Mission of Trinidad and Tobago invited Evangelist Morrell to conduct meetings there from December 13-28, 1971. This led to Project Trinidad in the summer of 1972. Accompanying Ed on this three month evangelistic tour was his wife Esther, his son Dan who played the trumpet and led singing, Grace who eloquently delivered sacred recitations and Gloria who played the piano and sang.

During one week designated for sight-seeing, Gloria chose to go with a group of national young people to conduct Daily Vacation Bible School in the interior. Ed’s vision for missions had a profound influence on his children. A very significant step in the growth and development of C.O.M.E. was the addition of a "General Secretary". Retired business man, Norman Carpenter, volunteered his services and moved from North Tonawanda, NY to Columbus, OH. He purchased his own home and used the enclosed front porch appropriately decorated and furnished as the second "Home Office" of C.O.M.E. He became General Secretary and Treasurer and handled all the details of daily operation and, on occasion represented C.O.M.E. in local churches when invited. The General Director was often absent for months at a time while speaking across the nation or overseas. Mr. Carpenter became the "head man" handling finances, correspondence and representation. Following the resignation of Mr. Carpenter and his move back to New York, it was urgent that a replacement be found expeditiously. A very competent committed teenager, Naomi Thompson, of Portville, NY became the next Secretary of this infant agency. Her only income being free room and board and whatever support was designated to her by supporters.

With this change in personnel and the bookkeeping now being handled by a capable volunteer, Miss Winnie Barris, of Bedford, OH it was decided to move the Home Office to northern Ohio. In 1974 an office was located in a bank building in downtown Bedford for $50.00 per month "As Is". The men of COME redecorated and laid new carpet throughout. The Milner Electric Company provided new lights. This was an exciting time as the mission was maturing. With a full-time secretary on staff and a bookkeeper available at all times, the General Director was now free to "enlarge his coasts" and accept more invitations to do missionary evangelism. Engagements were accepted from coast to coast and overseas from England, Jamaica and the island of St.. Vincent.

Soon other evangelists began to catch the vision of COME. Fred Marquardt in 1969; Jack Bertelsmeyer, Milton Barkley, L.E. Hunter, and Allen Ames in 1970; Frank Euler, Frank Elswick, Richard Gillespie and Dr. Hugh Horner in 1971; Ken Dodson, and Leroy Sheveland in 1972; Dr. Fillmore Cobb, Mark Squires and John Haddad in 1974; Norman Knause in 1975; Dr. Eldon Stevens in 1977; Roy Fishburn and Charles Curtis in 1978; Ken Lynch in 1981; Irwin Weyhe in 1982; Dr. William Absalom in 1983; Terry French, Randy Chovan, Robert Roberts and Wally Hallberg in 1985; Lars Wessberg and George Zinn in 1986; Rich Eberly and Herbert Taylor II in 1987; Dr. Woody Hoskins, Mark Fishburn, Mike Patterson, William Randolph and Alwyn Williams in 1988; Mark Staley in 1989; Jim Sloan and Timothy Silcott in 1990; Walter Smith in 1992; Wayne Nelson in 1993; Monty Leavell, Clarence Hafelin and Greg White in 1994; Matthew Staley in 1995; Dr. Roland Andrews in 1998; Ron Draper in 1999; Don Bennett in 2001; Terry French in 2003. Some have been called home to Glory and some have been called of God to other avenues of service while others continue to serve. God is continually calling men to this great work of missionary evangelism. In late 1970's Dr. "Ed" Morrell encountered physical maladies. Hypertension, heart occlusions and other stress related difficulties were proving to be physically taxing. After fifteen years of service as General Director and International Field Representative Dr. Morrell resigned in May of 1982 and the men of COME graciously named him "General Director Emeritus".

The search began for a new General Director and Rev. Gerald Ducket was called. He served as the second General Director of COME for one year from June of 1982 to May of 1983. He resigned to follow the Lord’s leading to a pastorate in California. Once again the search was on for a General Director. This time the Lord led the men of COME to one of their own board members, Rev. Douglas Beason, to serve as the third General Director. Rev. Beason served faithfully in this position from November 1983 until May of 1995. The Home Office was moved to Grand Rapids, MI to the home of Rev. Beason where it remained until 1993 when it was moved to Shepherd, MI. In May of 1995 Rev. Beason resigned as General Director to become General Secretary of the Mission. He continues to serve in this position. In 1992 Allen & Arlene Genutis volunteered to come and work in the Home Office. They moved to Ohio where they purchased a new home to house the offices of COME. A church in Michigan then gave COME a property near Shepherd, MI for office purposes. The gift was received and the Genutis’s moved to Shepherd with the office of COME. This property was eventually sold as the Genutis’s retired and a building fund was started. The office was moved back to Grand Rapids, MI to the home of Rev. Beason where it functions at this time. In May of 1998 the men of COME voted to step out on faith and purchased an office location located at 5900 Lake Michigan Drive in Allendale, MI. This building has been renovated and has now become the permanent home office of COME. In 1999 the State of Michigan decided to put a boulevard thru where the C.O.M.E. office was located. The office was moved to a temporary location in Grand Rapids, MI for the next two years until a new location was found. In 2001 an office suite was leased on 36th boulevard in Grand Rapids, MI..

In 1994 it was determined to change the title of General Director to General Secretary and call a full-time President to lead the mission. A search committee was selected and Dr. Eldon W. Stevens, Chairman of the Board and one of the former Approved Evangelists, was called to serve. Dr. Stevens was installed as the first full-time President of COME on May 23, 1995 during the 27th Annual Conference hosted by Park Gate Baptist Church, Ellwood City, PA. He continues to serve in this position at this present time. Committee On Missionary Evangelism has continually grown for thirty years. The 90's have brought computers and E-mail which has revolutionized communication. In 1998 COME entered the Cyber space world of the World Wide Web with its own domain name very appropriately: www.come.org. This name has since been changed to www.comemissions.com. From this advantage point we are able to send the gospel over the Internet highway to the "utter most part" of the earth 24 hours a day. Dr. Duane King who has served faithfully on the Board of COME was called to serve the mission as its first Field Representative and took up his responsibilities July 1, 1998. The "Seven men of honest report" (Acts 6:3) in 1968, has grown to the present Board of nine, and a staff of three consisting of a full-time President, Office Manager and Field Representative, serving twelve active and one retired missionary evangelists who are committed to reaching the lost around the world in indigent areas where mission churches cannot afford to invite the God-given "gift" of the God-called evangelist. On September 14, 1998 the Lord called both Dr. Ed Morrell, Jr. And his faithful wife Esther to be with Himself. With their home-going the first chapter on the book of C.O.M.E. is closed. Only eternity will reveal the vast impact of their long and fruitful ministry. May this missionary continue to grow and prosper as God directs and leads until Jesus comes to redeem his blood bought bride the church. May the Saviour find us always faithful. "...Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20 For Further Information contact: Committee On Missionary Evangelism PO Box 88085, Grand Rapids, MI 49518-0085 (616) 243-0119 - (616) 455-8228 WWW.COMEMISSIONS.COM