FIM’s heritage goes back to 1949 when Mary Mellinger and Irene Wenholz sensed God’s call to minister to children in Morocco. They needed a U.S. recognized agency to facilitate their calling. Rev. Ralph Boyer of York Gospel Center and several other IFCA pastors moved quickly to assist. On November 3, 1950, they incorporated as Morocco Evangelical Fellowship.
The mission quickly grew beyond its original scope and in 1953 merged with Sahara Desert Mission to become the Fellowship of Independent Missions. Growth in missionary members and countries of outreach continued under the leadership of Dr. Richard Ruth, the agency’s first full-time Director. He led the Mission through a move to its present Home Office facilities in Allentown, PA. In 1992, the mission changed its name to Fellowship International Mission.
Following over fifteen years of inspiring leadership by Dr. Steve Wilt, in 2017 the Board called Dr. Paul Barreca to serve as the eighth General Director of FIM. Before joining the Mission, he served as a pastor for thirty-three years in four churches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Paul now utilizes his pastoral experience and discipleship tools to assist missionaries and churches through the ministry of FIM.
FIM’s distinctives flow from this rich heritage. One such distinctive is that FIM starts with the individual’s call and helps them to fulfill that call and thrive in service for Christ. This is what Mary and Irene experienced as God called them to serve the children of Morocco. God placed a burden in their hearts and raised up ministry partners to help them fulfill their call. Another distinctive is recognition of the sending and sustaining authority of the local church. Every FIM missionary is accountable to their Key Accountability Partner (KAP) church. FIM partners with the KAP church to equip and sustain their missionary. This recognition of the church’s authority is often referenced by mission agencies, but it is bedrock to FIM’s ministry paradigm, flowing from the agency’s origins in 1949.
FIM has maintained its unwavering commitment to sound theology while embracing creative methods for ministry. Missionaries with FIM utilize a variety of culturally relevant strategies to reach people with the gospel. FIM’s administrative team possess a combination of missionary and pastoral experience, which equips missionary candidates to reach their intended ministry and stay focused on the essentials of the gospel.
For those sensing God’s call, consider partnership with FIM. After all, it’s your call. FIM is here to help you fulfill it.