Christ Ministerial Fellowship

It seems like ministerial gatherings have always been an integral part of Sergio Valori’s ministry. There are some that have been in such fellowship with him for 30-40 years. These gatherings have always produced close fellowship among the brethren, and have always been focused on a high calling, spiritual growth, and “going on to maturity.”

Around 1982, during one of such gatherings in Reading, Pennsylvania, some of us in ministry decided to get together for prayer and sharing our hearts one with the other. Although there was no human effort to ‘start anything’, the Spirit kept drawing us together until precious relationships were formed over the years. It was at this time that this informal gathering of ministries was given an identity: Christ Ministerial Fellowship (CMF).

This core group of men, gathered about Sergio Valori, were given oversight as CMF elders. They were, and remain at this time: Bert Ghilardi, Lou Pressman, Mark Waters and Ric Vargas,. Since those early days, other ministries and fellowships have been joined to and became affiliated with CMF. A love and a connection among the brethren has grown and our lives have been deeply bonded together. This has been the Lord’s doing; it has been marvelous in our eyes. For some, CMF has served as a covering for their ministry. For many years pastors’ retreats (ministerial gatherings) have been held twice annually, during which were times of precious fellowship, sharing burdens one with the other an opportunity to hear a present word from the Lord and a commissioning unto ministries, such as missions. There has been a growing sense among us that the Lord has kept us together to fulfill a purpose in this end time. Though we acknowledge there are legitimate individual pursuits, we share a growing conviction about the purposes God would have us fulfill in a corporate way. We are reminded of a scene in Acts 13:2,3,4a where a group of prophets and teachers was gathered. The word says, “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.’ And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed…”

The bold effect is intentional, to show a plurality of ministry at work – praying, fasting, receiving direction from the Lord and going forth into ministry. We feel the Lord is calling us into this type of approach to ministry, both for overseas missions and for the spiritual growth of our local churches in the U.S. and Canada. We, as brethren, are seeking the Lord in a corporate way and local churches are supporting such ministry by their involvement, prayer and monetary support.

No one draws a CMF salary. The monetary support is used nearly exclusively for ministry: for oversees missions, the CMF website: www.christianmaturity.com, the CMF (quarterly) Newsletter, and ministerial gatherings. The Lord has opened doors of ministry for CMF and affiliated ministries in many parts of the world, including Colombia and Peru in South America, Mexico and Guatemala, Kenya, East Africa, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Bulgaria in Eastern Europe. It is surely a time for the message of the Kingdom to be preached in all the world!

Many within CMF are guest ministries to local churches, retreats, and conferences. Much ministry flows forth from this small core group of men. What is our vision? In a day of much shallowness, great mixture, man-induced hype and increasing apostasy, it is our burden to see the Church grow in spiritual stature, be purified as a Holy Bride for the Lord, develop the character of Christ and be made ready for the coming Kingdom. We yearn to see the diversity of ministry listed in Ephesians 4:11-16 working together to establish in His Church the purposes listed in that passage, namely -* equipping of the saints for their work (v.12) * promoting the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God (v.13) * growth unto a fullgrown corporate man (v.13) * development unto the stature of the fullness of Christ (v.13) * the functioning of every member of His corporate Body (v.15-16)

Pastors and ministries wishing to keep in touch with us may do so by visiting the CMF website for articles, books and announcements, by requesting the CMF Newsletter (no charge), and most of all by fellowshipping together at CMF Ministerial Gatherings (generally the last of April and the last of October.) And lastly, by receiving and participating in this most recent extension of the ministry, the CMF Update.