Fellowship International Mission, Inc. / FIM

Summary

FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL MISSION assists local churches to fulfill their missionary vision and missionaries to fulfill their call by:

• Proclaiming the Gospel world-wide by every means possible
• Leading people to trust Christ as Savior
• Discipling new believers
• Establishing local, indigenous, independent, biblically sound churches to nurture believers to reach their communities for Christ.
• Assisting in the training and mobilization of full-time national Christian workers.

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL MISSION assists local churches to fulfill their missionary vision and missionaries to fulfill their call by:

• Proclaiming the Gospel world-wide by every means possible
• Leading people to trust Christ as Savior
• Discipling new believers
• Establishing local, indigenous, independent, biblically sound churches to nurture believers to reach their communities for Christ.
• Assisting in the training and mobilization of full-time national Christian workers.

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Fellowship International Mission Operational Motto

The motto, “Flexibility in Ministry with Integrity and Accountability,” characterizes the operations of the Mission.

“Flexibility in Ministry” focuses on the particular call of the missionary. Working within the framework of a ministry plan endorsed by the Key Accountability Partner Church, and accepted by FIM, missionaries have freedom to take advantage in a timely and decisive way, of the opportunities for the Gospel that occur on the field.

“Integrity” involves trust. Integrity assumes that spiritually attuned people can recognize the call of God for missionary service. Candidates are trusted to walk in obedience to the call of God and to carry out their approved ministry plan faithfully. FIM trusts the church to send missionaries whose lives and ministries are governed by biblical principles and who stand above reproach in the world. The Mission is trusted to carry out its administrative responsibilities in a decisive and responsible manner.

“Accountability” involves defining the roles and evaluating effectiveness of the partnership between the missionary, the local church, and the Mission. This threefold partnership works together to measure ministry effectiveness, financial soundness, and personal credibility.

Fellowship International Core Values

Sound Doctrine:
Absolute truth matters. A shared understanding of biblical truth forms the platform from which effective harmonious ministry is launched and maintained.

Consequences: All FIM missionaries and members of the Board of Directors affirm their full-hearted agreement with the FIM doctrinal statement annually. FIM partners with local churches and field ministries whose doctrinal position is compatible with the FIM doctrinal statement.

The Gospel:
The good news of salvation should be shared with all people in order to create disciples globally.

Consequence: FIM facilitates ministries whose primary objective is sharing the propositional truth of the Gospel and/or equipping believers toward maturity in Christ.

The Call of God:
God issues an unmistakable call to those he intends to serve Him as leaders in the effort to evangelize lost people and to equip believers.

Consequence: FIM applicants need to testify clearly to having received an unmistakable call to ministry from God.

Relationships:
Loving relationships give rise to community that encourages healthful spiritual formation and provides a context for ministry.

Consequence: FIM provides a flexible ministry context that values the individual, expects integrity, and acknowledges the need we all have for accountability.

The Local Church:
The local church stands responsible to identify, cultivate, launch, and hold accountable those whom God calls from their number.

Consequence: In assisting missionaries to fulfill their call, FIM sees its role as assisting local churches to fulfill their missionary vision.

Good Stewardship:
God expects His people to use the resources of time, money, abilities, and spiritual gifts to the best possible advantage in their pursuit of excellence in ministry.

Consequence: FIM evaluates field ministries and home office operations with a view to making the best use of the available resources.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

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Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Fellowship International uses the following to communicate its values:

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed, the final authority for faith and life. (II Tim. 3:16,17; II Pet. 1:20,21; Mt. 5:18; Jn. 16:12,13)

THE GODHEAD.
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14)

THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God, and redeem sinful men, and forever continues true God and true man. (Jn. 1:1,2,14; Mt. 1:21; Lk. 1:35)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 3:24,25;4:24,25; I Pet. 1:3-5;2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Cor. 15:3,4)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9,10; Heb. 1:3;9:24;7:25; Rom. 8:34; I Jn. 2:1,2)

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent of regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (Jn. 16:8-11; II Cor. 3:6-8; I Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13,14; I Cor. 6:19)

We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and, that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (Jn. 16:13; I Jn. 2:20,27; Eph. 5:18)

THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN.
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26,27; Rom. 3:22,23; 5:1,2; Eph. 2:1-3,12)

SALVATION.
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His precious blood on Calvary and rose again that our sins might be forgiven, and that we might have eternal life. (Eph. 1:7;2:8-10; II Tim. 2:8; Jn. 1:12; I Pet. 1:18,19)

THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS.
We believe that once saved, all the redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (Jn. 6:37-49;10:27-30; Rom. 8:1,38,39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Pet. 1:5; II Tim. 1:12)

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

THE TWO NATURES OF BELIEVERS.
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural. (Rom. 6:13;8:12,13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; I Pet. 1:14-16; I Jn. 3:5-9)

SEPARATION.
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy and all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and association is commanded by God. (II Tim. 3:1-5; Rom. 12:1,2;14:13; I Jn. 2:15-17; II Jn. 9,11; II Cor. 6:14-7:1; Eph. 5:7-11)

MISSIONS.
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by work to the truths of Holy Scripture and to obey our Lord’s commandment to make disciples as we proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. (II Tim. 3:1-5; Rom. 12:1,2;14:13; I Jn. 2:15-17; II Jn. 9,11; II Cor. 6:14-7:1; Eph. 5:7-11)

THE MINISTRY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts for the edification of the Body of Christ. The gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are given for the perfecting of saints today. Gifts, such as faith, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and mercy are also functional in the Church. Each individual believer should look to the Lord to bestow and develop His gifts. Sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. These include the office of Apostle, gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation, healing, and special wisdom and knowledge on a par with Scripture revelation. (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-11,27-31; 13:8-10; II Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12; Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3,4)

We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted. (Jn. 15:7; I Jn. 5:14,15; Jas. 5:14,15)

THE CHURCH.
We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born again persons of this present age. (Eph. 1:19-23;5:25-27; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2)

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. Believers are to be encouraged to unite with a Bible-believing church. (Acts 14:27;20:17,28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4;15:19-31;20:28; Rom. 16:1,4; I Cor. 3:9,16;5:4-7,13; I Pet. 5:1-4)

We recognize the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as a scriptural means of testimony for the Church in this age. (Mt. 28:19,20; Acts 2:41,42;18:8; I Cor. 11:23-26)

DISPENSATIONALISM.
We believe the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in each age. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these – the age of law, the age of the Church, and the age of the millennial kingdom – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Jn. 1:17; II Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10;3:2-10; Col. 1:24,25; Heb. 7:19; Rev. 20:2-6)

THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN.
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6,7; Isa. 14:12-17; Mt. 4:2-11;25:41; Rev. 20:10; Ezek. 28:12-19)

THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST.
We believe in that “Blessed Hope,” the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom. (Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16;20:1-6; I Th. 1:10;4:13-18;5:9; Rev. 3:10)

THE ETERNAL STATE.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Mt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28,29;11:25,26; Rev. 20:5,6,12,13)

We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Lk. 23:43; Rev. 20:4-6; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23;3:20,21; I Th. 4:16,17)

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection when, with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment. (Lk. 16:19-26; Mt. 25:41-46; II Th. 1:7-9; Jude 6,7; Mk. 9:43-48; Rev. 20:11-15).

History [ Back to top ]

Fellowship International Mission began in 1950 with two ladies serving as independent missionaries in North Africa.

When Irene Wenholz and Mary Mellinger wanted to buy a home to care for needy children, they found that they needed to affiliate with a legally recognized body in the United States. Dr. Ralph Boyer, pastor of York Gospel Center in York, Pennsylvania, and several other men quickly formed a mission board that would allow them to secure their purchase.

On November 3, 1950 that board was incorporated as the Morocco Evangelical Fellowship. The Children’s Haven continues in operation today. In 1953 when the British based Sahara Desert Mission, founded by Rev. Frank Baggott, working in Niger, sought an American affiliation, the council renamed the mission, Fellowship of Independent Missions. North Africa continued to be the focus of FIM. Today, nearly 150 FIM missionaries are involved in church-planting, evangelism, and discipleship ministries in 29 countries, including: Australia, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Poland, Senegal, Sweden, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, and Venezuela, as well as three creative access countries and various cross cultural or unique ministries in the United States. In 1990, the Mission was renamed Fellowship International Mission to better reflect its worldwide character.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Rating	Overall Rank	Foreign Missions Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating		52 of 352	10 of 54
Fund Acquisition Decision		115 of 352	19 of 54
Resource Allocation Decision		123 of 352	17 of 54
Asset Utilization Decision		43 of 352	9 of 54

Shining Light [ Back to top ]