Amigos Internacionales is a Non Profit, NGO that is committed to do what Jesus did, meet people’s needs where they are and share the love of Jesus as we go.
That’s a pretty simple mission statement, however it’s taken it’s members around the globe on many trips of mercy, providing assistance and meeting needs for almost 50 years. I’ll give a brief history of our organization in a future blog, but today I want to share my vision for the future of Amigos.
Amigos began in 1967 when someone said, “We need…”, a group of men got together and said “God provides” and they incorporated the Non profit, Amigos Internacionales, Inc. In the beginning, they helped provided mobile medical and dental vehicles that have provided service in the Rio Grande Valley between Texas and Mexico for years.
We find ourselves in a peculiar situation as we begin our 50th year. At the Board meeting in which the Corporation asked me to be President and CEO, I shared an interesting fact I hear several years ago. It states that 75% of the Fortune 1000 companies are led and controlled by 1st generation/founders. Of those companies, 75% of those companies will never make it in to the 2nd generation.” This is where we find ourselves today. Of the founders of Amigos, only John L. La Noue is still with us and he sits on the board. We have the privilege of developing a new vision based on the history of our founders. We realize we are surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses that have gone on before us, and they are cheering us on to continue the great traditions of meeting people where they are, taking care of needs and sharing the love of Jesus with them.
We are also fortunate enough to have Michael Mirau, a nationally renowned business coach and member of the Gazelles coaching on our Board of Directors. He is also Chairman of the Board of Amore Ministries, a Non Profit organization providing shelter in Mexico, south of California. Michael will be guiding us in the journey of discovering God’s path for Amigos’ future.
I do know this, the future is before us and it is ripe with opportunities. Join us as we seek to follow God’s lead!