Vision & Purpose. of Ministers Fellowship International.

Transcription

1 Vision & Purpose of Ministers Fellowship International

2 Ministers Fellowship International exists to facilitate and nurture meaningful relationships among member ministers, equipping and enabling them to be more effective in their callings, for the purpose of building and multiplying strong local churches around the world. MISSION STATEMENT Benefits of MFI Identifying with others who share a common faith and vision Knowing you can readily experience a significant, lifelong relationship with other ministers who care like you do The input of quality and relevant equipping ministries to help you make your ministry more effective Opportunities to work intimately with friends in extending Christ s kingdom 2

3 Welcome to MFI Thank you for considering joining MFI. We have a great team of proven and qualified leaders who are people of absolute integrity and servant leadership. It is through character that true leadership is exercised and our desire is to be leaders who set an example of godly character. Trust is a huge factor in today s world and we know leaders are seeking out those they can trust. Trust must be earned and, once earned, protected at all costs, because without trust we have an empty leadership process. Trust between leaders is built on the values that leaders adhere to and the relationships developed. We believe you will find an atmosphere of openness and honesty among genuinely sincere leaders whom you can relate to and trust. We seek to create a culture of transparency among leaders, a culture that can also become part of every local church leadership team. We champion the cause of the local church in every way. We exist to help leaders build healthy, strong, impacting churches and to do so in a way that makes for a healthy leader. I believe if you choose to join MFI you will be blessed, enriched, enlarged, equipped, and inspired. You will change. Your church will be inspired to grow, adding new believers and growing them to become fully devoted followers of Christ. For the Harvest, Frank Damazio MFI Chairman

4 4 How Did MFI Begin? MFI began in 1987 in response to a need among pastors and leaders of independent churches for a sense of covering, accountability, identity, and connection. Pastor Dick Iverson, who at the time was the senior pastor of Bible Temple (now City Bible Church), was finding great success in training leaders and releasing them into church planting. In an effort to follow up on the church plants and the pastors who were over them, Pastor Iverson hosted an annual conference for all of those who had gone out from the church. This annual conference was a time of renewing relationship with old friends, strengthening ties with one another, being challenged concerning the current trends of the day, and growing in vision for what God wanted to do worldwide. It was always a special time for the City Bible Church extended family. Pastor Iverson had an open heart to all pastors who needed a spiritual father. City Bible Church provided conferences and seminars for whomever would come. Many pastors who were taking advantage of these conferences had no sending or covering relationship and they began asking for a closer relationship with a deeper level of commitment and accountability. These pastors appreciated the conference, but when they went home they felt like they were alone. Here were pastors who had a compatible vision, a common value system, and a similar belief system, but they had no vehicle through which they could associate themselves with other like-minded pastors unless they joined a traditional denomination. In response, Pastor Iverson put together a team to establish such a vehicle. Pastor Frank Damazio, Bill Scheidler, Ken Malmin, and Mike Herron met with him for a year to lay the groundwork that grew into the MFI we know today. MFI was set up as an independent corporation for the sole purpose of strengthening ministers while maintaining a high regard for the authority and autonomy of every local church. MFI provides an atmosphere where church leaders of like vision can join together, minister to each other, and find accountability, relationship, resources, and apostolic assistance. It is also a place where their congregations can find identity on a national and international level. From the Founder Ministers Fellowship International is a dream come true. For many years I wondered how ministers could come together for a common purpose, without having to face issues of control and sacrificing their local church autonomy. When I was a young pastor, I searched for fathers in the faith and other pastors who were going the same direction that I was going. I needed guidance and I needed fellowship, yet nothing seemed available to me. The local ministers gatherings were good but, because they were a blending of different philosophies and concepts, they did not fully meet the need. As I matured in ministry, God gave me a real heart for pastors who are alone like I was. MFI has come out of that heart. I am thankful for the Apostolic Leadership Team that has come together to fully share in this vision. It takes a team of committed leaders to see any vision come to pass. God has fully blessed us with some of the greatest men and women of God to be found in the earth today. It is wonderful to walk together with other leaders for the sake of a greater harvest. Your Fellow Servant, K.R. Dick Iverson MFI Founder

5 MFI Purpose Personal Relationship Many ministers have a need for peer relationships where they can be open and accountable. They also need to know that there are others who can stand with them in love and encouragement. Culturally Relevant Every minister needs to have times away where they can gain new perspective on what is happening in their church and the church world. In our rapidly changing culture, there is a need to be aware of current trends and how to respond to them. The MFI website and the regional conferences will help the leader stay abreast of current trends both in secular culture and in the church world. Ongoing Equipping Most leaders desire ongoing training and further education so that they can become more effective at what they do. Through the regional conferences, networks, and website MFI will assist the minister in becoming better equipped to face the challenges of today. Multiplied Resources Every minister and support leader desires to find resources for the growth and development of their church, yet researching these can take more time than the leader can give. Through the networks and website, MFI provides a forum for ongoing discussions on ministry tools as well as providing resource materials for all areas of ministry: children, youth, missions, administration, business, worship, and more. MFI also provides access to apostolic ministries and leaders who can provide counsel to ministers who are in need of assistance on any level. Personal Refreshing Most church leaders are continually giving out and ministering to others, but who ministers to them? Where do the shepherds have an opportunity to be sheep and receive pastoral ministry? The MFI conferences are a place where ministers can have time away to receive refreshing and be touched personally. Impacting Networks All visionary leaders have a desire to be a part of something that is going to make a difference in the Kingdom of God. By joining together with other leaders of like vision, they will be able to make a much greater impact on the world and have a greater possibility of realizing the vision that is in their hearts. MFI s international outreach and expansion can be shared by the entire membership of MFI. Respect for Autonomy Ministers Fellowship International has strong convictions regarding the autonomy of the local church. These underlying convictions affect everything that MFI does and guide every policy that MFI establishes. 5

6 6 MFI s Ministry Philosophy Ministers Partnering with Ministers MFI is a fellowship of ministers of like vision and doctrine who voluntarily associate themselves with other ministries for the purpose of fellowship, encouragement, vision, expansion, equipping, and strength. By becoming a member of MFI, you are able to receive resources and strength from others. This is a two-way street in that you are also in a position to be a source of strength and resource to others in the fellowship as well. MFI provides a structure and a context where meaningful relationships can be cultivated and where every member is looking out for each other. Affiliation, Yet Autonomy One of the strong doctrinal foundations of MFI is its conviction that every local church is autonomous. Each local church is to be self-governing, self-supporting, and selfpropagating. We desire to be a catalyst to bring pastors and church leaders together in affiliation for the purpose of fellowship, relationship, and strength. However we will not violate the structural integrity and authority of the local assembly. MFI safeguards the local church by organizing the fellowship in a way that prevents the things that give control. The three things that MFI will not do are: 1. MFI does not credential ministries. The local church is to be the place where ministries are birthed, raised up, trained, equipped, licensed, and ordained. MFI maintains that licensing and ordination are the specific functions of the local church and must be administered on that level. 2. MFI does not own local church properties. The local church is the rightful owner of their own properties and MFI does not legally get involved with church properties. 3. MFI does not control local church missions. The local church is to be the sending body for missionaries. Local churches may voluntarily cooperate with each other on missionaries and mission projects but MFI as an organization does not send missionaries or plant churches. This is the ministry of the local church and MFI is dedicated to strengthen the local church as it fulfills its own ministry vision. In spite of the fact that MFI does not subscribe to organizational control, it does recognize that ministers need a sense of spiritual family and identity. They need to be part of a vision greater than themselves. They need committed relationships with likeminded ministries who can be a source of strength and resource in their time of need. MFI is just that for many pastors and leaders. When they come into MFI, they come into a spiritual family of brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers who can provide wisdom, counsel, and relationship when they need it. They become part of a worldwide vision that continues to grow into the future.

7 Accountability Without Control MFI provides a context for spiritual relationship and accountability in a balanced fashion without having any official or legal control over any minister or church. As a fellowship of ministers, MFI provides a context for ministers to find strengthening and support relationships with other ministries. However these relationships are voluntary and unofficial and are not intended to replace the legal and official authority of the local church. All ministries, including the senior pastor, should be under the legal authority of and accountable to their own church elder board. If a pastor has no elder board, then he should be submitted to the accountability of a covering church while that elder board is in the process of forming. If MFI leaders are invited into a local church by its senior pastor or leadership team to get involved in any matter, any suggestions that would be given would be submitted to the leadership team as advice. Any decisions or actions would be the function of the local church eldership. The Foundations for Relationship The Bible makes it very clear that if two are going to walk together, there must be an underlying agreement. If people are going to come into a committed relationship that is genuine and meaningful there must be a strong foundation for that relationship to be built upon. Strong relationships in MFI are built upon four key factors. Character A commitment to Christ-like character is essential if those associated with MFI are to represent Christ s ministry effectively to the world. This means that MFI stands for the principle of servant leadership demonstrated by personal integrity, moral purity, financial responsibility, and ethical standards of Christian conduct. Common Vision A commitment to a common vision is essential if those associated with MFI will be able to build a unified expression of Christ s church in the earth today. Unity of vision and direction, commonality of goals and purpose, and even the affirmation of biblical principles and methods form a foundation upon which we can all build together. Compatibility of Doctrine A commitment to a common interpretation of the Scripture as it relates to basic doctrinal areas the eternal purpose of God, the place of the church in God s plan, and the overall structure and government of the local church is critical if we are to effectively contribute to one another s success. Committed Relationship A commitment to be our brother s keeper in a tangible way is the by-product of the other three pillars. A covenant relationship is a commitment to not only be concerned about one s own affairs, but also to be genuinely concerned about the affairs of the other members of the fellowship. It is a commitment to the personal success of the other members and a willingness to serve others to see that accomplished. 7

8 8 MFI Distinctives From God s perspective, there is only one church. It includes all believers living and dead all over the world who have entered into a personal relationship with God through faith. Within the family of God as a whole, there are smaller groupings of people and leaders that God has brought together based on a common vision and understanding of God s eternal purpose. Just like in an earthly family, each of these groups of people has distinct characteristics based on a common heritage, spiritual belief system, vision, and focus. MFI has certain things in its spiritual DNA that make it distinct. Here are basic distinctives of MFI. 1. Local Church. We believe that the local church is an aspect of the church that God is focusing on building in these days. While we all recognize and understand that the larger Body of Christ encompasses all believers, it is through the local church that all of the plans and purposes of God are going to be demonstrated and fulfilled. Every believer must find himself or herself in right relationship to God and to a specific local church in order to find a place of ministry and fruitfulness. The church is God s instrument to extend His kingdom in the earth today. 2. Restoration of the Church. We believe that the church, which began with great power and anointing, fully functioning as God s instrument in the earth, went through a period of serious spiritual and doctrinal decline through the Middle Ages. Since Martin Luther, God has been in the process of restoring the church to her former glory and power with the goal of taking it on to His intended purpose, enabling the church to finish the commission laid upon it by Jesus Himself. 3. Prayer and Intercession. We believe that both personal and corporate prayer are absolutely essential for the church to succeed. The New Testament church was birthed in prayer. It continued steadfast in prayer and bathed all of its activities and ministries in prayer. 4. Praise and Worship. We believe that the pattern for New Testament worship is found in the Scriptures and is described in the Psalms. It is demonstrative worship that is characterized by the biblical expressions of clapping, shouting, singing, dancing, lifting hands, bowing, and kneeling. 5. Eldership Church Government. We believe that God has a plan and pattern for government in the local church. We refer to this as team ministry or an eldership management form of government with a senior pastor or chief elder. The elders are the servant leaders of the local assembly who are responsible before God to build up and equip the members of the church to be able to function in their God-ordained callings. 6. Prophecy and the Laying on of Hands. We believe that prophecy and the ministry of the prophet are to be fully operational in the church today. We do not accept that this and other ministries were to be confined to an apostolic age but they are to be fully activated until the physical return of Christ. 7. Restoration of the Family. We believe that, at the same time God is restoring His church, He is also restoring the natural family to its proper place and function. God is in the process of healing marriages, strengthening parents, and teaching men

9 and women more about their God-given roles. He is doing this because He wants to use a godly seed in this generation to rise up and destroy the works of the wicked one. 8. Small Group Ministry. We believe that the early church focused on two important expressions of its assembly life. There were the corporate gatherings that were vital for the equipping of the saints and corporate expressions of prayer and worship. In addition, there was ministry from house to house for the sake of fellowship, relationship, nurture, and evangelism. If the church today is going to be successful in its ministry to the world and to itself, both expressions must be cultivated. 9. The Kingdom and the Church. We believe that the extension of the Kingdom of God is the function and ministry of the church. The church, which is composed of both Jew and Gentile, is God s instrument in the earth to establish God s rule and His reign. The church is the instrument; the kingdom is the message. If the church is going to fulfill its God-given calling, it must reclaim its primary function of bringing the lost to Christ and extending the borders of God s kingdom until the glory of the Lord covers the earth. 10.The Five-Fold Ministry. We believe that the ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11 are to be fully functioning right up to the return of Christ. This includes apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists. All of these ministries are needed if the Body of Christ is to be properly equipped and the church is to be properly built up. 11. The Gifts of the Spirit. We believe that the gifts of the Spirit enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 are not only for today, but should be desired, sought after, and evidenced in every church. They are to be a part of the church right up to the return of Christ for His perfected bride. 12.Unity and Diversity. We believe that every local church should be inclusive and actively seek to include all peoples of all races, ethnic origins, and social and economic standings. Each local church should reflect the makeup of the community within which it is located. 13. Evangelism, Church Planting, and World Missions. We believe that the church has been given the commission by Christ to go into the entire world with the kingdom message in an attempt to bring all men to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We also believe that the result of this mission should be the establishing of local churches in every community in every country of the world. 14.Raising up and Releasing Leaders. We believe that five-fold ministers are to be servant leaders that equip and release every member of the local congregation to function in their God-ordained ministry. 9

10 10 The MFI Organization Apostolic Leadership Team (ALT) Ministers Fellowship International is directed by an Apostolic Leadership Team which is made up of the Officers of the Fellowship, the Regional Directors and other proven, mature ministries. The Apostolic Leadership Team serves the fellowship by: 1. Establishing the vision for and giving direction to the fellowship with the input and counsel of all MFI members. 2. Ensuring that the fellowship functions in such a way that the purposes become a reality. 3. Maintaining doctrinal purity in the fellowship through the formulation and distribution of position statements. 4. Strengthening fellowship members through resources, books, articles, position papers, and other resources. 5. Raising up and releasing other like-minded leaders to assist in reaching the fellowship goals. 6. Setting the direction and themes for the annual and regional conferences. 7. Overseeing all areas of financial concern including collection, budgeting, accounting, and distribution. They provide an annual report to the fellowship to keep the members informed. 8. Selecting and appointing regional directors, both on a national and an international level. Regions In order to strengthen each member of MFI in a more personal and meaningful way, the fellowship has been divided into geographical regions. Regions have been established in the United States and continue to be developed in other nations of the world. Each geographical region is led by a regional director who is also a member of the Apostolic Leadership Team. Regional Directors Regional directors are appointed by the Apostolic Leadership Team (ALT) to serve the geographical divisions of Ministers Fellowship International and to represent the concerns of their region to the ALT. Working with a regional team of MFI members from the geographical region, the regional directors help ensure that the objectives of MFI are realized in their specific region. The regional directors serve their regions by: 1. Helping to organize the regional conferences in their area. 2. Developing other regional gatherings and activities that will foster meaningful relationships and promote ongoing communication in their region. 3. Ministering to the personal needs of member ministries in their region. 4. Organizing the region into sub-regions for the purpose of cultivating deeper fellowship and relationship among member ministers. 5. Communicating the concerns of member ministers to the Apostolic Leadership Team. 6. Reaching out to pastors who might be interested in being a part of such a fellowship. International Strategy Team (IST) An International Strategy Team, led by the International Director, is a vital key to the development of MFI worldwide. This team makes recommendations to the Apostolic Leadership Team concerning international development. In every nation there are pastors who are walking alone and need the things that a fellowship like MFI has to offer. The International Strategy Team helps the fellowship to connect with these national pastors and church leaders. MFI Affiliates MFI s vision is to reach out internationally as well as nationally and connect relationally with those who share the vision of nurturing pastors and developing strong local churches, and who also embrace our basic core beliefs. This occurs through MFI affiliates, emerging affiliates, and related networks that already exist in different nations. At the time of this writing, MFI has affiliates in Europe, Australia, Brazil, the Caribbean, Nigeria, and Uganda. There are emerging affiliates in Haiti, Singapore, Peru, and Bolivia. And there are related networks in Mexico, Ghana, India, Indonesia, and Guatemala.

11 MFI Strategy Every purpose must have a strategy by which that purpose is made a reality. Without strategy, vision would only be a dream. This is a brief overview of some of the strategy by which MFI seeks to fulfill its purpose. 1. Membership Membership is an important part of MFI as it enables those serving the MFI members to know who each member is and how to serve the members and their leadership teams. Membership is entered through a defined process that includes an application and interview. 2. Regional Leadership There is a regional director and a regional leadership team for each region. The purpose of team ministry in the region is to ensure that each region has a strategy to impact the region and that member ministers have someone they can readily relate to as a resource. 3. Annual Conferences MFI sponsors annual conferences for the purpose of developing and deepening a broad base of relationships, inspire vision and bring refreshing to pastors and leaders. This conference is always a highlight of the year and a great time of refreshing and renewal. MFI hosts conferences of his nature both in the United States and internationally (consult the website for details). 4. Regional Conferences MFI sponsors smaller regional conferences in many geographical centers for the purpose of gaining a vision for the region, deepening regional relationships, bearing one another s burdens, and experiencing more intimate and practical discussion on relevant issues facing the ministers and their churches. These regional gatherings are the heartbeat of MFI and provide for a genuine opportunity for relationships to deepen. The regional conferences are much more informal in nature and provide special times for more intimate fellowship, sharing, edification, interaction, and equipping. 5. Resources The MFI website provides an abundance of quality resources, articles, relevant materials, book recommendations and more. These resources are designed to strengthen pastors, mobile ministries, and church leaders. There are specific areas focusing on specific support ministries such as prayer ministry, childrens ministry, youth, worship, missions, business, church administration, and leadership development. 6. Membership Directory A directory of MFI members is maintained on the MFI website with a church locator that assists people in locating the nearest MFI related church. This is a great resource to ministers who are traveling on vacation and to members of the congregation who are moving to a new location. It also assists leaders in gaining a prayer burden for other MFI members. 11

12 7. Website MFI maintains a website for the purpose of more effective communication of current information. The site contains current membership information, administrative resources, an online bookstore, conference schedules, and other bulletin board information. In addition, there is also a network forum in which members are able to relate to others serving in similar ministries for shared ideas and resources. Current networks are prayer ministry, childrens ministry, youth, worship, missions, business, church administration, and leadership development. 8. Equipping Seminars Well-organized, specialized equipping seminars are sponsored from time to time by MFI. These seminars will be made available periodically to our membership and are uniquely designed opportunities to develop and sharpen ministry skills and impart wisdom and knowledge that will make ministry more effective. 9. Consulting Resources MFI is committed to the principle of providing pastoral nurture and care to its membership. Not only will there be regional leaders available to each new member, but the entire Apostolic Leadership Team and other designated proven ministries will be available to the membership of MFI for counsel, encouragement, wisdom, and fellowship. In addition, at the request of member pastors and their elderships, consulting teams can be put together to minister to the particular needs of the given church. There are many experienced ministries in MFI who can assist in a large variety of areas to help strengthen ministers and the churches that they represent. This aspect of MFI operates at the request of MFI member pastors and their leadership teams and can be a valuable resource when an outside perspective is needed. 10. Financial Commitments Finally, an important means by which MFI is able to fulfill the purposes of the fellowship is through the faithful financial giving of the MFI members. Every vision has a cost attached to it. As members willingly sow their finances into the fellowship, there will be an abundant reaping of relationship, covering, assistance, resources, and strength. Each member of MFI has a schedule of dues that they contribute on a regular basis. In addition, each member is encouraged to make an annual faith or vision offering for the overall expansion of the vision of MFI. 12

13 Membership How does a minister become a member of Ministers Fellowship International? Becoming a member of MFI is becoming part of a family of leaders who are alike in doctrine, vision, character, values, and purpose. The first step would be for you to determine if you feel MFI is for you. If MFI sounds like something that you would like to be a part of, ask yourself these questions: 1. Do I feel that I could support the doctrinal emphasis of MFI? 2. Do I feel a need to relate to like-minded pastors who are seeking to build a glorious church in these days? 3. Do I want to relate in fellowship with and have mutual accountability to other leaders with strong convictions? 4. Do I want to join efforts with complementary ministries to see God accomplish His purpose to extend His Kingdom into the entire world? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you can start the process toward membership today. 1. Sponsor a. Become acquainted with a senior pastor who is a current member of MFI or an Apostolic Team member and ask that person to become your sponsor. b. Ask your sponsor to complete a sponsor s reference form, which will be sent to you with the application. 2. Application a. Fill out an application for membership. b. Return it with the application fee of $50, a copy of your church s articles of incorporation and a copy of the church s constitution/by-laws. 3. Conference Attendance a. Attend an annual or a regional MFI conference as a pending applicant. b. Conference attendance is a necessary part of the process so you can sense the spirit of those you will be joining. 4. Interview a. Senior pastor applicants will have a personal interview with a member of the Apostolic Leadership Team or their representative. b. The Apostolic Leadership Team will make the final approval of all membership applicants. 5. Acceptance a. Pending applicants will receive a written notification regarding the acceptance of their application. b. The new member can begin to contribute by paying their dues when they receive their letter of acceptance. c. When this process is complete, the new member will receive an official, framed membership certificate. In addition your name will be added to the official membership list and you will be given a password to access the Members Only section of the MFI website. 13

14 Financial Support Every organization must receive support if it is going to be able to fulfill its vision. Many church organizations ask much from their members. Some ask for a tithe of the churches general fund for operating the administrative aspects of the organization. Some ask for all missionary monies to be sent to the central office and that all missionary activity be directed through that office. MFI is very different from this. MFI is funded through membership dues. The dues that are collected are consistent with the actual costs incurred to provide the express purposes of the fellowship. The cost to the individual member is based on a graduating scale dependent on the size of the church represented, the nature of the ministry and whether they are national or international members. Senior pastors give a monthly amount that varies in relation to the size of the church. Other support ministries, mobile ministers and international pastors pay an annual fee of $250 (USD) per year. The annual giving of $99 for support ministries merely covers the actual costs of their membership to the fellowship. These dues enable the fellowship to incorporate these ministries without imposing significant financial pressure. The cost to these support ministries can be paid by the individual or by their local church. Those paying the support ministry annual rate will assume all of their own expenses to attend both the regional and the annual MFI conferences. The monthly giving scale for senior pastors is based on the estimated size of the church that they pastor. The count is based on the entire church population. 14 Church Monthly Population Rate 0-50 $ $ $ $ $230 Church Monthly Population Rate $ $ $ $ $500 These numbers reflect the expected membership dues for an MFI member. However many pastors who have a strong personal vision for the purposes of MFI and are financially able have chosen to give a larger commitment than what is prescribed. Other churches have chosen to include MFI in their mission budget for assistance with the international expansion of MFI. You are welcome to make a larger commitment if you feel a personal burden to see the purposes of MFI reached.

15 Doctrinal Statements The fundamental teachings of MFI are reflected in the following, clear statements: 1. We believe in the plenary, verbal inspiration of the accepted canon of the Scriptures as originally given (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13). 2. We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as ONE God existing in THREE persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit; distinguishable but indivisible (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). 3. We believe in the creation, test and fall of man as recorded in Genesis; man s total spiritual depravity and inability to attain to divine righteousness (Romans 5:12, 18). 4. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, very God and very man (Luke 1:26-35; John 1:18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6). 5. We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25). 6. We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation and personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for the Church (John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 7. We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12; Romans 5:11). 8. We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of Christ (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:36-39; 19:1-6). 9. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience subsequent to salvation, with the Scriptural evidence; namely, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; Galatians 3:14-15). 10. We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14, manifested in the Early Church. 11. We believe in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and perfecting of holiness in the fear of God as an expression of Christian faith (Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1). 12. We believe in the healing of the body by divine power, or divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the Early Church (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14). 13. We believe in the Table of the Lord, commonly called Communion or the Lord s Supper, for believers (1 Corinthians 11:23-32). 14. We believe in eternal life for believers (John 5:24; 3:16) and eternal punishment for unbelievers (Mark 9:43-48; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:10-15). 15. We believe in the reality and personality of Satan and eternal judgment of Satan and his angels (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10-15). 15

16 Ministers Fellowship International exists to facilitate and nurture meaningful relationships among member ministers, equipping and enabling them to be more effective in their callings, for the purpose of building and multiplying strong local churches around the world. MISSION STATEMENT 9200 NE Fremont Portland, Oregon USA