History

History of CDMI

At the beginning of the 18th Century the Great Awakening spread across Europe and America and continued into the 19th century. Many Bible Societies arose as a result, and the distribution of the Word of God was great. This created an environment in the United States and Europe of personal inquiry into many doctrinal topics that had been previously unexplored. Concurrently, a plurality of Bible helps such as concordances, dictionaries, commentaries, and histories were created. The prospect of a better understanding of God's character and plan was met with joy and expectation. Students of Scripture were arriving at conclusions that inspired a revival in the Christian community; especially regarding the soon-expected second coming of Christ.

One of these groups developed around the leadership of Charles T. Russell, a lay preacher and Bible student, who devoted his life and considerable fortune to publishing and promoting his teachings. A prolific writer, he developed an organization that was world-wide in scope. But after his death in 1916, that organization became fixed in thought and restricted in freedoms. A number of Christians had left in1909 due to theological disagreements and, after Russell's death, more left for greater liberty in Christ. Two of the groups formed in 1909 became known as the New Covenant Fellowship and the New Covenant Believers.

In 1928 a group of Christians in the Hartford, Connecticut area formed a congregation and were known as the New Creation Fellowship. Gaetano Boccaccio was one of their elders, and, in 1940, he began to publish The New Creation magazine regularly. This ministry expanded to publishing tracts and booklets as well as the magazine, which is now distributed world-wide, and was known as Christian Millennial Fellowship (CMF). With the death of Br. Boccaccio in 1996, the work was continued under the oversight of Elmer Weeks of Port Murray, New Jersey, USA.

In the fall of 2011 CMF became Christian Discipling Ministries International (CDMI) to better reflect our preaching and disciple-making mission. New management worked on the transition while Elmer Weeks continued as editor of The New Creation magazine. He was succeeded by Jim Sochacki in 2016, who was succeeded by Robert Whittaker in 2019, and then by Gordon Coulson of Langley B.C., Canada, in January of 2026. There are now many free Christian congregations in foreign countries that have embraced CDMI’s message and are actively spreading the gospel.

CDMI is supported by the generosity of donors from around the world. All its publications are offered free of charge. The CDMI staff are volunteers who donate their time and energy to the Lord. CDMI cooperates freely with all independent free Christian congregations and any who desire growth in their walk with God by providing booklets, tracts, The New Creation magazine, Bible courses, and opportunities to join Zoom-based Bible study groups.