Our History

Forward Edge was birthed in 1983 as part of an international church-planting ministry that sent hundreds of long-term missionaries to plant churches in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. For the first 22 years of our history—from 1983 to 2005—we were primarily a short-term missions agency engaged in a wide range of ministry activities. These activities included open-air evangelism in places like New York, the UK, and Russia; disaster-response work in the U.S., Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Sri Lanka; the provision of free medical care in Mexico and Nicaragua; and the construction of children’s homes in Guatemala and Nicaragua. During this period, we mobilized more than 10,000 short-term volunteers—primarily from U.S. churches and universities—to serve in many parts of the U.S., and 33 foreign countries.

In 2005, following Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast, Forward Edge transitioned from a short-term missions agency into a full-fledged relief and development organization. We now have scores of full-time field staff, and ongoing field programs directed by national leaders. While we continue to send 800 – 1,000 short-term volunteers annually, the majority of these volunteers serve in locations where we have ongoing programs: Nicaragua, Mexico, Haiti, and Kenya. This unique history has positioned us to not only understand what it takes to provide meaningful, cross-cultural experiences for those serving on our mission trips, but mission opportunities that strategically support ongoing programs in the field. We invite you to be part of this unique and ever-unfolding story!