A whistleblower who was an Executive Senior Pastor, Elder and Board Member of Casey City Church has exposed the corruption and inner workings of Frank Damazio’s Minister Fellowship International (FMI) and Larry Sebastian’s Casey City Church (CCC). In addition, various news media, blogs and social media channels over the last few months have exposed outrageous scandals at Casey City Church with new revelations emerging from ex-elders, members, victims and whistleblowers across social media channels and their Substack accounts. See CWC Larry Sebastian timeline for more information on this.
Larry Sebastian (Left) with his Australian Idol Winner nephew, Guy Sebastian (Right), using his national profile to build his ‘divine’ platform.
Some of the biggest apostolic cults on the planet have platformed ‘Apostle’ Frank Damazio, the most prominent being Hillsong, Bethel and Christian City Church. Even C. Peter Wagner recognized the apostolic authority of Damazio. Keep on reading to learn more about Frank Damazio’s MFI organization and browse the repository below exposing this false apostolic network and those in it. Our goal to present as much information on MFI as possible for this very important reason – practically everything they say contradicts what they purport to stand for and what they do. And with the current scandal surrounding Larry Sebastian, it’s plain to see that they accomplish nothing and are accountable to no one.
Frank Damazio’s MFI – an NAR and apostolic/prophetic network that says much and stands for nothing, not even scripture
A more recent Substack has spoken out on the outrageous behaviour of Larry Sebastian, a church leader supposedly held accountable under the ‘divine Apostolic leadership’ of Frank Damazio of Ministers Fellowship International (MFI). This article is in response to the Casey City Church whistleblower’s observations and report (our emphasis added):
The Naked Armor Bearer Substack writes (in part):
“I believe Pastors find it almost impossible to chastise another Pastor because they see themselves in the eyes of the other. There is an elevated compassion for their peers. By comparison, their compassion for victims can be lower than for their peers.
Looking back at the last year and the outcome for myself and the injured, I see an almost irrational desire to care for and restore our Senior Pastor. […] Allow me to offer one clear example.
The Australasian Leader of Ministers Fellowship International (MFI) is a Pastor. Our Church is independent. Our Senior Pastor and his wife are members of MFI. By association, our Church is connected to MFI. It is not a denomination. I called MFI at the beginning of all this. It should have been the equivalent of a 000 or 911 call for me. This MFI Leader’s first act however was to reseat our Senior Pastor in his seat of authority. He showed outright disdain for victims and for me. He undermined all trust among the victims in MFI.
I now realise that MFI is only capable of being a fraternal organisation for Pastors. Ironically, their slogan is, “Healthy Pastors Leading Healthy Churches”. But what if the Pastor isn’t healthy? They have no capabilities, policies, processes or legal instruments to hold one of their Pastors accountable. They don’t provide ordination. Therefore, they cannot remove or suspend the ordination of one of their members.
I met for over two hours with this top MFI guy. He trivialised the stories of abuse the victims brought forward. I got so frustrated with his cold indifference that I asked him what he had to say to the victims. I kid you not, he opened his bible to the page he already had marked. He read, “If you don’t forgive, then neither will God forgive you.” Then he closed it and cocked his head to the side and stared at me. That was it. Victims have to forgive their abusive Pastor, or else.
The next day he walked the Senior Pastor and his wife back into the Sunday Service. I had warned him not to because of damage to victims. He refused to listen once again and victims have never set foot in the Church again…
[…] This Pastor came to our Church to help his Pastor. Simple. That is all he was capable of. He has proven himself to be a useful friend to our Senior Pastor. He will forever be remembered as a disaster for victims. Later in the year, I confronted the Australasian Leader of MFI, about his early involvement and the damage he did. He was unrepentant. I believe, he thought I was beneath him. Who was I to confront him? I pressed him to apologise to the victims, he said he didn’t need to. I pressed harder and he said, “I suppose, you could let them know, that if they are upset, I’m sorry they’re upset.” Of course, this is not an apology, it is a slimy way to say you are upset. I refused to convey a non-apology on his behalf.” https://ontopdownunder.substack.com/p/if-christ-cant-save-them
And who IS this Australasian Leader of Minister’s Fellowship International referred to in the above Substack article?
John Scroggins is the National Leader & Chairman Australasia – a senior leader who showed indifference to the victims, ignored biblical and church proceedings and refused to acknowledge the pleas of the whistleblower, a former board member, executive pastor and elder.
John & Clara Scroggins
The report above is once again reinforcing the lack of any accountability for so-called ‘apostles, prophets, leaders and pastors’ within the NAR. We should not be surprised that Scroggin’s behaviour reflects the unbiblical culture that often festers in these global apostolic cults. So should we be shocked when investigating Minister’s Fellowship International (MFI) only to discover a ‘fellowship’ that wants to ‘govern’ but refuses to hold one of their Fellowship members accountable – because they ‘value’ autonomy?
Frank Damazio’s apostolic MFI states that they are “a network of pastors and leaders who build relationships, encourage accountability, resources churches and contend for restoration and revival”. The reality is, they’re a dangerous cult that shirks any responsibility in regards to the behaviour of the members attached to Minister’s Fellowship International.
What is MFI – Ministers Fellowship International?
Frank Damazio has been a well known Apostle in the New Apostolic Reformation cult, recognized by many Apostles and Prophets in its networks – such as C. Peter Wagner, Brian Houston (Hillsong), Phil Pringle (Christian City Church (C3)) and many others. He has played a key roll in converting/reforming many Christian individuals, churches and movements into the NAR under his apostolic governance in the 1990s and 2000s.
Below is some additional information about MFI and its members. Please note other popular NAR apostles are among its ranks, making this an NAR network of apostolic cult leaders.
The MFI website published the following information (emphasis underlined):
About MFI
We are a fellowship of pastors and leaders that partner together to build dynamic local church worldwide. MFI was founded in 1987 under the leadership of Pastor Dick Iverson in Portland, Oregon. MFI started with 30 churches and over the years has grown to about 300 churches in the USA and hundreds more in the MFI Affiliates in many different nations, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Australia, Nigeria, Ghana, Trinidad and Puerto Rico.
What We Do
We exist to partner with pastors and leaders to build dynamic impacting churches nationwide. We are a network of pastors and leaders who build relationships, encourage accountability, resources churches and contend for restoration and revival.
Our Chairman
Dr. Frank Damazio was an integral part of the original team that dreamed of and started MFI. His rich educational background comes from teaching at Portland Bible College, along with earning an MDiv and DMin from Oral Roberts University. His pastoral journey comprises of pioneering and planting a growing church in Eugene, Oregon, and completing a successful transition back to Portland to pastor City Bible Church for 25 years. Frank’s heart for pastors and leaders is to see them thrive in every area of their life and ministry. As Chairman, he leads the Apostolic Leadership Team and the vision of MFI. He and his wife Sharon live in the Portland, Oregon area.
Apostolic Leadership Team
This overseeing team leads MFI in all areas of vision, values, beliefs & expansion.
Executive Team
This is the core team that works together in planning, strategy, regionals and global conferences.
Frank Damazio
Chairman
Bob MacGregor
Vice Chairman
Jonathan Wilkins
Vice Chairman
Administrative Team
This is the core team that works together to build budgets, organize events and streamline the function of MFI.
Frank Damazio
Chairman
Bob MacGregor
Vice Chairman
Jonathan Wilkins
Vice Chairman
Steve Williams
Pastor to Pastor Liaison
Bill Scheidler
Pastor to Pastor Liaison
Bob Johnson
Pastor to Pastor Liaison
Regional Directors
These are the leaders appointed by the ALT to lead specific geographical regions in the USA.
David Cannistraci
Gateway City Church
California
Jeff Wells
Rockpoint Church
Columbia River
Gilbert Silva
House of Praise International
Great Lakes
Aaron Chidester
Kauai Bible Church
Hawaii
Jeff Ecklund
House of the Lord
Intermountain North
Bob Grimm
Life Church Walla Walla
Intermountain South
David Frech
Church of the Harvest
Midwest
Bob MacGregor
City Harvest Church
Northeast
Raúl Torres
Cas de Refugio
Puerto Rico
Mike Hennigan
Victory Christian Church
Southeast
Tyrone Jones
Church for the City
Southwest
Brad Neuschwander
Life Bible Church
Southern Oregon
Eric Butler
Christian International Church
Tristate
Michael Hurley
Life Church Oak Harbor
Western WA & Alaska
ALT Members
These leaders help grow and build MFI.
Marc Estes
Mannahouse Church
ALT Member
Jude Fouquier
City Church California
ALT Member
Ken Malmin
Portland Bible College
ALT Member
William McDowell
Deeper Fellowship Church
ALT Member
Jonathan Owens
Heart of the City Church
ALT Member
Mike Servello
Compassion Coalition
ALT Member
Jess Strickland
Living Hope
ALT Member
Ken Wilde
Capital Christian Center
ALT Member
Source: Our Chairman, Ministers Fellowship International, https://mfileader.org/about/, Accessed May 25, 2024. (Archive)
The MFI Apostolic Ministry also worked closely with Apostle Kevin Conner, a very dangerous and dooms-day cult leader of the New Order of the Latter Rain class. The Australian MFI website reads:
Our History
Brother Kevin J Conner (CityLife Church, Wantirna, Vic) was the Founder of MFI Australasia, and has been an Apostolic Leadership Team Member of MFI International, USA, since its founding by his long-term friend, brother Dick Iverson. Brother Kevin is a recognized apostolic Bible Teacher/Theologian whose text books are extensively sought after and used by church leadership in multiple countries around the world. In 1993, brother Kevin put the vision and burden of his heart to help and encourage ministers in the body of Christ into action, mainly in Australia & Malaysia. His vision was to offer support of those men and women he had met, as he ministered around Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, and the Pacific Island nations, who were leading autonomous local churches, and who desired to maintain relationship, yet wanted to keep their autonomy.
Aged 78 years in 2005, Kevin with Rene, felt in the Lord it was time for a new generation to be established and released a successor to lead, facilitate and further extend MFI within Australasia. So with presbytery in prayer and the prophetic, Bernie & Susie Hartog, founding Senior Ministers of CityLight Church, Kingston, Tasmania, took up their new mantle of leadership (having been an original Australian Leadership Team member under Brother Kevin, serving as Tasmanian state leader for 12 years at that time). Since that time two more regional areas, QLD and NSW, have been firmly added; and there are two affiliated established local churches in New Zealand, as well as one new church plant.
The Lord builds His church on proper foundations and structure, with proper covering established. The Lord is speaking to His people about these areas. Churches rise and fall on leadership.
“The Lord builds His church on proper foundations and structure, with proper covering established.”
Many leaders today walk alone, and this is contrary to Scripture. Ecc 4:9,10 “Two are better than one… for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him who is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up.”
This fellowship of ministers was established to meet this need. First of all, it is a fellowship of ministers, and Senior Minister members may align and affiliate their local churches with MFI, bringing their local ministry teams’ key leaders with them, into membership and conference attendance.
This growing cause of the gospel of the Kingdom of God is encouraging senior ministry with their key team leaders in Australasian autonomous churches to connect and belong to “something bigger than themselves.”
MFI Australasia is an instrument in the Lord’s hand to strengthen the member ministers, and their local teams. MFI Aus has continued strong and healthy into this new generation, under the leadership of Ps Bernie & Susie Hartog. It is “being built on The Foundation which is firstly laid in Christ Jesus… and the apostles and the prophets”, past and present. MFI is a growing entity, whose refreshing vital membership pulsates with Holy Spirit-filled equippers and evangelists, making disciples of the Lord’s harvest in all the nations, encouraging the planting of new churches, praying and sending out labourers into the field of the world.
Source: Our History, MFI Australasia, https://mfi.org.au/history/, Accessed May 27, 2024. [Archived]
Those on the Australia Leadership Team:
Ministers Fellowship International Australasia is run by the Australasian Leadership Team (ALT). These people have had many faithful years of service in local churches, ministries and various practical applications. The following are the list of these people that make up the ALT.
John & Clara Scroggins
National Leader & Chairman Australasia
Jeremy & Linda Rensford
Victorian Regional Leaders
Ray & Wendy Acosta
NSW Regional Leaders
Anthony & Annette Castro
Tasmania Regional Leaders
Alan & Debbie Coates
Queensland Regional Leaders
Jason & Heather Daniels
New Zealand Regional Representative
Tony & Helena Harrold
Deputy Chair/Secretary
Source: About MFI Australasia, MFI Australasia, https://mfi.org.au/about/, Accessed May 25, 2024. (Archived)
MFI has some very interesting ideas as to why they exist and what they do for religious leaders and churches:
Philosophy
Ministers Fellowship International has strong convictions regarding the autonomy of the local church. These underlying convictions affect everything that MFI does and they serve as a guide to every policy that MFI establishes.
Ministers Touching Ministers
MFI is not first of all a fellowship of churches. It is primarily a fellowship of ministers, within that context, there exists a fellowship of churches, according to relationships built between the member ministers. This means that ministers of like vision and doctrine voluntarily associate themselves with other ministries for the purpose of fellowship, encouragement, vision expansion, equipping and strength.
This also means that the members of the fellowship themselves need to be aware that when they become a part of MFI, they are not only asking for resources and strength, but they are also indicating that they desire to be that for others within the fellowship.
MFI provides a structure and a context where these meaningful relationships can be cultivated, but it is up to each member along with the MFI leadership to sense a personal responsibility for one another as “our brother’s keeper”.
Affiliation Yet Autonomy
One of the strong doctrinal foundations of MFI is its conviction that every local church is an autonomous organisation. That means that each local church is to be self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating. It is because of this teaching that even forming such a fellowship was a sensitive task.
On the one hand, there was a desire to be a catalyst to bring pastors and church leaders together in affiliation for the purpose of fellowship, relationship and strength. But on the other hand, there was an equally strong desire to not violate the structural integrity and authority of the local assembly.
Many groups have begun as a fellowship, but soon became a denomination where the central headquarters began to exert a growing measure of control on the local scene. MFI has taken strong measures to avoid this pitfall. MFI has attempted to safeguard itself by organising the fellowship in such a way that the things that give denominations control cannot become a part of the fellowship. The four things that MFI cannot do are credential ministries, own local church properties, control local church missions and act as a denomination.
MFI Does Not Credential Ministries
The local church is to be the place where ministries are birthed, raised up, trained, equipped, licensed and ordained. If an organization has the power to commission (ordain) someone, it also has the power to decommission them and thus control that ministry. MFI holds the view that licensing and ordination are the specific functions of the local church and must be administered on that level.
MFI Cannot Own Local Church Properties
Often local churches do not own their church properties, but their properties are held by an outside organization. This can easily become another issue of control. Even though it has been the people’s money that built and established the church facility, an organization can easily impose its will on a congregation because its name is on the legal documents.
MFI Does Not Control Local Church Mission
Again, the local church is to be the sending body for missionaries. Certainly local churches may voluntarily cooperate with each other on missionaries and missions projects, but no outside organization should demand that the mission money of a local church are spent in a prescribed way. This again takes away authority and resources from the local church for the development of their own missions strategy. In spite of the fact that MFI does not subscribe to organizational control, it does recognize the need that ministers have for a sense of spiritual family and identity. There is a need to be a part of a vision greater than oneself. There is a need for committed relationships with like-minded ministries who can be a source of strength and a resource to them in time of need. MFI is just that for many pastors and leaders. When they come into MFI, they find new friends. They find spiritual brothers and sisters, and, at the same time, they find spiritual fathers and mothers who can provide wisdom and counsel in times of need. They enter into a relationship where they can watch over one another in a loving and caring way. They become part of a worldwide vision that continues to grow into the future.
MFI Does Not Act as a Denomination
MFI is not a denomination and MFI does not act as a higher authority imposed on local autonomous churches. In order to follow ministerial ethics, applications will not normally be entertained by ministers who are identified with and committed to their own denomination or like affiliation.
Offers Covering Without Control
MFI is a covering body only in so far as it provides a context for spiritual relationship and oversight in a balanced fashion without having any official or legal control over any minister or church.
As a fellowship of ministers, MFI provides a context for ministers to find strengthening and supportive relationships with other “peer” and “fatherly” ministries. However, these relationships are voluntary and unofficial and are not intended to replace the legal and official authority of the local church.
All ministries including the senior pastor should be under the legal authority of and accountable to their own church elder board. If a pastor has no elder board, then he should be submitted to the accountability of another “mother” church while that elder board is in the process of forming.
MFI does not seek to cover churches or their ministers in any direct or legal sense. However, the member of MFI, and the churches they minister to, may provide this more “official oversight” for each other. In doing so they would not be acting as official representatives of MFI, but they would be acting as representatives of their own local churches.
In the event that a member of MFI was to be disqualified from ministry it would not be the place of MFI to officially discipline that ministry. It would be the responsibility of that local church and/or its covering “mother” church to judge and administer discipline officially. The local church may, however, call upon MFI leaders or members to assist in these matters. In doing so, MFI leaders would not be acting on behalf of MFI as much as they would be acting as individuals at the request of the local elder board.
In the event that a church elder board was to call MFI for help in any such matter, their participation would be in a purely advisory role to the local elder board. MFI would not be involved directly in any pastoral discipline in the church setting. That is the function of the local church itself. MFI’s only official disciplinary action in such a case could be the removal of a disqualified minister from membership in MFI.
Affirmations
Every fellowship of ministers is distinct because of a common heritage, spiritual belief system, vision and focus. Even as the children of Israel in Biblical times were all one people of God and yet had distinct tribes, so it is with the Body of Christ today. From God’s perspective, there is only one Church. It includes all believers, living and dead, all over the world who have distinguished themselves by their separation unto the covenants of God through faith.
However, within the family of God there are smaller groupings of people and leaders that God has brought together based on a common vision and understanding of God’s eternal purpose. This is similar to the tribes within the nation of Israel. Each tribe has its own distinct characteristic based on a common heritage and root system.
In biological terms, the human race includes everyone. However, within this race of mankind there are families of people who have a common genetic history and thus a certain biological compatibility. They share a common thread (DNA) to do with how they will actually express themselves. Every family has a “family resemblance”.
MFI has certain things in its spiritual “DNA” that make it distinct. Much of this is integrally related to the history of MFI and the belief system of those who founded the Fellowship. When someone joins MFI, they join a spiritual family with a DNA code that is vital to its ability to fulfil the express purposes of the Fellowship.
We believe that the pattern for New Testament worship is to be found in the Davidic order of worship described in the Psalms and birthed in the Tabernacle of David in the Old Testament. Within this belief is the concept that we as believers are to be spiritual priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices to God. One of the primary sacrifices is the “fruit of our lips” or our audible worship given to God (Hebrews 13:15). Davidic worship is demonstrative worship that is characterized by the Biblical expressions of clapping, shouting, singing, dancing, lifting hands, bowing and kneeling.
Prophecy and the Laying on of Hands
We believe that prophecy and the ministry of the prophet are to be fully operational in the Church today. If the church is going to be filled with vision and under the full direction of Jesus, the prophetic voice must be heard. We do not accept that this and other ministries were to be confined to an “apostolic age” but they are to be fully activated until the physical return of Christ.
Prayer & Intercession
We believe that both personal and corporate prayer are absolutely essential if the Church is to succeed. The New Testament church was birthed in prayer, it continued steadfast in prayer and bathed all of its activities and ministries in prayer. In fact, when the Bible labels the Church or the House of God, the label it gives it is “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7). If that is the name that God has chosen for His house, prayer should be a major focus of every church. Prayer is a pipeline through which the Spirit moves.
Local Church
We believe that the local church is the aspect of the church that God is focusing on building in these days. While we all recognise and understand that the larger Body of Christ encompasses all believers, it is on the local scene that all of the plans and purposes of God are going to be demonstrated and fulfilled. Every believer must find himself or herself in right relationship to God and to a specific local church in order to find a place of ministry and fruitfulness. It is essential that rather than criticising the Church, we do everything we can to make the Church of Jesus Christ glorious. The Church is God’s instrument to extend His purposes in the earth today. It is the instrument of the Kingdom.
Eldership Church Government
We believe that God has a plan and pattern for government in the local church. It is the same form of government that God has used in every institution that He has established. We refer to this as team ministry or an “eldership” form of government with a senior pastor or chief elder. This is a form of government that involves equality and headship which is modeled in the Godhead, established in the natural family, set up by God in Israel, used in the synagogue and ordained in the Church in the New Testament (Hebrews 13:17, Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5). The elders are the servant leaders of the local assembly who are responsible before God to raise up and equip the members of the church to be able to function in their God-ordained callings.
Restoration of the Church
We believe that the church which began with great power and anointing fully functioning as God’s instrument in the earth went through a period of serious spiritual and doctrinal decline through the Middle Ages. Since Martin Luther, God has been in the process of restoring the Church to her former glory and power. As we get nearer to Christ’s return we can expect this process of restoration to become complete and we can expect the Church to rise up and be what God has designed her to be (Isaiah 60:1-5). The Church is the final instrument in the hands of the Lord to extend His Kingdom in the earth. Some other program or institution will not replace the Church, but the Church will finish the commission laid upon it by Jesus Himself.
Restoration of the Family
We believe that at the same time God is restoring His Church, He is also restoring the natural family to its proper place and function (Jeremiah 31:1). One of the things that God is doing is turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers (Malachi 4:6). God is in the process of healing marriages, strengthening parents and teaching men and women more about their God-given roles. He is doing this because He wants to use a godly seed in this generation to rise up and destroy the works of the wicked one. Such a prodigy will need to be parented by those who understand God’s purpose and have kingdom priorities established in their life.
House to House Ministry
We believe that the early church focused on two important expressions of its assembly life. There was the corporate gathering that was vital for the equipping of the saints and corporate expressions of prayer and worship. In addition, there was ministry from house to house for the sake of fellowship, relationship, nurture and evangelism (Acts 5:42). If the church today is going to be successful in its ministry to the world and to itself, both expressions must be cultivated to the fullest extent.
The Kingdom and the Church
We believe that the extension of the Kingdom of God is the function and ministry of the Church. The Church, which is composed of both Jew and Gentile, is God’s instrument in the earth to establish God’s rule and His reign. The Church is the instrument; the Kingdom is the message. If the Church is going to fulfill its God-given calling, it must reclaim its primary function of bringing the lost to Christ and extending the borders of God’s kingdom until the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea.
We believe that the ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11 are to be fully functioning right up to the return of Christ. This includes apostles and prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. All of these ministries are needed if the Body of Christ is going to be properly equipped and the Church is going to be properly built up.
The Gifts of the Spirit
We believe that the gifts of the Spirit enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 are not only for today, but should be desired, sought after and evidenced in every church. If there was ever a time that these gifts were needed, it is today. We do not believe that these gifts were only for the embryonic church of the first 100 years. They are to be a part of the Church right up to the return of Christ for His perfected Bride.
Unity & Diversity
We believe that every local church should be inclusive and actively seek to include all peoples of all races, ethnic origins and social and economic standings. The Church of Jesus Christ is a multi-ethnic group that has within it seeds for demolishing the scourge of racial prejudice. God’s purpose is to make all people into one for the glory of God.
Church Planting & World Missions
We believe that the Church has been given the commission by Christ to go into the entire world with the kingdom message in an attempt to bring all men to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We also believe that the result of this mission should be the establishing of local churches in every community in every country of the world.
Raising Up & Releasing Lay Leaders
We believe that five-fold ministers are to be servant leaders that equip and release every member of the local congregation to function in their God-ordained ministry.
Foundations
The Bible makes it very clear that if two are going to walk together, there must be an underlying agreement (Amos 3:3). If people are going to come into a covenant relationship that is genuine and meaningful there must be a strong foundation for that relationship to be built upon. Covenant relationship in MFI is built upon four pillars.
Pillar #1: Character
A commitment to Christ-like character is essential if those who are associated with MFI are going to represent Christ’s ministry effectively to the world. This means that MFI stands for the principle of servant leadership that is demonstrated by personal integrity, moral purity, financial responsibility and ethical standards of Christian conduct.
Pillar #2: Common Vision
A commitment to a common vision is essential if those who are associated with MFI are going to be able to build a unified expression of Christ’s Church in the earth today. Unity of vision and direction, commonality of goals and purpose and even the affirmation of biblical principles and methods form a foundation upon which we can all build together.
Pillar #3: Compatibility of Doctrine
A commitment to a common interpretation of the Scripture as it relates to basic doctrinal areas (i.e. God, Christ, man, sin, etc.), the eternal purpose of God, the place of the Church in God’s plan and the overall structure and government of the local church is critical if we are to effectively contribute to one another’s success.
Pillar #4: Covenant Relationship
A commitment to be our “brother’s keeper” in a tangible way is the by-product of the other three pillars. A covenant relationship is a commitment to not only be concerned about ones own affairs but to also be genuinely concerned about the affairs of the other members of the Fellowship (Phil. 2:3-4). It is a commitment to the personal success of the other members and a willingness to lay our lives down to see that accomplished.
Commitment to One Another
There is such a wonderful strength in unity! Mutual accountability among MFI members means they are committing themselves as brothers and sisters to intentionally watch over one another to protect each other from errors and deception.
The biblical standards of MFI call for a commitment from each member to live out their lifestyle and leadership roles in accordance with the principles of God’s Word.
Commitment to Accountability
Commitment to accountability is someone saying, “Yes… I truly want someone outside of those under me in the Lord to be committed to my well-being; that they would be willing to make it difficult for me to go astray if they felt I was hurting my life and ministry.”
Membership in MFI is a serious thing. It is an honest and heartfelt commitment to be “my brother’s keeper.”
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” Eccl. 4:9-10
Doctrinal Statement
While fully recognising and appreciating the fact that no doctrine of Scripture should be supported by anything less than all the Scripture has to say concerning that doctrine, we nevertheless believe that it is of value to append each of the following doctrinal statements with two or more Scriptures supporting them. The fundamental teachings of MFI are reflected in the following clear statements:
Canon of Scriptures
We believe in the plenary-verbal inspiration of the accepted canon of the Scriptures as originally given (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 2:13).
The Eternal Godhead
We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as ONE God existing in THREE persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; distinguishable but indivisible (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Creation & The Fall of Man
We believe in the creation, test and fall of man as recorded in Genesis; his total spiritual depravity and inability to attain to divine righteousness (Romans 5:12, 18).
The Virgin Birth
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very man (Luke 1:26-35, John 1:18, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6).
Christ’s Death, Burial & Resurrection
We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 4:25).
We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation and personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for the Church (John 14:2-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Salvation
We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins (Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 9:12, Romans 5:11).
Water Baptism
We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of Christ (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:36-39, 19:1-6).
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience at or subsequent to salvation, the normative evidence; namely speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:1-4, 8:14-17, 10:44-46, Galatians 3:14-15).
Spiritual Gifts
We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12 and through to 14, manifested in the Early Church.
Spirit-Filled Life
We believe in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and perfecting of holiness in the fear of God as an expression of Christian faith (Ephesians 5:18, 2 Corinthians 6:14, 7:1).
Healing & Miracles
We believe in the healing of the body by divine power, or divine healing in its varied aspects as practised in the Early Church (Acts 4:30, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 12:9, James 5:14).
Communion
We believe in the Table of the Lord, commonly called Communion or the Lord’s Supper, for believers (1 Corinthians 11:28-32).
We believe in the eternal life for believers (John 5:25, 3:16) and eternal punishment for unbelievers (Mark 9:43-48, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 20:10-15).
Satan & Eternal Judgement
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan and eternal judgement of Satan and his angels (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10-15).
In addition to these basic fundamentals, we also hold that…
The Biblical form of Church government is a plural eldership with a senior minister, who qualify on the basis of spiritual life, character, domestic life and rulership ability (1 Timothy 3).
The Church of Jesus Christ is the last instrument that God is using to extend His Kingdom prior to the second coming of Christ (Ephesians 3:10, Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 1:20, 22).
The local church is completely autonomous, that is, it is self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating in its mature state.
Every believer in Christ must be subject to God’s authority in a specific local church for spiritual protection and long-term fruitfulness (Hebrews 13:17).
The theological framework for understanding all of God’s dealings with mankind is to be found in the divine covenants revealed in Scripture.
Source: Beliefs, MFI Australasia, https://mfi.org.au/beliefs/, Accessed May 28, 2024. (Archived)
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“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16
Categories: Ministers Fellowship International, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)