Since its humble beginnings in August 1990,
the Fellowship of Inner-City Word of Faith Ministries (FICWFM)
has grown to include approximately 300 member-pastors and
ministers in 8 regions, representing a combined congregational
membership of over 150,000 Believers.
A non-profit corporation,
FICWFM is governed by its bylaws and headed by its
fifteen-member Board of Directors, of
which Dr. Frederick K.C. Price is President. Corporate
headquarters are located at Crenshaw Christian Center
Church, 7901 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California.
Although
it serves as a spiritual covering for its members,
FICWFM is not a denomination. It does not
govern any of
its member-ministries. Each ministry operates personally,
privately and independently of FICWFM, and the member-ministry
has no required reporting accountability to this
organization. However, as members of the Body of Christ,
all should
live lives representative of Christ and above reproach.
Therefore,
FICWFM and its leadership strongly believe, teach
and exemplify a high standard of integrity, Godly character
and moral
excellence, and encourages that standard to be duplicated
throughout its membership.
FICWFM’s operating
year runs from August to August, with our premiere
event, the Annual Convention taking place
the fourth week in July each year. The annual convention
is held at Crenshaw Christian Center – the
home of the FaithDome. The primary purpose of each
annual convention
is for pastors, ministers and congregations of
like precious faith to come together to rally around
God’s
Word.
Convention delegates receive the teaching
ministries of our Fellowship founders, Drs. Fred
and Betty
Price, and
other noted ministers of the Gospel as well.
Among those who have graced the convention as theme speakers
are Drs.
I.V. and Bridget Hilliard (New Light Christian
Center Church, Houston, Texas), Dr. Robert L.
Wilks,
Jr.
(Vine-Life Christian
Fellowship, Riverside, California), Dr. Alfred
D. Harvey, Jr. (St. Louis Christian Center, St.
Louis,
Missouri),
Dr. Sammie Holloway (Breath of Life Christian
Center, Memphis, Tennessee), Dr. Charles Brown (Full
Gospel
Church of God
in Christ, New Orleans, Louisiana), Dr. Art Aragon
(Heritage International Fellowship, Anaheim,
California), Dr. Michael
Freeman (Spirit of Faith Christian Center, Temple
Hills, Maryland), and Pastor Wiley Jackson, Jr.
(Gospel Tabernacle,
Atlanta, Georgia).
In addition to fellowshipping
and worshipping together, another goal of the convention
is to
strengthen
and build the local ministry through a series
of worship
services
and in-depth workshops and seminars designed
not only for the pastor/minister, but church
staff
and auxiliary
workers
as well. A series of excellent ministerial
and staff development workshops conducted by highly
skilled
professionals specializing
in key areas of ministry operations are conducted
during convention week. These include operations
such as new
members assimilation and retainment, church
administration, Christian
school development and education, finance,
and youth ministries. A variety of seminars targeted
at developing
and expanding
the ministry of helps are also held. A broad
scope of information and training in the practical
ministry
of the Word is available
at all levels.
FICWFM
is a family affair! Summer JAM for children and teens
runs concurrent to the general
convention.
Children
ages kindergarten through 6th grade enjoy
exciting, fun-filled Word-centered activities designed
especially for these
youngest Believers. These activities and
services
also serve as excellent hands-on training
workshops for
developing children’s church leaders.
In
the meantime, teens ages 13 to 19 years take
church seriously as they involve themselves
in
life-building
services and group sessions designed and
formatted for meeting their
spiritual and social needs. Led by ministers
effective in teen ministry, such as Frederick
Price of Crenshaw
Christian Center and Irishea Lewis of New
Light Christian Center
Church, these sessions are vehicles for teens
to build and sustain their commitment to
Christ through
practical
experiences. Summer JAM also affords the
teens the opportunity to develop long-lasting
friendships
with
other Spirit-filled
teens from around the country.
Expert
nursery service for infants and children 6 weeks to
5 years
are also available throughout
convention
week. FICWFM is a family affair, indeed – no
one need be left out of a week designed for
spiritual growth and development
for your personal life as well as ministry.
However, the story does not end there… FICWFM,
of course, shares similarities with other
ministerial associations in our
very practical and tangible application of
the Word in meeting the ministry goals of
our members. However, the
watchword and heart of FICWFM is and always
will remain FELLOWSHIP. Maintaining an exemplary
spirit of fellowship,
friendship, and camaraderie year-round among
the over 300 FICWFM members who stem from
35 states and 5 foreign countries
is PRIORITY. This is done using several vehicles
including the Members Only section on our
Website, regional dinners
with Drs. Fred and Betty, and a variety of
regional entertainment events such as family
fun day, members’ luncheons,
bowling tournaments, etc. It is imperative
that FICWFM do the business of ministry,
but we must never forsake
the fellowship of the saints. FICWFM can
and must always do both. After all, we
are THE FELLOWSHIP! |