The Legacy of the Children of God
The Children of God was established first and foremost as an active missionary movement. During its first decade many members migrated out of North America to establish mission posts in countries throughout the world. By 1977 there were 741 Children of God communities in 73 countries. During this period, insofar as statistics were recorded, members distributed over 306 million pieces of Gospel literature and led 1.5 million people to Christ.
In 1978, the Children of God era ended, and the Family (now known as the Family International) had its genesis. The Family International (TFI) is an international Christian community committed to sharing the message of God’s love with people around the globe.
The Family International has undergone much change and progress throughout its 40+ year history, in the process of establishing a global missionary work with members in over 90 countries. Although its methods and membership structure have evolved with the times, the movement’s core message remains unchanged: “God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16); “God is love ... [and] since God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:8, 11 NIV).
Statement of Faith
The Family International (TFI) is an international Christian community committed to sharing the message of God’s love with people around the globe. We believe that everyone can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, which affords happiness and peace of mind, as well as the motivation to help others and to share the good news of His love. Our fundamental beliefs are generally in accordance with those held by Christians the world over; we also embrace some untraditional doctrines. Our application of the foundation principle of God’s Law of Love that Jesus taught—to love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, which He said fulfills ‘all the law and the prophets’ (Matthew 22:37–40)—is a defining feature of our lives and our faith.
See the Family International’s Statement of Faith.
Mission Statement
The Family International (TFI) is committed to sharing the message of God’s love with people around the globe. We seek to bring hope and spiritual renewal through the unconditional love of Jesus Christ that knows no borders or boundaries of race, creed, or social status. We strive to make a difference in our world by offering spiritual solutions for the challenges of life and translating God’s love into actions that manifest kindness and compassion and improve the lives of others. We endeavor to follow the example of Jesus, whose ministry was ‘to preach the Gospel … to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind’ (The Bible, Luke 4:18 NKJV).
We are committed to:
- Making the World a Better Place: Sharing the message of God’s love for humankind.
- Spiritual Development: Providing spiritual and emotional support for managing the challenges of modern life.
- Humanitarian Assistance: Enhancing the quality of life of the disadvantaged, displaced, and those without hope.
Membership Charter
In 1995 the Family International adopted a governing charter, which codified the beliefs, rights, and responsibilities of full-time TFI members. The primary purpose of the Charter was to provide a well-defined broad governing structure for its communities and members.
In July, 2010, TFI adopted a new organizational model in order to better achieve the missionary goals of the organization. After a two-year process of evaluating its structure, doctrine, and methodology, much of which was rooted in its former longstanding cooperative-based model, TFI initiated a comprehensive restructuring program. This resulted in a virtual reinvention of the movement and its structure to allow for greater diversity, while retaining its missionary objectives.
To reflect the organization’s restructuring and its aims of empowering individuals to operate independently, the Family International’s governing charter was modified and streamlined.
Worldwide Work
Currently active in evangelistic and humanitarian work in over 90 countries, the Family International has served in over 150 countries since its founding as the Children of God in 1968.
For more information on TFI’s works around the world, please see the worldwide work of the Family International.