Association of International Mission Services (AIMS)

On March 21, 1985, the Association of International Mission Services (AIMS) was founded in Dallas, Texas, to strengthen foreign missions among independent Pentecostal and charismatic churches. Many such congregations were earnest and fruitful yet isolated—supporting missionaries with limited communication, uneven funding, and little external counsel. AIMS formed as a cooperative answer: not a replacement for local church responsibility, but a means to help churches work together with greater wisdom, integrity, and endurance.

Dallas and a Strategic Moment

Dallas in the 1980s served as a major crossroads for travel, ministry networks, and missionary communication. In that setting, AIMS encouraged churches to look beyond regional concerns and to take a long view of gospel labor across cultures. The organization’s trans-denominational vision reflected a conviction that the Great Commission is larger than any one fellowship, while still requiring doctrinal seriousness, moral clarity, and accountability in those sent.

Strengthening Those Who Go

AIMS emphasized practical cooperation—sharing information, facilitating connections, and urging careful stewardship of funds and calls to ministry. Missionaries often face spiritual warfare, loneliness, language barriers, and physical risk; many serve quietly, with years of sowing before visible fruit. By promoting prayer, reporting, and credible support, AIMS helped churches honor such perseverance and helped missionaries remain anchored to the body of Christ rather than functioning as independent agents.

Biblical Mandate and Shared Obedience

AIMS’ mission-minded fellowship echoed Scripture’s pattern of Spirit-empowered witness: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses…to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It also pressed churches toward active discipleship among the nations: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). In reminding believers that obedience often includes sacrifice, AIMS fostered unity for a purpose—so churches could lift their eyes to the harvest fields of the world and sustain faithful gospel work to the end.