Through involvement that spanned four churches in the United States and dozens of international churches, the founder and director of Bonfire observed a need for this type of organization through his experiences in short-term mission work over nearly two decades.

First, he observed that certain international churches and Christian workers lack the resources they need to effectively fulfill their mission, whether training and equipping, financial resources,  ministry resources, capital resources, or particular knowledge and expertise.

He also observed that many normative-sized churches exist in the United States without any current direct partnership with missionary work around the world who also possess resources in people, prayer, and provisions that could be utilized in the context of ministry partnerships with groups of Christians (pastors, missionaries, church planters, or other Christian leaders) around the world.

Through conversations with pastors, the director concluded that many of the churches that are not engaged in direct, tangible partnerships yet possess a desire to partner in tangible ways beyond simple financial support with missionary work around the world. They do not for many reasons, including uncertainty of planning, travel and logistics, fear of persecution, or lack of international contacts and understanding of needs.

Finally, the director observed that effective international partnerships catalyze the work of the under resourced churches and Christian ministries and helps them fulfill their mission and aids the global church to flourish (eg., shine bright like a bonfire).

Providentially, due to his missionary experience, the director of Bonfire has the opportunity, experience, and knowledge necessary to identify suitable partners in the United States and abroad, connect churches in the United States to prospective partners abroad, and help them overcome the barriers that subsequently allows them to establish ongoing, meaningful, impactful, direct partnerships.