July 24, 2026July 24, 2026

Sometimes Ministry Looks Like Pizza Dough

When most people picture missionary work, they imagine someone preaching a sermon, leading a Bible study, or sharing the Gospel in a crowded village.

Sometimes ministry looks like that.

And sometimes… it looks like pizza dough.

At Christ For the City International’s Oasis Transformation Center in El Salvador, missionary Ronald recently gathered five women for a pizza-making workshop. There was just one problem: none of them had ever made pizza before.

The team also didn’t have everything they needed. There were no stainless-steel worktables. No commercial kitchen. No industrial oven.

By most standards, they weren’t ready.

But instead of waiting for perfect circumstances, Ronald chose to begin with what God had already provided.

Along the way, God faithfully met every need. Someone generously loaned them an oven—simple, but exactly what they needed to get started. It became another reminder that God often provides as we take steps of faith.

Before the first lesson began, Ronald shared what he called his “secret ingredient.”

It wasn’t a special spice or a family recipe.

It was prayer.

Together, they thanked God for the opportunity to learn, asked Him to guide every step, and committed their work to His glory.

That prayer would become more important than anyone realized.

As the women began making dough, frustration quickly set in. The texture wasn’t right. Hands became covered in sticky dough. Confidence disappeared.

One participant named Roxana became convinced she simply couldn’t do it.

She kept saying she wasn’t capable. The more discouraged she became, the harder the task seemed.

So Ronald did something unexpected.

He stopped the lesson.

Together, they prayed again.

They remembered God’s promises—that we can give Him our worries, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and that God created each of us with purpose.

When Roxana returned to the table, something had changed.

Her fear had been replaced with confidence.

This time, the dough came together perfectly.

A few months later, each participant created their own signature pizza. Roxana surprised everyone by adding chorizo to her sauce, creating a flavor that stood out from the rest. The woman who once believed she couldn’t do it had become one of the most creative participants in the class.

What changed wasn’t simply her ability to make pizza.

God transformed the way she saw herself.

Today, these women are learning practical skills that can help provide income for their families. But they’re also discovering something even more valuable: that they have worth, purpose, and gifts given by God.

That’s what community transformation looks like.

It isn’t only about teaching a skill.

It’s about restoring dignity.

Building confidence.

Sharing the hope of Jesus.

And reminding people that God can do extraordinary things with ordinary lives—and sometimes with ordinary ingredients.

Ronald dreams of expanding this ministry by creating a fully equipped teaching kitchen where even more women can receive training, build businesses, and hear the Gospel. Interest from neighboring communities is already growing, and new opportunities continue to open.

Stories like this don’t happen because one missionary has all the answers or all the resources.

They happen because God works through faithful people who choose to pray, give, and send.

Every prayer offered.
Every gift given.
Every partnership formed.

Together, they make moments like Roxana’s possible.

Sometimes ministry looks like preaching.
Sometimes it looks like feeding children.

And sometimes…

it looks like pizza dough.

If you’d like to help missionaries like Ronald continue bringing practical hope and the hope of Christ to communities around the world, we invite you to become part of the story through the SEND campaign.

Support Missionaries Through SEND

July 20, 2026August 3, 2026

The Great Commission Has Never Been a One-Person Assignment

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” — Matthew 28:19

When most people think about missions, they picture someone boarding a plane and moving to another country.

Sometimes that’s exactly what God calls people to do.

But more often, missions looks like something much closer to home.

It looks like a pastor faithfully serving his own neighborhood.

A teacher sharing the hope of Christ with her students.
A ministry leader investing in children after school.
A church planter discipling new believers.
A volunteer serving meals to families in need.
A missionary loving the very city they grew up in.

Different places.
Different cultures.
Different callings.

One mission.

One of the things we love most about Christ For the City International is that the vast majority of our missionaries are nationals serving in the countries they call home. They know the language. They understand the culture. They have deep relationships in their communities. They aren’t outsiders—they’re neighbors faithfully living out the Gospel where God has planted them.

Whether God calls someone across the street or across the world, one thing remains true:

No missionary serves alone.

Behind every missionary is a team of faithful people who pray.

People who encourage.
People who give.
People who say “yes” to sending.

Because the Great Commission has never been a one-person assignment.

Every “Go” Is Supported by Someone Who Sends

From the very beginning, God’s mission has always been a shared mission.

The Apostle Paul traveled extensively, but he never served alone. Churches welcomed him. Friends traveled with him. Believers prayed for him. Faithful partners met practical needs so he could continue the work God had called him to do.

That same pattern continues today.

Every conversation about Jesus…
Every child who hears the Gospel…
Every family who receives food, care, and hope…
Every young person discovering their identity in Christ…
Every church strengthened…
Every community transformed…

…is possible because someone answered God’s call to go—and someone else answered God’s call to send.

Both matter.
Both require faith.
Both are acts of obedience.
Both become part of the story God is writing.

The Reality Many People Never See

When people think about missionaries, they often picture someone serving full-time in ministry.

The reality is often more complex.

Many CFCI missionaries faithfully serve their communities while also working outside jobs to provide for themselves and their families.

Sometimes that’s exactly where God has called them to be. Those workplaces become places of ministry, relationship, and witness.

But for others, limited financial support means balancing multiple responsibilities simply to make ends meet.

It can mean less time with family.

Less time discipling believers.
Less time mentoring young leaders.
Less time investing in the people and communities God has called them to serve.

The need isn’t simply financial.

It’s relational.

Every missionary needs a team of people who will faithfully pray, encourage, and stand beside them over the long haul.

There’s a Place for You in God’s Mission

Maybe you’ve never considered yourself a missionary.

Maybe you’ve never imagined preaching a sermon, planting a church, or serving overseas.

But that doesn’t mean God hasn’t given you a place in His mission.

Some people are called to go.
Some people are called to send.

Both are essential.

When you pray for a missionary, you’re participating in God’s work.

When you encourage a missionary who’s weary, you’re strengthening someone carrying the Gospel.

When you give, you’re helping create more time for ministry, discipleship, and sharing the hope of Christ.

As Henri Nouwen wrote in A Spirituality of Fundraising, giving isn’t simply about meeting financial needs. It’s about inviting people to participate in what God is already doing.

That’s exactly what SEND is.

It’s not about funding a project.

It’s about joining a story.

Introducing SEND

This summer, we’re launching SEND: Fuel the Messenger. FORward the Mission.

SEND is an invitation to build stronger sending teams for the missionaries serving through Christ For the City International.

It’s an opportunity to pray faithfully.
To give generously.
To encourage consistently.
To stand behind the people God has called to share His love in cities and communities around the world.

Our prayer is that through SEND, missionaries will be strengthened, families will be encouraged, and even more lives will be transformed through the hope of Jesus.

What’s Your Role?

The Great Commission has never been a one-person assignment.

Some people are called to go.
Some people are called to send.

Everyone has a place in God’s mission.

Maybe your role is to faithfully pray for a missionary.
Maybe it’s to encourage them with a note when they need it most.
Maybe it’s to become a monthly partner, giving them greater freedom to invest in their family and the ministry God has entrusted to them.

Whatever your role, know this:

When you say “yes” to God’s invitation, you’re not watching from the sidelines.

You’re becoming part of the story He’s writing around the world.

Join the SEND Campaign

Every missionary needs a sending team.

Will you become part of one?

Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity help fuel the messenger and FORward the mission.

👉 Join the SEND Campaign at www.cfci.org/send

July 13, 2026June 29, 2026

Every Day Should Be a Mission

What happens when students move beyond the church walls and spend a week serving in a city?

For eight students from Minnesota, an Urban Plunge in Omaha became much more than a mission trip. It became an opportunity to see people differently, understand their communities more deeply, and discover that God’s mission isn’t confined to a church building—or even a single week of service.

By the end of the trip, one student’s biggest takeaway could be summed up in four simple words:

“Every day should be a mission.”

Throughout the week, the team partnered with local ministries, served people experiencing homelessness, met refugees and immigrant families, learned about ministry in diverse communities, and encountered people whose stories challenged their assumptions.

For one student, the most impactful moment happened during a simple game of basketball.

“When one man and I talked for a good while after initiating basketball, it was so impactful to see someone experiencing homelessness being just like me.”

It’s a realization many students experience during Urban Plunge. The people they serve stop being statistics or labels. They become neighbors. Friends. People with stories, struggles, hopes, and dreams.

That shift in perspective often changes more than students expect.

When asked what surprised him most, the student’s answer was simple:

“How many privileges I really have.”

Others discovered a new boldness in their faith.

Leah shared that serving at Heart Ministry Center was one of the most meaningful parts of the week. During her time there, she had the opportunity to pray for a woman in need.

“I felt Jesus embolden me more than I’ve ever been emboldened before during this trip,” she said. “I want to go forward and share the gospel with everyone I meet.”

Leah also recalled hearing from a missionary serving among Muslim communities. Learning about a different culture and hearing firsthand how God is working around the world expanded her understanding of both people and missions.

“Knowing how many people need Jesus, I can’t be afraid to let my light shine.”

For Caitlynn, the week opened her eyes to realities she had never fully understood before.

“I never realized how many people were in poverty, or experiencing homelessness, even how many are in domestically abusive relationships.”

One interaction especially stayed with her.

“I prayed for a couple of people and I could see their faces just light up. One even started crying.”

Moments like these remind students that ministry doesn’t always require a stage, a sermon, or years of experience. Sometimes it begins with a conversation, a prayer, a listening ear, or a willingness to show up and let God work.

The trip also challenged students to grow personally and spiritually. One lesson that resonated throughout the week was, “Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Thirteen-year-old Rush pointed to Matthew 28:19—the Great Commission—as a reminder that every follower of Jesus is called to go and make disciples.

What makes Urban Plunge unique is that students don’t just learn about missions. They experience it.

They see firsthand how God is working in cities. They discover the needs and opportunities that exist all around them. They begin to recognize that ministry isn’t reserved for missionaries or pastors. It’s something every believer is invited into.

And often, they return home seeing their own communities differently.

The goal of Urban Plunge has never been simply to create a meaningful week. The goal is to help students develop a lifestyle of mission—one that continues long after the trip ends.

Because the truth is, mission isn’t just something we do when we travel. It’s how we live.

Every day should be a mission.

At Christ For the City International, Urban Plunge helps students discover that reality for themselves. Through hands-on service, intentional discipleship, cultural engagement, and opportunities to share God’s love in practical ways, students begin to see what it means to follow Jesus beyond the church walls.

If you’re a youth pastor, church leader, school teacher, parent, or student looking for more than just another trip, Urban Plunge can help your students encounter God through service and return home ready to live on mission every day.

Ready to help your students see what God can do through a week of intentional service?

Learn more about Urban Plunge and upcoming opportunities at www.cfci.org/go.

July 6, 2026June 26, 2026

Growing a Vision for Missions: The Five Stages

Many Christians long to see their local church grow in its vision for missions. Whether they are leaders or members, they desire a deeper passion—for themselves and for their church—for God’s every-tribe-and-tongue work in the world. Yet while that desire may be present, many struggle to know how to help their faith communities grow in that vision.

Part of CFCI’s mission is partnering with local churches to help them engage in God’s global mission. One helpful way to think about that journey is to break it into five stages. Here they are—and how we can help.

1. Knowing

Every journey begins with understanding some foundational truths. God’s people need to know things like:

The gospel is not meant to end with us; it is something we receive and then share with others.
The kingdom of God is advancing, and we are invited to offer our lives in service to that work.
God’s mission is global, encompassing people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
The Great Commission is the mission of the Church.

Teaching these truths is essential. If people do not understand them, the later stages will never take root. Most churches, however, do teach these things. The challenge is that many Christians can repeat the information without allowing it to shape their hearts and lives.

Why does that happen?

2. Doing

In the Christian life, knowing leads to doing. Until truth is put into practice, it has not yet fully taken root. When it comes to missions, one of the best ways to understand God’s heart for the nations is to participate in His work.

At the same time, growth happens in stages. Jesus spent three years preparing His disciples before sending them out. Paul likewise spent years growing in faith and understanding after his conversion. Yet throughout that process, he was already participating in God’s mission.

So what might those first steps look like?

Begin by making a concrete plan to join God’s work in your local community or a neighboring one. Learn to serve, witness, and love people in your own cultural context before stepping into another.

This is the vision behind CFCI’s Urban Plunge program. It creates opportunities for churches to engage with the spiritual and physical needs of a nearby urban center. Along the way, participants are challenged to deepen their own walk with Jesus as well.

3. Going

While local ministry is invaluable, few experiences help believers catch a vision for God’s global mission like a short-term mission trip.

These trips do two important things:

They call us out of our comfort zones. As we take larger steps of faith into unfamiliar situations, our trust in God grows as we experience His faithfulness.
They introduce us to the wider Church. Serving and worshiping alongside indigenous believers and leaders is often transformative. We discover that God—and His people—are far bigger and more beautiful than we imagined.

CFCI facilitates these experiences through our Global Trips. These trips provide opportunities for teams to serve alongside local ministries around the world, witnessing what God is doing and contributing in meaningful ways to that work.

4. Partnering

It is one thing to experience the global Church. It is another thing entirely to develop lasting relationships within it.

Cross-cultural partnerships make the communion of the saints visible and tangible. They remind us that we belong to one body, united in Christ despite differences of language, culture, and geography.

One of the most exciting aspects of CFCI’s Global Trips is the opportunity they create for ongoing partnerships. Teams can return to the same ministry locations year after year, reconnecting with familiar faces and witnessing firsthand how God continues to work. We are always excited to help cultivate and strengthen these long-term relationships.

5. Sending

While every church can know, do, go, and partner, our prayer is that God would also call some individuals to devote their lives to cross-cultural ministry.

This calling is not for everyone, but it is something every church should celebrate, support, and pray for.

CFCI provides a unique environment for those exploring such a calling. Our Global Ambassadors program offers training, support, and opportunities for longer-term service experiences lasting up to a year. We can also serve as a sending organization for those whom God leads into long-term missionary service.

Wherever your church may be on this journey, it is worth asking: What is the next step?

How might God be inviting your church to grow into a deeper vision for His mission?

And wherever that next step leads, know that we at CFCI are here to help.

June 29, 2026June 26, 2026

Why Do People Come Home from Mission Trips Changed?

If you’ve ever talked with someone after a mission trip, you’ve probably heard them say, “I went there to serve, but I feel like I received more than I gave.”

At first, that sounds backwards.

Mission trips are about serving others, sharing the love of Jesus, and stepping into the needs of a community. Yet time and time again, people come home talking not only about what God did through them, but about what happened within them.

Why is that?

The truth is, God is just as present in Omaha as He is in Guatemala, Zimbabwe, or anywhere else in the world. He isn’t more available on the mission field than He is in our homes, workplaces, churches, or neighborhoods.

But when we step away from our normal routines, something often shifts in us.

The distractions are quieter.
The schedules are different.
The familiar comforts are gone.
And suddenly we’re paying attention in a new way.

We pray with greater expectancy. We notice people more intentionally. We become more aware of opportunities to love, encourage, serve, and share the hope we’ve found in Christ.

It’s not that God suddenly shows up when we board a plane.
It’s that we’re often more aware of the ways He’s been present all along.

Mission trips have a way of reminding us that we were never meant to do life in our own strength. We encounter situations we can’t control, conversations we didn’t plan for, and moments that invite us to trust God more deeply. In those moments, we’re reminded that ministry isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about learning to recognize and respond to what God is already doing.

Many people leave on a mission trip hoping to impact someone else’s life.

And they do.

Relationships are built. People are encouraged. Hope is shared.

But somewhere along the journey, something begins to change in the heart of the person serving.

Our perspective expands.
Our compassion grows.
Our faith deepens.

We begin to see people the way God sees them.

And perhaps most importantly, we discover that God is already at work in far more places than we realized.

The purpose of a mission trip isn’t simply to go somewhere different. It’s an invitation to join God in what He’s already doing and to learn what it looks like to live with greater awareness of His presence.

Maybe that’s why so many people return home changed.

Not because they found God somewhere far away.

But because they became more aware of His nearness, more attentive to His voice, and more willing to say yes to the invitation He has been extending all along.

And the beautiful thing is this: That invitation doesn’t end when the trip is over.

The same God who is at work across the world is at work in your neighborhood, your workplace, your family, and your everyday life.

The mission field may change your perspective, but it also reminds you that every day is an opportunity to partner with God right where you are.

Maybe all that’s needed is a simple yes.

If you’re ready to explore where God might be inviting you next, visit CFCI Go Trips to learn more about upcoming mission opportunities and ways to serve around the world.

June 22, 2026

What We Mean By Holistic Missions

There is sometimes a tension in missions between two approaches.

One is centered on what we might call a spiritual mission. It looks at the world and sees people who need to be reconciled to God, so it focuses primarily on evangelism and helping people become followers of Jesus.

The other is centered on what we might call a physical mission. It looks at the world and sees the ways sin has broken people’s lives and circumstances, then focuses on bringing healing, justice, and restoration to those areas of brokenness.

Advocates of both approaches can be suspicious of the other side—and both have compelling biblical arguments. Those emphasizing spiritual ministry might ask, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). Those emphasizing physical care might respond, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15–16).

So how do we decide? Which side is right?

Like many apparent conflicts in the Christian life, the way forward is not choosing one side over the other but recognizing the truth in both.

One of CFCI’s core commitments is holistic missions. Through our network of ministries around the world, we seek to address both spiritual and practical needs through discipleship, youth outreach, medical care, education, community development, and more. We do this because we believe these ministries belong together.

We see this integrated approach in the ministry of Jesus Himself. The words of the kingdom and the works of the kingdom—the proclamation of good news and the restoration of what sin has broken—were inseparable in His mission. As Matthew writes, “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction” (Matthew 9:35).

Sharing the gospel is essential to God’s mission. We are called to bear witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus and invite people into new life through Him. Without this inward transformation, our outward efforts can never fully address humanity’s deepest need. Furthermore, the good works Christians are called to pursue flow from the gospel itself. We care for physical needs because the Holy Spirit is reshaping our hearts and priorities.

At the same time, the good news we proclaim should be accompanied by lives and ministries that embody that good news. We are not called merely to make converts but to make disciples—people whose lives are increasingly transformed to reflect God’s character and purposes. And because we proclaim the gospel of a kingdom, our work should reflect the justice, compassion, and love of the King who reigns over it.

Far from being opposed, the spiritual and physical dimensions of mission work exist in beautiful harmony. This is exactly what we see in CFCI ministries around the world. Our hope is whole people being wholly restored by Jesus. Through evangelism and Bible study, visiting prisoners and empowering the helpless, the gospel is being shared in both word and deed. As a result, lives are being transformed and the kingdom of God is advancing.

June 15, 2026

Make Lasting Memories with Family Mission Trips

A 12-year-old boy stood in front of a soccer school in El Salvador, gripping his notes with sweaty hands.

Dozens of kids stared back at him.

Moments earlier, they had been laughing, joking, and chasing a soccer ball. Now they were listening closely.

He took a breath and shared a simple message.

“I used to think I had to be perfect for God to love me,” he said. “But I’m learning that He just wants me to keep giving Him my best.”

That was it.

No polished sermon.
No fancy words.

And somehow, every kid there could relate and connect.

“I stood in the back watching him talk to those kids and thought, ‘I would have missed this version of my son if we hadn’t come,’” Lindsay said. “I was watching him step into faith and compassion in a way I hadn’t seen before.”

A few days earlier, Lindsay watched her son teach local teenagers how to play chess.

Somewhere between explaining pawns and bishops, he connected the game to God’s kingdom, how every piece has a purpose and every role matters.

Later that same week, he quietly prayed for a woman inside her tiny home after hearing her share about her sick son.

And through every moment, Lindsay kept coming back to the same thought: I would have missed this version of my son if we hadn’t gone.

That’s the power of families serving together on mission trips.

Yes, communities are impacted.
Yes, churches are encouraged.
Yes, practical needs are met.

But something sacred also happens inside the family itself.

Over the last few years, Christ For the City International has seen more families saying yes to missions together, and the impact reaches far beyond what most people expect.

“The people we serve aren’t only seeing a husband or wife—they’re seeing the entire dynamic of a family,” Josue, one of our missionaries and coordinators in Costa Rica, said.

For many children in the communities we serve, that picture is rare.

Some have never seen a healthy family working together.
Some have never watched parents serve side by side.
Some don’t know what it looks like for a family to laugh together, pray together, and love others together.

So when families arrive on the mission field, it communicates something powerful before a single word is translated.

And children respond in ways that consistently surprise even the adults.

They connect quickly—through soccer, crafts, music, games, and laughter. Language barriers fade as relationships form naturally.

More than observers, children from visiting families often become active participants in ministry.

They pray for others.
They engage with local children.
They serve in practical ways.
And they often step into moments of ministry with a boldness that grows throughout the trip.

In the process, something important happens: They begin to realize that God can use them right now.

Not someday when they are older.
Not once they feel more prepared.
But in the present.

At the same time, parents often witness something just as meaningful—the unfolding of their children’s faith in real time.

Mission trips have a way of removing families from routine and placing them into environments where faith becomes practical.

Moments where a child prays for someone they just met.
Moments where joy is witnessed in places of lack.
Moments where compassion becomes lived experience instead of abstract belief.

These experiences often leave a lasting imprint long after returning home.

And while many assume mission trips require large teams or complex logistics, the reality is far simpler.

Six people is enough to form a team, which means families do not have to wait until everything aligns perfectly.

It might be two families from the same church.
It might be close friends who have talked about serving together.
It might be a small group ready for something deeper.

The invitation is simple: go together.

Serve together.
Experience together.
Grow together.

Because mission trips do more than impact the communities being served.

They shape the families who go.

And often, they shape the next generation in ways that cannot be fully understood until they return home changed.

Ready to bring your family—or another family alongside you—on a mission trip?

Visit cfci.org/go to learn more about upcoming opportunities and how to begin planning together.

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Short-Term Missions as Formation

From the beginning, Jesus’ followers have been called into a worldwide mission. As Luke records Jesus’ final words to his disciples:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

We are both the fruit of that witness (imagine the gospel traveling from Jerusalem all the way to a continent the disciples didn’t even know existed!) and participants in the same calling. While not all of us are called to go to the ends of the earth, all of us are called to support that vision.

Some people struggle with the idea of short-term mission trips. They ask important questions such as:

How much good can I really do in a week?
Aren’t people within a culture better equipped to share the gospel than I am?
Isn’t this an inefficient use of resources and money?

Each of these questions contains truths that we need to consider carefully in how we approach mission. However, they also reflect an assumption: that the purpose of mission is only about what we accomplish at our destination during a short visit.

The idea of short-term mission trips actually originates with Jesus. We read in Luke 9:

“And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” (Luke 9:1–2)

The disciples go, and when they return, Jesus gives them further instruction. Then He sends out a larger group of seventy-two disciples to do the same thing (Luke 10). When they return, their hearts are filled with excitement over what God has done through them.

“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’” (Luke 10:17)

Why did Jesus send out these disciples?

They didn’t yet have the full story to share—Jesus’ cross and resurrection were still in the future. They didn’t yet have the full power to proclaim it—the Holy Spirit had not yet been given at Pentecost. So what was the purpose of these short-term trips?

The answer is found in Acts 1. By the time the disciples received their calling to be Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth, these earlier journeys had already taught them what that meant. They were formed to be lifelong witnesses through seasons of focused witness.

I remember voicing questions about short-term missions to an older friend who had spent much of his life on the mission field. He agreed that the concerns were valid, but then said, “Let me tell you how I sensed a call to missions.”

He described a short-term trip he took as a college student—an experience that completely transformed his understanding of God’s mission. It put him on the path that had defined his life Then he added, “I don’t know many missionaries who didn’t catch their vision on a short-term mission trip.”

At CFCI, there are many reasons we support short-term trips, both in the United States and around the world. We seek to conduct them in ways that thoughtfully address the concerns mentioned above. There is real value in the work our teams accomplish.

But we also support them because we believe in their transformative power for those who go. Mission is formation. Going out—even for a short time—teaches us how to live as witnesses for Jesus wherever He has placed us. And sometimes, it opens our hearts to a new and unexpected calling that changes the course of our lives.

June 1, 2026

June Letter from the President

I’ve seen a pattern over the years in Scripture, in my own life, and through the ministry of CFCI around the world. God often calls us forward before we feel ready. He invites us to trust Him in uncertainty, to take steps of obedience without having all the answers, and to follow Him even when fear is still present.

We see this lived out every day through our missionaries. They step into unfamiliar places, build relationships across cultures, and engage complex challenges. They don’t do it because it’s easy, but because they believe God has called them. And in that obedience, something deeper happens. They don’t just participate in God’s work; they grow in their understanding of His faithfulness. They discover greater clarity in their purpose and experience a deeper walk with Him.

This is not just the story of missionaries. It is the invitation extended to every follower of Christ. Each of us faces moments where we must choose between what feels comfortable and what God is asking of us. In those moments, obedience becomes the pathway not only to impact, but to knowing God more fully.

This message of faithful obedience is one that we’ll be leaning into in a special way this fall at our Fueling Transformation Gala in Omaha on November 10, 2026. We are honored to welcome Kent Chevalier as our featured speaker. As the author of Do It Afraid and chaplain for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kent brings a powerful combination of personal story and biblical insight, challenging each of us to trust God beyond what feels comfortable and to step forward in faithful obedience.

It will be an evening not only to celebrate what God is doing through CFCI around the world, but also to be encouraged and equipped in our own walk with Him. I hope you can join us!

May 19, 2026June 2, 2026

Fundraising Is Ministry (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)

If we’re honest, most of us don’t naturally associate fundraising with something sacred.

It can feel awkward. Transactional. Like we’re asking for something instead of offering something.

But what if that’s not actually what’s happening?

In A Spirituality of Fundraising, Henri J. M. Nouwen gently challenges that tension. He reframes fundraising not as a necessary burden, but as a form of ministry—an invitation into something deeper.

Not a transaction.
A relationship.

Not pressure.
An opportunity.

Not about money.
About participation in God’s work.

An Invitation, Not an Ask

At its core, fundraising is simply this: inviting people to be part of what God is already doing.

It’s easy to think we’re asking someone to give something up.
But in reality, we’re inviting them to step into something eternal.

When we share stories of transformation—lives changed, hope restored, communities renewed—we’re not selling a cause.

We’re opening a door.

And when someone walks through it, they’re not just writing a check.

They’re saying yes to being part of the story God is writing.

Why It Feels So Hard

If fundraising feels uncomfortable, it’s often because we’ve believed something untrue about it.

Maybe we’ve thought:

“I’m bothering people.”
“They’re going to say no.”
“This is about money, not ministry.”

But Nouwen reminds us that these thoughts miss the heart of it.

Fundraising is grounded in the belief that:

God is already at work.
People want to live with purpose and generosity.
We get to connect the two.

That’s not pressure—that’s partnership.

Ministry Happens on Both Sides

One of the most beautiful ideas Nouwen shares is that fundraising doesn’t just bless the ministry—it blesses the giver.

Because giving is never just about the resource.
It’s about transformation.

When someone gives, they’re aligning their heart with what matters most.
They’re choosing faith over fear.
They’re investing in something that lasts.

That’s spiritual formation.

That’s discipleship.

That’s ministry.

And sometimes, this invitation isn’t just something we extend—it’s something we step into ourselves.

For Those Preparing to Go

And sometimes, this invitation isn’t just something we extend—it’s something we step into ourselves.

If you’re getting ready to step onto a Global Team, this might be the part that feels the hardest.

Raising support can feel vulnerable.

You might wonder:

What if people say no?
What if I don’t raise enough?
What if this feels… uncomfortable?

But what if fundraising isn’t standing on the outside, asking people to send you?

What if it’s standing in the middle of what God is doing—and inviting others to come with you?

You’re not asking people to fund a trip.

You’re inviting them to take part in ministry they may never physically step into—but can still be deeply part of.

So We Keep Inviting

At Christ For the City International, we’ve seen this firsthand.

Every trip taken.
Every ministry launched.
Every life impacted.

None of it happens alone.

It happens because people say yes—yes to going, yes to serving, and yes to giving.

So we keep inviting.

Because fundraising was never just about provision.

It’s about participation in the work of God.

Whether you’re called to go or to give, there’s a place for you in this story.

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