Strategy:  

1.  Focus on the doctoral level.
This level of education is essential to filling the need for seminary founders, leaders and faculty… and for founders and leaders of denominations and some relief organizations. These highly-educated leaders will also be authors of much-needed culturally-relevant Christian literature.[1]

2.  Select scholar-leaders from regions with the greatest need.
We support proven leaders from majority countries across the globe, with priority given to China, Africa and Brazil.

 3.  Partner with seminaries in developing nations for faculty development.
CISF has carefully selected schools which we believe effectively train pastors. Some will develop accredited, high-quality, in-country PhD programs.

4.  Support scholars for education at in-context schools when possible.
While most doctoral students must still study in the West, advantages to studying near home are many. The scholar can work in his/her native language, family disruption is reduced and local research facilitated. Costs are also generally lower.

Results:    CISF has remarkable impact, huge leverage – and is growing rapidly.

Since CISF was founded nearly 25 years ago, we have sponsored over 150 scholar-leaders. As of August 2007:

86 CISF alumni have graduated, returned home, and are currently hold significant leadership positions and are  involved in important work in their homeland.

CISF currently sponsors 38 scholars  at schools in 6 countries on 4 continents.

Only 8 of our students graduated but chose not to return.  They are currently repaying their scholarships to us.

Three of our past students have plans that are not yet defined: they are waiting to return; finishing their degree but no longer supported by CISF; or face other unique circumstances.

Two of our students were unable to finish their degree but have returned to ministry at home.

Given that only about half of those who embark on PhD studies ever earn their degree, we believe these results show the strength of our students.

CISF scholar-leaders now impact millions of people in 36 countries.