History of Friendship Tours International
Friendship Tours came into existence in 1979 as a result of brainstorming between a missionary residing in Vienna, Austria and a businessman in Holland, Michigan, USA. The missionary was travelling frequently into then-communist Eastern Europe. He was not able to state his true reasons for his frequent travels (to disciple and train Christian leaders in those countries). He needed a better "public" reason or "cover" for his travels than being a teacher. The two men came up with the idea of a tour company. This company would organize tours that could tour various countries in Eastern Europe, thus bringing tourists and much-needed western currency to these countries. Friendship Tours was incorporated in the state of Michigan in 1979. This strategy worked well, actually allowing several missionaries to use the company to allow them greater access to travel throughout Eastern Europe.
In 1982, John Nielsen moved to Vienna, Austria to work in the mission office. Among other things, one of his responsibilities was to continue to allow Friendship Tours (FTI) to be a viable entity for access by missionaries to Eastern Europe. However, John also wanted to see FTI become a vehicle to help missionaries with their own travel arrangements. John vigorously pursued the least expensive flights, whether for those traveling back to the USA for home assignments, or for ministry travel within Europe. Initially this service was provided only to missionaries employed by the mission board John served with. By 1988, this expanded to serving a handful of missions. By 1992, word had spread through the mission grapevine of John's knack for tracking down economical flights. Since then, John has been working full-time to help missionaries with their travel needs.
In 1998, John relocated from Vienna to Brainerd, MN. This has allowed John to research and offer even greater travel bargains to missionaries, being able to compare airfares he can obtain on either side of the Atlantic, then purchasing the tickets wherever is most economical.
FTI currently serves over 300 missionaries serving with over 30 mission boards from its base in Brainerd, MN. The original reason for the formation of FTI is actually still being used. No less than two missionaries are continuing to gain access to countries closed to traditional missionaries through association with the company. Due to the sensitive nature of this ministry, the locations can not be mentioned.
Thank you for your interest in this ministry to missionaries.