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.

👉 Explore Global Teams
👉 Become a financial partner

April 27, 2026April 20, 2026

Your Church was Made for Mission: 5 Ways to Partner with Christ For the City International

At Christ For the City International, we believe the Church was never meant to stay inside four walls. From the very beginning, God called His people to live on mission—loving their neighbors, serving their communities, and bringing the hope of Jesus to the nations.

Churches play a vital role in that mission.

Whether your congregation is passionate about going, giving, praying, or mobilizing others, there are meaningful ways to partner with what God is doing through CFCI around the world.

Here are five simple ways your church can be part of the story.

1. Go on a Mission Trip

One of the most powerful ways a church can engage in missions is by going together.

Mission trips allow youth groups, college ministries, young adults, small groups, families, and entire congregations to step outside their normal rhythms and serve alongside local ministries around the world.

Through Urban Plunge trips in U.S. cities and Global Teams serving internationally, churches can:

• Share the Gospel
• Serve practical needs in communities
• Encourage and support local leaders
• Grow in faith and unity as a team

There’s something powerful about taking what God is doing inside the church walls and living it out together in the world.

2. Give to the Mission

Missions move forward because of faithful generosity.

When churches give to the vision of Christ For the City International, they help sustain ministry happening every day in cities and communities across the globe.

Your giving fuels discipleship, leadership development, outreach, and compassionate service through our international bases.

Our vision remains bold:

No place without a witness.
No church without a vision.
No person without hope.

And we continue to believe God is inviting us to help create environments where 1 million lives can be forever changed through the ministry of CFCI.

When your church gives, you’re investing in transformation that reaches far beyond what any one team or trip could accomplish.

Become a financial partner!

3. Pray for the Mission

Prayer is one of the most powerful ways your church can partner in missions.

Across the world, CFCI teams are serving communities, discipling believers, and sharing the hope of Jesus in places that often require courage, perseverance, and faith.

Your prayers provide encouragement, protection, and spiritual covering for missionaries, national leaders, and the people they serve.

Consider setting aside time to pray for:

• CFCI missionaries and global staff
• The communities being served
• Open hearts to the Gospel
• Future leaders being raised up

When the Church prays, God moves.

4. Mobilize Your People

Sometimes the greatest impact a church can have is simply inviting people into the mission.

You can help mobilize others by:

• Sharing mission trip opportunities with your congregation
• Encouraging students and young adults to explore serving abroad
• Highlighting stories of transformation from the field
• Creating moments where missions becomes part of the conversation

Many people feel called to serve—but they just need someone to point them toward the opportunity.

Your church could be the place where that calling begins.

5. Build a Long-Term Partnership

Missions are most powerful when relationships grow over time.

Some churches choose to partner more deeply with CFCI by building an ongoing relationship with one of our ministry bases or returning regularly to serve in the same location.

Over time, these partnerships allow churches to:

• Encourage and support local leaders
• See long-term impact in communities
• Send teams year after year
• Watch God work in powerful ways

What begins as a single trip can grow into a lasting Kingdom partnership.

The Invitation

The mission of God is bigger than any one church or organization. But when we work together, the impact multiplies.

Whether your church chooses to go, give, pray, mobilize, or partner, you have a role to play in bringing the hope of Jesus to cities and communities around the world.

And together, we believe it’s possible to see 1 million lives forever changed.

Ready to explore the next step for your church?

Visit cfci.org/go to learn more about mission opportunities.

December 2, 2025December 1, 2025

Today only: Be part of something God is doing RIGHT NOW

Giving Tuesday is here — and it’s only happening TODAY. People all over the world are stepping up to give, and you can be part of it too. Every gift counts toward our $100,000 goal — helping move the mission FORward and bring transformation to lives, churches, and cities FOR the least, FOR the lost, FORward in mission.

And today only — your gift goes twice as far. A generous donor is matching every gift up to $20,000, doubling your impact for the sake of the Gospel.

And the impact? It’s already happening.

In Zimbabwe, God is opening doors that no one expected — even behind prison walls. Through CFCI’s ministry in partnership with Abundant Life program, inmates are discovering freedom in Christ.

Base Director Mubaiwa Mangwende shared, “To hear an inmate sentenced for murder confess that he is forgiven in Christ — this has been one of the most powerful moments I have witnessed.”

Since the program began, all inmates engage with their Bibles, reading and highlighting Scriptures that reveal who we are in Christ. Through this process, 35 inmates have chosen to follow Jesus. Those same Bibles are now making their way into rural communities — even crossing borders into Kenya and Zambia — spreading God’s truth far beyond prison walls.

“I was in prison and you came to me…” (Matthew 25:36)

This is what your Giving Tuesday gift makes possible. And with today’s match, your generosity reaches even further. This is your moment to join believers across the world who are giving to see lives transformed.

Don’t let today pass by without being part of the movement.

GIVE NOW

Thank you for jumping in, taking action, and helping move the mission FORward — and into the lives of those who need hope, healing, and the love of Christ.

With gratitude,

Jake Hjemvick
President

November 25, 2025November 25, 2025

Grateful for YOU this Thanksgiving

Whether you’re gathering around a Thanksgiving table this week, enjoying your favorite seasonal food (pumpkin pie? mashed potatoes? or that controversial dish only a few people love 😄), or you live in a place where this isn’t a national holiday at all—we want to pause and say something important:

We are deeply grateful for you.

Your prayers, generosity, and commitment help carry the love of Jesus into cities and communities around the world. Because of you, people are finding hope, hearing the Gospel, experiencing healing, and stepping into the fullness of who God created them to be.

From our entire CFCI family: Thank you for the life-changing role you play in God’s mission.

Whether this week looks like a full table, a quiet moment, or a normal Thursday where you live—may you feel God’s goodness, presence, and abundant love.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Christ For the City International

November 4, 2025November 4, 2025

Moving FORward — together, for the least and the lost

It’s hard to believe—but this year marks 30 years of ministry for Christ For the City International.

Thirty years of seeing God transform lives and cities.
Thirty years of people saying “yes” to His call.
Thirty years of watching Him take ordinary steps of faith and turn them into extraordinary impact.

And here’s the best part: He’s just getting started.

That’s why we’re moving FORward.

FOR the least.
FOR the lost.
FORward in mission.

Isaiah 58:10 says, “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”

Over the next two months, our goal is to raise $100,000 — to fuel missionaries, equip discipleship, strengthen churches, and bring God’s love to the places where transformation is most needed.

🎥 Watch this short message from me — and see how you can move FORward with us.

You may not be packing your bags for the mission field, but your partnership makes this possible. Will you join us?

➡️ Give today and help move FORward with us!

Thank you for walking with us, praying for us, giving to us, and believing in us. Together, we are moving FORward in God’s mission carrying God’s love into every city, every church, every life.

With gratitude,

Jake Hjemvick
President

August 11, 2025August 11, 2025

We’re throwing a party in a car museum. You in?

If you like fancy cars, mouthwatering food, auction battles (👀👀), and being part of something that actually makes a difference—

🚨 MARK YOUR CALENDAR 🚨

🗓 Thursday, September 18, 2025
🕕 Doors open at 6:00 PM
📍 Peter Fink’s Private Car Museum (yes, that one with all the cars)
🎟 TICKETS: www.cfci.org/gala

🎤 AND check out this video invite from “Mr. Hilarious Hope” himself—our emcee, Jarell Roach. He’s bringing the energy, the jokes, and a sneak peek at why this night is going to be unforgettable.

🪑 Grab your friends, coworkers, cousins, small group, or that one neighbor who always asks what you’re doing Thursday night… and get a whole table!

It’s our Fueling Transformation Gala — celebrating 30 years of global impact with Christ For the City International.

It won’t be the same without you!

December 30, 2024

2024 Year End Giving

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas filled with joy and peace! As we approach the New Year, we want to thank you for being such a vital part of our mission to transform cities by transforming lives.

This year, through your generosity and God’s provision, we’ve raised just over $40,500 for our Transformation Fund. Every dollar is helping missionaries around the world create life-changing projects like vocational training, feeding centers, children’s programs, health and dental clinics, gang ministry outreach, and more—all while sharing the hope of Jesus.

Our goal is to raise $75,000 by midnight on December 31 to continue advancing God’s kingdom around the world. Your gift today—no matter the size—will directly support these incredible projects and help meet both physical and spiritual needs for those we serve.

If you’ve already given, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! You’re helping us bring hope and transformation to communities worldwide. Would you consider sharing this campaign with your friends and family to help us reach our goal?

If you haven’t given yet, there’s still time to make a tax-deductible year-end donation. Every dollar makes a difference in building God’s kingdom.

Click here to give today and see the impact of your donation!

Together, we can create lasting transformation in the lives of those who need it most. Thank you for walking with us in faith and generosity. Let’s finish 2024 strong and step into 2025 ready to continue transforming lives and communities for His glory!

With joy and gratitude,

The Christ For the City International Central Office Team

July 23, 2024September 23, 2024

DECADES OF FAITHFULNESS

In the early 2000s, the Christ for the City International Costa Rica base received a young and vibrant group from Grace Church in South Carolina. Neither organization realized the week-long trip would blossom into a profound partnership, a genuine friendship, and, ultimately, a family-like bond.

As the leaders of CFCI in Costa Rica made the bold decision to relocate and establish a base in Nicaragua, Grace Church followed. In March 2003, Grace Church embarked on its first trip to Nicaragua, and together with CFCI worked with a local church in Chinandega. Twenty-years later, Grace Church and CFCI Nicaragua continue to co-labor for the gospel as they, together, ask God what to do in the country.

“We have the same heart, same goal, same purpose,” Fabricio Mendoza, CFCI Nicaragua Director said. “To equip and empower the saints.”

But this family-like connection didn’t take place overnight. It took commitment, intentionality, and trust from both CFCI Nicaragua and Grace Church.

“Being friends, being close, with built trust, has allowed us to not get our feelings hurt when someone says, ‘I think we should do something different’,” Wes Cavin, Grace Church’s missions volunteer said.

In March 2005, Wes went to Nicaragua for the first time with Grace Church and met Fabricio and Claudia. Between 2003-2009, what started as a series of outreach trips gradually evolved into a profound connection between the base and church. But by 2010, when Wes took over as Grace Church’s Nicaragua leader, and Fabricio took over as CFCI Nicaragua Director both realized they needed a strategy and outcome.

“There was really no strategy except we’ve got some resources, let’s send some people down and do some work,” Wes remembered.

Together Fabricio, Wes, CFCI Nicaragua, and Grace Church came together and created a game plan for the country of Nicaragua that matched both CFCI and Grace Church’s vision.

From that point on, the partnership established a three year focus on a particular area in Nicaragua. Grace Church sends four teams a year to teach two seminary type classes to a group of 50-70 local pastors each time. Grace Church also sends two community outreach teams a year that includes a medical team, children’s ministry, and construction projects.

“It’s very important when you find someone who has the same DNA as you,” Fabricio said. “Who is very focused on training the pastor and equipping the church because we believe the church is the light, the salt, and the witness from the Lord to each community.”

Over the years Wes has stayed for extended amounts of time in Fabricio’s home and Fabricio has stayed for extended amounts of time in Wes’s home.

“We’re friends and we consider each other family,” Wes said. “I actually believe that has benefited the ministry way more than partnership.”

From 2010-2013 they focused their attention on Rivas, 2013-2015 in Matagalpa, and from 2016-2019 in La Dalia. In 2018, when Nicaragua began to experience violent protests across the country, Grace Church was on their knees in prayer for the CFCI missionaries.

“For me, that means a lot,” Fabricio said. “People who are with you every day.”

Despite the violent protests, and challenging times, Grace Church continued to send teams down.

“If something happens here,” Fabricio joked. “I often will hear it through Wes first.”

In 2019, things were coming full circle as Grace Church and CFCI were headed back to their very first location from March 2003, Chinandega. They got two trips in before the world shut down in March 2020, and although they had to stop teams for a year, Grace Church did not forget about their Nicaraguan family.

When CFCI’s Nicaraguan missionaries got covid, four almost died. Public hospitals were awful, and they didn’t have the resources to pay for their medicine. But a pastor from Grace Church started to raise money so they could buy their medicine.

“This is something deep and special,” Fabricio said. “I didn’t call them; it was the Lord.”

CFCI and Grace Church celebrated 20 years of partnership and family in July 2023 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Managua with roughly 90 people, including 30 individuals from Grace Church

“I’d like to keep this relationship until Jesus comes,” Fabricio said with a smile.

Corporate Giving

June Letter from the President