Origins in Dallas (1962)

The Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International was organized in Dallas, Texas, in 1962 under the leadership of Gordon Lindsay, a respected Pentecostal editor, organizer, and advocate for evangelistic cooperation. From the beginning, the fellowship aimed to encourage churches and ministers to labor together for gospel advance, especially where resources were thin and spiritual help was urgently needed. Dallas—an expanding hub for ministry networks and publishing—served as a strategic base for mobilizing prayer, funding, and printed materials.

Lindsay’s leadership emphasized faith with practical action. He called believers not merely to admire missionary vision, but to shoulder it—through giving, intercession, and coordinated service—so that local congregations could be strengthened rather than left isolated.

April 11, 1967: A Name with a Commission

On April 11, 1967, the fellowship adopted a new name: Christ for the Nations. The change expressed more than rebranding; it clarified a Christ-centered purpose aligned with the Great Commission. Scripture provided both mandate and direction: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The new name placed Christ at the forefront and the nations in view, declaring that the work belonged to Him and must reach beyond familiar borders.

In a decade marked by cultural turbulence, wars, and ideological pressure, this step showed courageous faith. Rather than retreating into fear or faction, the fellowship publicly committed to hopeful, outward-looking obedience.

Practical Witness Worldwide

Christ for the Nations pursued worldwide church strengthening through tangible help. A central focus was raising support for church construction—meeting places where believers could gather, be discipled, and maintain a lasting witness in villages, towns, and cities. Another priority was distributing Christian literature where it was scarce, putting biblical teaching into the hands of pastors, new believers, and seekers who might otherwise have little access to sound instruction.

This work honored the biblical logic of sending and support: “And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:15). The fellowship’s story highlights quiet heroism—generosity, perseverance, and unity—believers partnering so the gospel could be heard, read, and embodied in local churches for generations.