About Us
The Whole Gospel for the Whole Person
MIA History
Struck by a growing dichotomy between "secular" and "sacred" callings within the Church, two seminary-trained Colorado businessmen, Rev. Terry Gyger and David Cauwels, started Men In Action in 1961 with the aim of mobilizing Christian laymen in the work of Christ, particularly throughout the Caribbean and North America. By 1967 in order to coordinate its US and Caribbean projects MIA was moved to Miami, Florida, with Rev. Gyger serving as the organization's president. Special seminars on evangelism were conducted leading up to evangelistic crusades. Gradually, other evangelistic methods were added, including small group studies, friendship evangelism, and outreach breakfasts. A broader thrust developed when MIA expanded its plan to include the development of other areas of the church's life in addition to evangelism. Fellowship and discipleship ministries became important segments in the total strategy. Later a major thrust in leadership training was also incorporated into the plan. What became known as the MIA Strategy (MIAS) was launched.
During a trip to the southeastern Caribbean and the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Rev. Gyger discovered a young, passionate, Vincentian evangelist, Rev. E. Walford Thompson, and invited him to be a part of MIA. Rev. Thompson joined the organization in 1968. Under his leadership, a 12-month project was conducted with 30 cooperating churches in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Following the success of this project, invitations from other countries were extended to the MIA team. The following year, Rev. Thompson moved his family to Jamaica where he served as MIAS Program Director for the Caribbean.
MIAS was culturally adapted for the country of Haiti and named Christ Pour Tous starting with churches in southern Haiti from the denomination, Mission Evangelique Baptiste Du Sud D'Haiti. In this continuing program, seminars were conducted in a four-phase strategy including leadership development, prayer cells, faithful witnessing and indoctrination. Initially 37 superintendents were given special training and were able to return to their districts to train some 200 pastors. Other denominations began requesting the MIA strategy be taught in their churches and over the years hundreds of churches representing thousands of Haitians have been served through MIAS.
It was 1970 when Rev. Thompson introduced MIA to Jamaica in the parish of Manchester. Over seven years the MIAS was taught in more than 200 churches in the parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth, St. Andrews, Trelawney, and partially in Cornwall. Prayer cells mushroomed and thousands of lives were touched from every strata of Jamaican society.
MIA was incorporated in 1974, and with the scope of its ministry greatly broadened from simply mobilizing laymen, in 1981 its name was changed to Ministries In Action. 1976 marked the beginning of MIA's seminary project. This three-year effort conducted in three North American seminaries involved students in a series of training seminars designed to teach the MIAS to future pastors and church leaders. Many of these men were able to implement the program in congregations to which they had been called.
Rev. Thompson was elected President of MIA in 1977, and he moved his family of six to Miami, Florida. Deeply influenced by the writings of Harvey Conn, John Stott, J.I. Packer, and Francis Schaeffer, Rev. Thompson saw a great need for the Church to return to holistic ministry: the whole gospel for the whole person. For Rev. Thompson, it wasn't enough to simply tell people about the good news of Christ. As Christians we are called, he believed, not only to teach but also to do. Works of mercy and justice were not an addition to the gospel. They were the gospel. So in 1979, Rev. Thompson led the organization to begin Project Ebenezer, the holistic arm of Ministries In Action. Project Ebenezer's first project was located in Guichard between the city of Aux Cayes and the town of Camp Perrin in the southern peninsula of Haiti. The initial project is now completely self-sufficient, financially and organizationally, with a growing and maturing church at the center of the community. Projects expanded into Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and throughout the Caribbean and since its launch Project Ebenezer has helped local churches bear a more authentic witness for Christ through the development of biblical free enterprise projects that benefit their communities.
With so many new churches being planted through its ministry MIA, recognizing a growing need for sound theological training for pastors and lay persons, sponsored two PhD dissertations in theological education by Duane Elmer and Sam Rowen. As a result of Drs. Elmer and Rowen's findings, in 1979 Ministries In Action started the IONA Centers for Theological Studies. This non-residential theological education program came together through the collaborative efforts of Dr. David Calhoun, professor of Church History at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Herbert Swaby, Founder and Principal of the IONA High School in Tower Isle, Jamaica, and Rev. E. Walford Thompson, President of MIA. Many IONA students have completed their Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorates as a result of their studies.
The Ministries In Action Handbook for Church Growth was published in 1983. Co-authored by Terry L. Gyger, David B. Calhoun, and E. Walford Thompson, the MIA Handbook was a compilation of MIAS seminar materials that had been used in churches throughout the Caribbean and North America. It served as a useful guide based on 20 years' experience in helping churches grow both numerically and spiritually.
Under Rev. Thompson’s leadership, Ministries In Action has continued to faithfully serve God through the local church, primarily in the Caribbean, North America, and Latin America, modeling holistic ministry throughout the regions. On August 31, 2009, Rev. Thompson retired as MIA President and was elected to the position, President Emeritus, by the board of directors. He continues to serve MIA in an informal capacity. Upon Rev. Thompson’s retirement, the board of directors elected Rev. Steve McGee to the position, President, of Ministries In Action.
Rev. Dr. E. Walford Thompson, President Emeritus
Rev. Dr. E. Walford Thompson was born and raised on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Southeastern Caribbean and received his education at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica and at Bishop's University in Canada. At the age of 22, Rev. Thompson responded to God's call to ministry and quickly became actively involved in evangelism and church planting in the Southeastern Caribbean; he is founding pastor of the Biabou Evangelical Church in St. Vincent. In 1968, Rev. Thompson joined Ministries In Action as Director for the Caribbean ministry until he was elected to the presidency of the organization in 1977.Rev. Thompson has been guest speaker and workshop leader at many Bible and missionary conferences internationally. These include: Congress on World Evangelization at Lausanne, Switzerland and in Colombia, South America; Dallas School of Evangelism; Congress on the Evangelization of the Caribbean; and World Congress on Itinerate Evangelists, held in Holland. Additionally, Rev. Thompson initiated the launching of the Congress on the Evangelization of the Caribbean in 1986; he served on the organizing committee of "Destiny '87" in Atlanta, Georgia; and is co-founder of the Miami International Seminary.
After over 40 years of service to Ministries In Action, Rev. Thompson retired as President August 31, 2009. At that time he was enthusiastically and unanimously elected by the board of directors to the position, President Emeritus, and continues an informal relationship with MIA and its sister organizations.
Rev. Thompson has been married to Jen for over fifty years and is a father and grandfather.
Mission Statement / Vision Statement
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
P.O. Box 571357, Miami, Florida 33257-1357 USA | Tel. (305) 234-7855 | Fax. (305) 234-7825
Member Since 1990
© 2007-2010, Ministries in Action, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Rev. 1/13/10
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