[This article was co-written by Dr. David Isaacson and Rev. David Lerseth.]
How do mission organizations start and grow? What lessons can be learned from the history of their challenges, struggles, failures and successes, as well as the path they followed to develop into their current state? Friends of Madagascar Mission (FOMM), which started in 2009, had an almost nondescript beginning, with a small vision in response to a call to help people in Madagascar. This article recounts the story and lessons learned as FOMM progressed from its first donation of $100 for one program in 2009 to raising over $400,000 per year in 2023 for eight programs.