FMI exists to develop partnerships between Western Christians and indigenous partners in countries where minority Christians are impoverished or persecuted.
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more about FMI.
For more than 30 years, FMI’s distinctive ministry has been to develop partnerships between western sponsors and trained indigenous Christian workers already living in these hard-to-reach nations.
Our History
FMI was incorporated in 1986 after Ed Todd, a retired missionary who had served across South America and Asia, along with his wife Mabel, envisioned an agency that would empower and resource indigenous church leaders for evangelism and discipleship in their own homelands.
While teaching at a Bible college in the Philippines, Ed saw that many students who had been supported financially by Western Christians during their years of study were too quickly forgotten by Western supporters after they graduated and forced to find secular jobs instead of pursuing their original calling to serve Christ full-time.
Since the time that FMI has come alongside these pastors and restored their passion and vision, hundreds of national church leaders have radiated across Muslim-dominated lands, hundreds of churches have been planted, and nearly 60,000 men and women have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
While teaching at a Bible college in the Philippines, Ed saw that many students who had been supported financially by Western Christians during their years of study were too quickly forgotten by Western supporters after they graduated and forced to find secular jobs instead of pursuing their original calling to serve Christ full-time.
Since the time that FMI has come alongside these pastors and restored their passion and vision, hundreds of national church leaders have radiated across Muslim-dominated lands, hundreds of churches have been planted, and nearly 60,000 men and women have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
Our Strategy
FMI is not a sending organization; it is an empowering organization. Unlike most Western mission agencies which recruit, train, and send missionaries from here to go there, all of FMI’s overseas church planters, pastors, and evangelists already live there – they are indigenous to the countries where they serve. Our distinctive strategy allows FMI to serve in some of the world’s spiritually darkest countries in extremely cost-effective and time-effective ways.
Because of the economic realities of the countries where FMI operates, a national pastor working in his homeland is supported through FMI at $140 per month. Our indigenous church planters and disciple-makers do not need visas to live or work there; they already speak the language, understand the culture, and enjoy significant relationships with people within their communities… so they’re ready to serve full-time from the moment our national boards approve them for church-planting work.
Because of the economic realities of the countries where FMI operates, a national pastor working in his homeland is supported through FMI at $140 per month. Our indigenous church planters and disciple-makers do not need visas to live or work there; they already speak the language, understand the culture, and enjoy significant relationships with people within their communities… so they’re ready to serve full-time from the moment our national boards approve them for church-planting work.
Our Core Values
Like the points of a compass, our commitment to the following five core values serves as a guide in determining organizational priorities and strategies, and helps keep us on track in the process of working to achieve our goals.
Dependence on God
We recognize that both the desire to serve the Lord as well as the ability to do so, come first from God Himself. Therefore, we purpose to seek His will in decision-making, watch for His provision for resources, and follow biblical instructions and principles for our operations. Our confidence does not emerge from the resources which are entrusted to us, but rather finds its source in the authority of the Lord; it is because of His authority, we can confidently and effectively use those resources. Philippians 2:13; 1 Samuel 17: 33-49
Indigenous Leadership
Understanding that it is the wisest use of time, money, and manpower for national believers to introduce their countrymen to Jesus Christ and disciple them according to biblical knowledge and practice, we seek to come alongside local believers to partner with them in reaching those objectives. We do this with great sensitivity to cross-cultural issues, purposing not to dictate methodology from afar, but encouraging local leadership to emerge and direct operations. Psalm 78:1-7; 2 Timothy 2:2
Partnership
We value a true, cooperative partnership between indigenous leaders, western supporters, and FMI’s International Executive Team. Each of us are members of one another in the Body of Christ. Each person has a strategic and distinctive role to perform, and it is only as that role is performed in alignment with other roles that our objectives are achieved. Therefore, we will honor each person’s distinctive contributions to the task and seek to learn how to function in harmony with one other. Romans 12:4-5; Exodus 17:8-15
Transparency
We value transparent communication and accountability. In order to build a bridge of trust between western supporters and indigenous partners there must be open, honest communication. We are committed to providing the highest level of transparency while still keeping our partners in persecuted environments sheltered from harm. Ephesians 4:25
On-Going Training
In order to more effectively remember what has been learned in the past, broaden our understanding of God’s Word, and remain responsive to cultural realities, we will invest time and material resources for the continual training of FMI leaders and affiliates, that they, in turn, can grow as fruitful ministers of the gospel. 1 Timothy 4:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 1:5-8
Dependence on God
We recognize that both the desire to serve the Lord as well as the ability to do so, come first from God Himself. Therefore, we purpose to seek His will in decision-making, watch for His provision for resources, and follow biblical instructions and principles for our operations. Our confidence does not emerge from the resources which are entrusted to us, but rather finds its source in the authority of the Lord; it is because of His authority, we can confidently and effectively use those resources. Philippians 2:13; 1 Samuel 17: 33-49
Indigenous Leadership
Understanding that it is the wisest use of time, money, and manpower for national believers to introduce their countrymen to Jesus Christ and disciple them according to biblical knowledge and practice, we seek to come alongside local believers to partner with them in reaching those objectives. We do this with great sensitivity to cross-cultural issues, purposing not to dictate methodology from afar, but encouraging local leadership to emerge and direct operations. Psalm 78:1-7; 2 Timothy 2:2
Partnership
We value a true, cooperative partnership between indigenous leaders, western supporters, and FMI’s International Executive Team. Each of us are members of one another in the Body of Christ. Each person has a strategic and distinctive role to perform, and it is only as that role is performed in alignment with other roles that our objectives are achieved. Therefore, we will honor each person’s distinctive contributions to the task and seek to learn how to function in harmony with one other. Romans 12:4-5; Exodus 17:8-15
Transparency
We value transparent communication and accountability. In order to build a bridge of trust between western supporters and indigenous partners there must be open, honest communication. We are committed to providing the highest level of transparency while still keeping our partners in persecuted environments sheltered from harm. Ephesians 4:25
On-Going Training
In order to more effectively remember what has been learned in the past, broaden our understanding of God’s Word, and remain responsive to cultural realities, we will invest time and material resources for the continual training of FMI leaders and affiliates, that they, in turn, can grow as fruitful ministers of the gospel. 1 Timothy 4:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 1:5-8
Our Mission Opportunities
Indonesia: A lot of ground to cover
The residents of Indonesia are spread across 6,000 inhabited islands and speak more than 720 languages.
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Pakistan: A lot of people to reach
Pakistan is the world’s sixth-largest nation by population, and is the second-largest Muslim-dominant country.
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Bangladesh: A lot of challenges to overcome:
Bangladesh ranks high in population and is the third-largest Muslim-dominant country in the world.
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Kenya: A lot of Gospel potential
Kenya sits at the base of the Muslim-dense nations which make up the “Horn of Africa,” making it a strategic lighthouse for the Gospel across eastern Africa.
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Turkey: A lot of paths converging
Turkey is the gateway between Asia and Europe and a key strategic field for reaching into the Middle East and Central Asia.
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Resources for the Fields: A lot of needs to be met
FMI provides a number of resources that further empower our indigenous partners. Our resources include evangelism tools like Bibles, DVDs, and printed literature as well as safe houses, motorcycles and more.
Read More...
The residents of Indonesia are spread across 6,000 inhabited islands and speak more than 720 languages.
Read More...
Pakistan: A lot of people to reach
Pakistan is the world’s sixth-largest nation by population, and is the second-largest Muslim-dominant country.
Read More...
Bangladesh: A lot of challenges to overcome:
Bangladesh ranks high in population and is the third-largest Muslim-dominant country in the world.
Read More...
Kenya: A lot of Gospel potential
Kenya sits at the base of the Muslim-dense nations which make up the “Horn of Africa,” making it a strategic lighthouse for the Gospel across eastern Africa.
Read More...
Turkey: A lot of paths converging
Turkey is the gateway between Asia and Europe and a key strategic field for reaching into the Middle East and Central Asia.
Read More...
Resources for the Fields: A lot of needs to be met
FMI provides a number of resources that further empower our indigenous partners. Our resources include evangelism tools like Bibles, DVDs, and printed literature as well as safe houses, motorcycles and more.
Read More...
Our Doctrine
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy, and the sole authority for faith and conduct.
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yet one in essence and equal in every divine perfection.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus is God the Son manifest in flesh, born of a virgin, sinless, and with authority to perform miracles. We believe in Jesus’ vicarious and atoning death, his bodily resurrection, ascension, his present mediatorial work, and his future return in power and glory.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit restrains evil in the world to the measure of divine will, convicts the world regarding sin, regenerates sinners as adopted heirs into the family of God. He indwells, guides, empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
SALVATION
We believe God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, all humans are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s grace as demonstrated via Jesus Christ’s shed blood can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed. An individual’s salvation is expressed through immediate justification, on-going sanctification, and eventual glorification.
THE CHURCH
We believe in two expressions of the Church: 1) the universal Church which is the complete spiritual body of Christ, consisting of all born-again believers of all places and times; 2) the local church consisting of regenerated Christians who assemble for the purpose of fellowship, worship, teaching, service, proclaiming the Word of God. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances for the Church – baptism and the Lord’s Supper – which visibly and tangibly express the gospel.
LAST THINGS
We believe in the imminent rapture of the church and the personal, bodily and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ. We believe that God will utterly defeat Satan in Satan’s final rebellion, and Satan will be doomed to the lake of fire. God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
We believe that Jesus Christ has commissioned his followers to radiate the gospel to the entire world, and that evangelism and church planting should be primary in the program of the local church.
This is a summary of FMI’s statement of faith. Please feel free to contact us to request the full version which also includes Scripture references for each point.
We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy, and the sole authority for faith and conduct.
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yet one in essence and equal in every divine perfection.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus is God the Son manifest in flesh, born of a virgin, sinless, and with authority to perform miracles. We believe in Jesus’ vicarious and atoning death, his bodily resurrection, ascension, his present mediatorial work, and his future return in power and glory.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit restrains evil in the world to the measure of divine will, convicts the world regarding sin, regenerates sinners as adopted heirs into the family of God. He indwells, guides, empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
SALVATION
We believe God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, all humans are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s grace as demonstrated via Jesus Christ’s shed blood can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed. An individual’s salvation is expressed through immediate justification, on-going sanctification, and eventual glorification.
THE CHURCH
We believe in two expressions of the Church: 1) the universal Church which is the complete spiritual body of Christ, consisting of all born-again believers of all places and times; 2) the local church consisting of regenerated Christians who assemble for the purpose of fellowship, worship, teaching, service, proclaiming the Word of God. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances for the Church – baptism and the Lord’s Supper – which visibly and tangibly express the gospel.
LAST THINGS
We believe in the imminent rapture of the church and the personal, bodily and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ. We believe that God will utterly defeat Satan in Satan’s final rebellion, and Satan will be doomed to the lake of fire. God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
We believe that Jesus Christ has commissioned his followers to radiate the gospel to the entire world, and that evangelism and church planting should be primary in the program of the local church.
This is a summary of FMI’s statement of faith. Please feel free to contact us to request the full version which also includes Scripture references for each point.