What countries does CFCI work in?
CFCI works primarily in Latin America but also has ministries in Spain and Mali. Click here for a map of CFCI bases.
What does CFCI believe?
CFCI is an evangelical, interdenominational organization. Click here to read our Statement of Faith.
What kinds of ministries can I serve in during my time with CFCI?
CFCI has a wide variety of ministry opportunities available to you. You can participate in programs for disadvantaged children and youth, help with church leader and pastoral training, assist our missionaries in preparing for and leading mission teams, or work in one of our medical clinics. These are just a few of the ministry options you will have. To find out more about the specific ministry opportunities in the countries we work in click here.
How long will I be expected to stay?
Your stay can be from one month to one year in duration. We request that you have at least one month to dedicate to your trip. If you are interested in serving for over one year, please contact Leah at leahhuffman@cfci.org to find out more about becoming a long-term missionary with CFCI.
How much does it cost?
The cost varies according to location. Typically the monthly cost ranges from $600 to $700.
What is included in the cost and what other expenses might I incur?
Your monthly cost covers your room and board, local transportation to and from your ministry site, project funds, and administrative expenses. You will also be responsible for your own airfare and travel documents, any vaccinations you must have, the cost of your support letter mailings, and travel insurance. Your total costs may look something like this:
CFCI Deposit fee $ 50
Round Trip Chicago to Costa Rica $ 700
Passport $ 75
Airport Tax $ 25
Prayer letters to donors & Stamps $ 100
Short Term Insurance $ 60
Gifts for host family $ 30
2 months in Costa Rica $ 1200
Sample Total Support Needed $2,240
How will I pay for my trip?
You may choose to pay the expenses out of your own pocket, or CFCI can assist you in raising the funds necessary for your trip.
Where will I live?
In most cases, our missionary staff will select a host family for you. You will live with and have your meals prepared by a local family. We believe that this gives you a unique opportunity to become engaged in the culture of your host country and build relationships with the people. In some locations this is not possible and you will be housed with a missionary family or in a ministry house. For example, volunteers in our Tijuana location will stay in our orphanage or with other staff members in the ministry house located next to the orphanage.
Can I fulfill my school’s internship requirements?
Yes, CFCI is happy to work with you to fulfill any requirements necessary to allow you to receive credit for your internship with us. (In certain cases this may not be possible as some school internships require that supervising staff have a specific certification. If we do not have a suitable supervisor for you we may not be able to fulfill the necessary requirements.)
Is it safe?
CFCI is, first and foremost, concerned with the safety of its staff and volunteers. We would never knowingly put a volunteer in an unsafe location and we rely on both our field staff’s knowledge and expertise and State Department warnings and advisories in placing our volunteers. Our field staff, many of whom are nationals of the countries they serve in, are very familiar with their cities and where it is safe to place volunteer workers. Much of the danger of international travel comes from the unfamiliarity of the traveler with the language, culture, and any potentially dangerous areas of the city. Having a missionary host orientate and accompany the volunteer during the first few weeks of their stay will help to ensure their safety.
However, no matter how carefully we care for our volunteers, there is always the potential for situations that we cannot predict. Some of the areas we work in occasionally experience natural disasters or mild political unrest. Please take the time to read for yourself the State Department’s travel advisories for the country you are interested living in at www.travel.state.gov and prayerfully consider your decision to serve with us. If you have concerns about a specific area please contact us. Our staff members have traveled to our ministry locations and will be able to offer more details regarding the areas our ministries are located in.
What are the age requirements?
We ask that all applicants be 18 years old or a high school graduate. We accept adults of all ages, but ask that they be physically able to travel and minister in a developing country where it may be more difficult to get around and harder to accommodate certain dietary restrictions and health problems.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. We are happy to work with married couples and families with children. The larger the family the more difficult it is to find an appropriate living and ministry situation, so we ask that families be more open as to the location and time-frame of their ministry.