The Fellowship (FGFCMI)
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The Fellowship (FGFCMI), also known as the Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers, International, is a fellowship of like-minded Charismatic churches and ministers.
In 1948, evangelists Gordon Lindsay and Jack Moore formed The Voice of Healing, a traveling healing revival. The results and effects of this ministry led about 100 evangelists to band together in a fellowship, of which Lindsay was selected president. Lindsay called for a conference in Dallas, Texas in September of 1962. Plans were laid for the Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International, temporary officers were elected, and a national convention set for June 1963. In the summer of 1963, the first Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches & Ministers International convention was held, and A. C. Valdez was elected president.
The implication of the terminology Full Gospel is that many mainline denominations leave out parts of the gospel - such as miracles, speaking in tongues, divine healing, etc. - while the Full Gospel maintains it in its entirety and for every aspect of the individual.
Though its full constitutional name is still the Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches & Ministers International, its shortened name for common use is The Fellowship. The Fellowship maintains offices in Irving, Texas. In 1998 almost 900 churches were participating, representing about 275,000 individuals.
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- Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood