TEL International’s story is rooted in the remarkable vision and dedication of its founders, Elgin and Dorothy Taylor, who devoted over 55 years to foreign missionary service. Their journey began in 1959 in Okinawa, Japan, where they made history as the first African-American missionaries to the Orient. There, Elgin pastored a bilingual Japanese-American church and taught English as a second language at the University of the Ryukus, while Dorothy served as one of the founding teachers at the Okinawa Christian School. In 1964, their missionary work took them to Nigeria, West Africa, but the outbreak of the Biafra crisis forced their evacuation to London, England. Over the next fifteen years in Europe, the Taylors continued to advance the cause of the Gospel: Elgin founded a cross-cultural church, established a Missionary Bible College, and created a regional mission headquarters. He also supervised Christian in Action (CinA) missionaries serving across Europe, Africa, South China, and India, while Dorothy continued her passion for education and ministry. Their unwavering commitment, pioneering spirit, and global perspective laid the foundation for TEL International’s mission to advance Christ-centered initiatives worldwide.

In 1980, Elgin and Dorothy Taylor returned to the United States, bringing with them decades of invaluable experience from the mission field. They joined the US Center for World Missions in Pasadena, California, working under the leadership of Dr. Ralph Winters, where they contributed to global mission strategy and training. In 1982, Elgin was unanimously elected president of Christian in Action (CinA), a position in which he oversaw more than 450 missionaries and national leaders across multiple continents. Under his visionary leadership, CinA expanded its reach into 23 countries, establishing churches, training centers, and mission programs that impacted thousands of lives. After two decades of faithful service, Elgin stepped down in November 2002 due to health reasons. Following a brief but well-deserved retirement, Elgin and Dorothy channeled their lifelong passion for missions into founding TEL International in August 2008. From its inception, TEL International has grown to serve in 35 countries, continuing to advance Christ-centered initiatives worldwide. Today, the ministry faithfully carries forward the legacy of its founders, embodying their commitment, vision, and dedication to spreading the Gospel across the globe.