Blair Scott, International Publications Director of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (FGBMFI) describes the group as:

The FGBMFI or Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International is an international, interdenominational outreach organization. Its goals are basically to call men to God and into the church by witnessing God's presence and power in the world today. This is principally done through the medium of personal testimony. The Fellowship provides a forum for outreach and fellow-ship among men and seeks to bring about a greater measure of unity among all Christians (FGBMFI 1997).

The FGBMFI states that its outreach publication called Voice is produced in 27 different languages and carries personal testimonies (ibid.).

FGBMFI's Website states that the organization was founded in 1952 by Demos Shakarian "to reach men for Jesus" and that there are currently fellowship ministries in 152 countries (1997). Another FGBMFI Website states that Richard Shakarian is currently the International President of the fellowship. The same site states that the National President for the organization in Rwanda is Nkusi Sebujisho Josias.

According to a 3 July 1997 Houston Chronicle report, the FGBMFI held a world convention of over 5,000 delegates beginning on 12 July 1997 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and George R. Brown Convention Center. The same report adds that hotel was to host the day meetings, while the convention center was to host the evening meetings (ibid.). Information on whether any Rwandans attended this convention could not be found among the sources consulted, within the time constraints imposed by this Response to Information Request.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (FGBMFI). [Internet] http://www.godswill.org/ [Accessed 16 Feb. 1998]

______. 1997. [Internet] http://www.nettap.com/~fgbmfi/who.htm [Accessed 16 Feb. 1998]

_____. 1997. [Internet] http://www.ourworld.compuserve.com/ homepages/wscott/ whatisfg.htm [Accessed 16 Feb. 1998]

Houston Chronicle. 3 July 1997. "5,000 Expected at Gospel Business Men's Convention." [Internet] http://www.chron.com/content/religion/97/07/05/7-5-plate.0-1.html [Accessed 16 Feb. 1998]

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).