If your church were to disappear from your city would anyone notice? Christ For the City International (CFCI) – our name says a lot about us. First and foremost we are servants of Jesus Christ. The Great Commission, to make disciples of all nations, is why we do what we do.
Are you too called to serve Jesus? CFCI’s mission is to help people transform cities by transforming lives. It is our aim to encourage and strengthen local churches around the world. We do this by engaging and mentoring the Body of Christ to develop ministries and programs to bring hope to the city. We help local churches and ministries present people with the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and mobilize them into ministry.
The Church is central to God’s plan for your life and your city. So, how can we serve you? We can offer you an open door. We love to give people the opportunity to serve Jesus Christ and discover their ministry gifts. We offer short-term mission experiences for churches and individuals as well as career opportunities in the U.S. and other countries. We have nearly 500 workers serving in 17 countries around the world. Most of our workers are nationals, so you come alongside them to improve their cities for Jesus Christ.
Take a tour of our website and find out why and how we “help people transform cities by transforming lives.”
We believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for the sins of the world, was raised bodily and exalted to God’s right hand where He makes intercession for His own. He will personally come again.
We believe that God created humankind, male and female, in His own image. However, all creation suffers the consequences of the fall and is under God’s judgment.
We believe that God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between one man and one woman. Therefore we will only recognize marriages between one biological man and one biological woman, and sex (gender) is defined by their sexual identity at birth. Gen. 2:18-25
We believe that because of His love, God sent His Son Jesus Christ, who inaugurated His Kingdom, provided atonement for sin, disarmed the powers and authorities, triumphing over them by the cross, reconciling the world to Himself. He will consummate His Kingdom in righteousness, power, and glory.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who glorifies Jesus Christ, working in all peoples to bring them to believe and obey Christ. The Spirit dwells in those who believe, equipping and empowering them for lives of holiness and fruitful service.
We believe the Bible to be the divinely inspired and authoritative Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
We believe that all who repent and believe in Christ are born into life eternal, delivered from condemnation, and as His Church are called to communicate the Gospel, proclaim the Kingdom, make disciples of all nations, and seek to be instruments of His righteousness, justice, and healing, all to the glory of God.
We believe in the resurrection of the body, the eternal blessedness of believers in the presence of Christ and the eternal separation of unbelievers from Him.
Christ For the City International has been shaped by the Biblical mandate to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Since 1995, CFCI has been an innovative leader in modern mission circles and has become a respected urban ministry and mission agency.
The Vision: No place without a witness, no church without a vision, no person without hope.
The Mission: Helping people transform cities by transforming lives.
THE NEED – FOCUS ON CITIES
Unprecedented urban migration produced increased poverty and urban dislocation worldwide. It was predicted that by 2000, 80% of the world’s population would live in “mega cities” with 46% of them living in abject poverty. This became a reality.
The widening gap between rich and poor will provide momentum to two trends: 1) increasing low level conflict and 2) increasing movement and illegal immigration. As discouraging as the consequences of this growing gap may be, it will result in an increasing demand for organizations – like Christ For the City International – whose mission it is to work to close or bridge this gap.
LEADERSHIP
In November of 1995, Paul Landrey responded to the call to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Christ For the City International. What had begun as an urban ministry program in Latin America in 1983 was now reaching into 6 countries of Central and South America, Spain and the USA and had a staff of 75 missionaries, 50% of whom were Latin. In July of 2000, Dr. Duane “Chip” Anderson assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of CFCI. Dr. Anderson had served with CFCI for the past 18 years. He and his family moved to Omaha from San Jose’, Costa Rica, where he served as Executive Vice President and Costa Rica Country Director. Under the leadership of these men, CFCI embarked on its new focus to develop a ministry that would revolve around the least evangelized cities of the world.
CFCI INTERNATIONAL OFFICE MOVES TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA
In March of 1997, the CFCI International office relocated from Miami, Florida to Omaha, Nebraska. From this location, an administrative staff began the process of providing oversight and direction for the overall work of the ministry in fulfillment of the vision and goals of CFCI in the areas of social services and urban evangelization. Morton G. Cain joined the staff in 1997 as Vice President for Advancement.
STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS FOR CHRIST FOR THE CITY
In a world hungry for spiritual answers that work, Christian identity, who we are and what we do, is our single most important distinctive. The spiritual dimension of this ministry is what separates it from other international organizations. The good news that people and communities can be rightly related to God—and to each other—and impact their cities with the Gospel, is the most excellent news that the Christian has. CFCI strategies and methodologies revolve around and reflect this belief.
Step Up to Life is a global Christian ministry based in Omaha, Nebraska that provides resources, evangelistic literature and training to Christian leaders and followers of Jesus around the world.
The School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary is offering an online Certificate of Christian Studies (Mission)* for missionaries and missions staff. The certificate requires taking and completing 6 (4-unit) masters-level courses that have been designed specifically for missionaries and missions staff. For more information on partnering with Fuller Seminary, click here. To apply for the certificate program, click here.
Fresh Start is a global program that sees men, women, and young people freed from the effects of offense, hurt, or loss through the transforming power of forgiveness and freedom in Jesus Christ.
