What is Christ for the City International (CFCI)?

Christ for the City International (CFCI) is an international mission organization that works to transform communities and develop leaders in the name of Christ, primarily in strategic urban centers around the world. It describes itself as having more than 25 years of experience sending and receiving mission teams, and it operates through a mostly local staff presence across multiple countries and cities. The cfci.org website is the organization's main entry point for learning about its mission, exploring locations, joining short- or long-term programs, and donating to missionaries or projects.

What CFCI says about its scale and focus

According to the organization's own published figures, CFCI reports:

Some sections of the site use slightly different numbers (for example, "around 450 mission workers in over 15 countries" and "16 countries and 37 cities"). These appear to be approximate or differently dated snapshots rather than a single consistent count, so treat the figures as indicative of scale rather than precise totals.

A focus on cities

CFCI states that it works primarily in strategic population centers — cities — citing unprecedented urban migration and the poverty and dislocation that accompany it. The site notes that 55% of the world's population lives in urban areas, a share the United Nations projects will continue to rise. This urban emphasis is the organizing idea behind the organization's name and its program structure.

A multicultural, multinational staff

CFCI describes itself as a multicultural community sharing common values, theology, and ministry philosophy, committed to multiplying ministries that impact cities. It states that over 90% of its workers are not North American, and that most staff in the countries where it works are local — a point the organization presents as central to how it operates.

What the site lets you do

The cfci.org homepage is structured around a few clear paths:

• Explore locations — learn about where CFCI works across its 16 countries.
• Get involved in programs — the organization offers both short-term and long-term options for individuals and groups.
• Donate — support a long-term missionary or project financially, or through prayer.
• The Transformation Fund — a fund established to finance community transformation projects "from Argentina to Zimbabwe," supporting vocational training, children's programs, feeding centers, gang ministry, health and dental clinics, and more.

The site also references a "2026 Fueling Transformation Gala," indicating an events and fundraising dimension to the organization.

Who this page is for

This overview is useful if you are:

• Evaluating the organization before donating — the site's stated figures and program categories give you a starting point, though you should verify financial and accountability details through the organization directly or independent charity evaluators.
• Considering mission service — if you are exploring short-term trips or long-term missionary placement with a city-focused, locally staffed organization, the "Get Involved" and locations pages are the relevant next steps.
• Researching urban mission models — CFCI's emphasis on local staffing and city centers is a specific model worth understanding on its own terms.

The site does not publish pricing for programs or trips in the material reviewed, so costs and commitment details would need to be requested from CFCI directly.