What We Believe

IFI Statement of Faith and Values

Statement of Faith:

We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments as inspired by God, and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life.

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary and is true God and true man.

We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned, and thereby incurred, not only physical death, but also Spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all that believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood.

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate.

We believe in “that blessed hope,” the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost.

 

Statement of Values:

The term “international“ in the following values refers to international students, scholars, and their families. The Values of IFI are listed below or click here for a PDF download.

• Incarnational Ministry
We value loving people unconditionally and living incarnationally* with them, demonstrating respect,
acceptance and appreciation for them and their various cultures. (*live among with an open life)

• Intimacy with Christ
We value, first and foremost, knowledge and intimacy with Christ as developed through time with Him in the spiritual disciplines, including prayer, meditation, and Bible study.

• Serving
We value serving international students by meeting felt needs and reaching out in true friendship.

• Relational Evangelism
 We value a relational style of evangelism in which we, as vessels empowered by the Holy Spirit, engage in the process of presenting the gospel in culturally relevant and intellectually stimulating ways, undergirding the entire process with prayer.

• Partnership with Internationals
 We value and seek full partnership with internationals in efforts to make Christ known. Wherever
possible, we will take a deferential posture in co-leading with international believers in order to equip them to be laborers.

• Life-on-Life Training
We value pursuing a deep and vulnerable life-on-life involvement, imparting truth and Christ-likeness by our example and the Word of God with internationals who are faithfully seeking God, are available to be trained, and have a teachable spirit.

• Multiplying Spiritual Laborers
We value the Biblical principle of discipling and multiplying spiritual laborers who, in turn, will continue birthing successive generations of spiritual laborers who will be Oaks of Righteousness with Christ’s vision for the world.

•Contextualized Ministry
We value using forms and approaches for ministry to internationals relevant to the international’s background and calling, consistent with Biblical truth.

• God’s Ownership
We value exercising an attitude of faithful stewardship and partnership with the Lord in His redeeming and sanctifying work in the lives of the internationals we serve. We are participants in the process of raising up and nurturing international believers, trusting the Lord to lead each believer to God’s intended sphere of influence.

• Teaming
 We value being one in spirit and purpose (Phil. 2:2), interdependent, functioning as a body: moving in the same direction together but with individual functions. As a team, we value trust, sharing together, encouraging one another, correcting one another, corporate planning, while encouraging work within giftings. In order to best serve the needs of internationals and fulfill our vision, we work cooperatively with like-minded churches and other parachurch organizations where possible.

• Integrity
 We value operating in a manner that reflects Biblical standards and our stated values. We strive to
represent ourselves accurately without falsehood or exaggeration. We seek to fulfill what we promise.

• Stewardship
 We gratefully receive the resources that God gives us, including people, finances, and time, and we seek to use these gifts with God’s wisdom. We strive to serve each person by being available, providing resources, attention to detail, respect, and responding in a timely manner.

• Excellence
 We value a quality of work that honors God and is pleasing to constituents. (Col. 3:23—Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men).

• Training
We value investing in the continuing development of each laborer by training him/her commensurate with his/her responsibilities.

• Grass Roots Ministry
We value all staff, whether campus or administrative, being involved in personal ministry with
internationals.

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