1)
Do you provide licensing and ordination of ministers?
2) What legal tax shelter do you provide?
3) What spiritual support does IFM provide?
4) Will IFM provide any financial accountability?
5) Is IFM a denomination?
6) What are some keys elements of being
like-minded with IFM?
7) What is the legal and leadership history
of IFM?
1) Do you provide licensing
and ordination of ministers?
Administratively, we license and ordain ministers of the gospel of
Jesus Christ.
We also help to accredit ministers according to the standards of the
Word of God.
We impart spiritual gifts and acknowledge the ministries of individuals
through the laying
on of hands by the presbyters, according to the scriptures. We supply
all legal licensing of ministers.
2) What legal tax shelter
do you provide?
We provide Internal Revenue Code status, under section 501-C-3, of
the I.R.S. Code, for "Charter" Ministries,
as a service to our members.
3) What spiritual support
does IFM provide?
We also provide spiritual support for ministers which includes:
-Prayer
-Intercession Teams
-Counseling to church government
We also are continually working to help build relationships between
ministers, and between ministries,
and we hope to provide educational help to ministers in the future.
4) Will IFM provide any financial
accountability?
Yes, we are growing in our service to provide financial accountability
for ministers and ministries.
5) Is IFM a denomination?
No, IFM is not a denomination. Please read the following quote by John
G. Lake and visit the expanded
testimony to help you understand the power of synergism and apostolic
faith! This testimony shows the intentions of Lake in the bringing
together of fellow ministers into a moving, living, working faith.
Not a denomination or organization for organization sake. But an organization
for the blending of like
heartbeats, which are hungry for the miraculous works of God, that
cannot be satisfied by any other
means than the very power of God demonstrated."
That is the advantage
of having people who trust God, and walk out on God's lines, come together,
and carry one another's loads, and form a nucleus in society which
has some force for God. I have no confidence or faith in these little
efforts that people run after here and there. Most of them go up in
a vapor. If you want something done for God and humanity, put your
hearts and your hands together and your souls together. Organize your
effort."
John G. Lake Click
here for full testimony
6) What are some keys elements of being
like-minded with IFM?
-Rules & ordinances are held to a minimum,
-Authority comes from God & not the election of man,
-Kingdom Authority progresses from the local Church level,
-Miracles, signs & wonders will be sought, believing all the promises
of God,
-Character building is of more importance than gifted ministry,
-Holiness, purity of devotion to Christ, & integrity, are continually
pursued
7) What is the legal and
leadership history of IFM?
The International Fellowship of Ministries as early as 1915, was an
informal covenant relationship of
John G. Lake and some men named Cyrus B. Fockler, Charles W. Westwood,
Archibald Fairley,
one of unity in faith that produced many wonderful miracles, performed
by the Holy Spirit. When Lake left his Church in Spokane, Washington,
to go to Portland, Oregon, he left that pastorate to a woman that was
faithful and who herself had one of the most powerful healing anointing
known, at that time.The International Fellowship of Ministries was
later legally founded, on May 6, 1947, as an outgrowth and a continuation
of the ministry of John G. Lake.
The original incorporators were Maury
Moser of Spokane, Washington, a man who was involved in John G. Lake's
greatest years of ministry which occurred in Spokane, Washington;
Olaf I. Borseth, another Lake adherent, of Chehalis, Washington;
Wilford H. Reidt, John G. Lake's son-in-law, of Spokane, Washington;
Paul Gering of Spokane, Washington, and Edward H. Curtis of Entiat,
Washington, both of whom were followers of the John G. Lake Ministry.
Clark Peterson, a contemporary of Lake's and brother-in-law to
Moser, told us of his ear witness to an incident where Moser was
called several hours away from Spokane to a town called Cheney
where a man had been killed in some traumatic accident.
When Moser
arrived he knelt over the dead body of the man and prayed earnestly
for some time until the man arose, totally healed by the power
of God! The fellowship of ministers at that time and place had
a great sense of unity, brevity and respect for one another.
They knew and understood that together they were an incredible
force against the powers of darkness.Rev. Moser was the next President
of The Fellowship. He served until his death on November 17,
1961. Vice- President Olaf Borseth became President and served
until his death in 1967.
Wilford H. Reidt then became President and served until his death on June 28, 1987. Rev. Clifford Rice was then elected President. He resigned in 1990. Vice-President Richard O. Tedeschi then became President until the general convention in June 1991, where Wayne C. Anderson was elected as the seventh President. Wayne served until March 1996 when he resigned in June 1996. Lee LaCoss was elected to serve as the eighth President until he resigned in May 1998. In May 1998, Joe McIntyre was elected the ninth President. He is currently President of the Fellowship.
The Fellowship was founded to propagate, by every possible means, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then, as now, all ministers were to enjoy freedom to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God with as few restrictions as possible.
The rules of conduct and general purposes are set forth in the Constitution and By-Laws, and the Standards of Membership. The Fellowship was granted Group Tax Exempt status in 1963. Application for a Group Exempt Number was granted to us, on August 20, 1982.The International Fellowship of Ministries is just now coming of age. The new leadership, while treasuring the heritage given to us by those great men of God who went before, is preparing to aggressively press the battle through the enemy's gates. God is truly moving through our people in a greater manner than ever before. Apostolic Faith and Apostolic Team Ministry is what this fellowship of ministers was originally founded upon and is the direction that we are continuing to follow.
If you have any questions concerning
the direction of The International Fellowship of Ministries,
please do not hesitate to call or write. The entire staff and
presbytery is committed to serve you.May the grace and peace
In His service,
The Board of The INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
OF MINISTRIES
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