What the heck is FCF?

FCF stands for Family Connection Foundation and is the foundation I work with in Thailand. They will also be my sending organization for this next season of my life. If you have ever wondered how the whole foundation thing works or what they do for the volunteers who work with them, then this post is for you!

What is FCF and What Do We Do?

 

The Family Connection Foundation (FCF) was formed as the ministry, outward focus of Chiang Mai Christian Fellowship in 2006 The church is not formally recognized by the Thai government, so FCF also serves as the legal platform for the church, providing a way for staff and ministry partners to work and live in Thailand.

 

It quickly became clear that there was a huge need for a foundation willing to partner and/or take on small ministry projects unable to create a foundation of their own. Missionaries often come to Thailand with a vision and passion to serve in very specific ways. Starting and operating a foundation  to obtain legal working status requires hundreds of hours of compiling (and signing) documents, hours spent at government offices, and a knowledgeable, native Thai speaker to navigate the arduous process. The process is costly and time consuming.

 

FCF’s willingness to be open to take on projects and people who want to serve in Thailand has opened the doors to 87 foreign volunteers, 40 Thai staff, 21 Thai Ministry projects, and 7 support projects. This expansion was well beyond the original vision of the foundation but FCF has adapted and is able to accommodate the growing interest of partnership and project development.

 

In 2013, FCF processed 60 work permits and more than 180 visas (one for every family member) resulting in more than 19,000 sheets of paper, that all must be printed, collated, and stamped by the visa team, and then each page hand-signed by the director. The visa team is estimated to having spent more than 700 hours at various government offices just last year, at the time there were only two staff members on the tem.

 

Our media team created dozens of videos (including the one above), prayer cards, stories, newsletters, and branding. Our finance team processed over 7,000 transactions. Our admin team processed more than 50 new volunteer applications, and spent over 100 hours consulting with other foundations, building partnerships and sharing our experiences.

 

Outwardly; we now have seven children’s homes, and are one of seven anti-trafficking foundations in all of Thailand, with two trafficking intervention and investigative projects.

 

Our Lahu Bible course has reached 2,000 people; Education Matters scholarship program now sponsors over 40 children. We have four urban outreach programs in different parts of the city, and three rural outreach and agricultural training programs.

 

While the numbers are never our goal, they demonstrate the growth and impact FCF is having on this community. We are both humbled and inspired by what these numbers represent and want to share the amazing work God is doing through this foundation, and all the of the people who volunteer and partner with us.