Fellowship International Mission
"Flexibility in Ministy with Integrity and Accountability"

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 the ladies to secure their purchase. On November 3, 1950 that board was incorporated. Today, This ministry continues to be a major means of reaching people for Christ in an otherwise closed country.

In 1953 when the British based Sahara Desert Mission, founded by Rev. Frank Baggott, sought an American affiliation, the council named the mission, Fellowship of Independent Missions. North Africa continued to be the focus.

In those early days, and since, Fellowship International missionaries have experienced hardship and persecution of all kinds — sickness and death, deportation or visas refused, fear for life itself as revolutions and civil disturbances have swept across their fields of service. Even today, some missionaries continue to serve in unsettled conditions. Yet, the sovereign "good hand of God" continues to protect and provide.

By 1978 there were over fifty Fellowship International missionaries serving in Portugal, Sweden, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Venezuela, Japan, France, South Africa, and the United States.

Through years of change at home and abroad, the Lord‘s good hand of blessing has always been evident. It seems that the next step to take was always clear, the right person was always available, and the Lord confirmed these choices with His continued blessing.

By the late 1980‘s, Fellowship International Mission was becoming much more prominent in world evangelism with missionaries on six continents. Most were directly involved in grass roots evangelism and discipling while others supported those ministries. However, nearly all were privileged to see abundant fruit as the Lord Jesus fulfilled His promise to build His church.

And then in the 90s, Fellowship International Mission became a mission board in the fullest sense of the word. It no longer confined itself to missionary money matters, nor was it simply an umbrella organization for independent mission boards. In fact, many people had joined as individual missionaries over the years, quickly outnumbering the small affiliated agencies.

Today, Fellowship International missionaries are involved in a wide range of ministries directly linked to the establishing of churches. These include evangelism and discipling ministries and the training of church leaders. Nearly 150 missionaries serve worldwide, as well as in the USA and Canada.

Fellowship International Mission looks to the future with confidence. God has done great things. He has always been faithful. And so, there is every reason to continue to trust in “the good hand of our God” (Ezra 7:9).