Demos Shakarian

One day in 1951 a dairy farmer called Demos Shakarian was shown a vision from God. In it he saw millions of people from every continent and nation, of all races and diverse cultures; all were looking lifeless and very unhappy. Then the vision changed and Demos saw the same people, but with a difference. This time their heads were raised, eyes shone with joy. They were looking lively, happy, with their hands raised expressing praise. Before, though standing close to each other they where isolated but at that moment he saw them filled with mutual love, spiritually alive with the glory of God upon them.

The next day at Clifton's Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles Demos and a number of his friends sat down to eat breakfast together When they had eaten, one by one men got up to tell of the difference knowing Jesus Christ made in their lives and their businesses. They told how it was for them. They didn't preach. This was how the fellowship of men which Demos understood should be called The Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International came into being.

You can read the remarkable story of Demos Shakarian and FGBMFI in The Happiest People on Earth. - follow the link on the Home page to receive a copy.

"Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International"

Full Gospel means that the good news is not only that God wants people to believe in Jesus and become Christians but that he also offers spiritual empowerment as well as physical and emotional healing.

Business Men's makes the important point that the meetings are about the experiences of ordinary people with Jesus Christ, expressed in ways that others can understand. As Demos put it in The Happiest People on Earth - "a plumber reaching a plumber, a salesman reaching a salesman"

Fellowship is a word frequently used in the Bible to describe the unity between believers. Members meet together to pray for the breakfast and dinner meetings, their families and friends and for each other. This does not take the place of each members' commitment to his own church.

International means that God did not intend the Fellowship to be confined to the United States. There are now chapters in most countries in the world, and the Fellowship's magazine Voice is published in 29 languages.

Sharing a meal together in a hotel, restaurant or pub, and listening to someone's personal encounter with Jesus Christ is still the basis of meetings of the Fellowship today. Remarkable things happen at meetings. People become Christians, receive new strength and a new awareness of God, and are often healed.

The East Riding Chapter covers the towns of Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield and Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. The chapter was formed in 1985 and meets for monthly Dinner Meetings and the occasional Breakfast Meeting.

See the Home page for dates of meetings, speakers and venues.