It was during the terminal illness of their father that Francis and Carl Grim recognized patients have spiritual needs in addition to their physical and psychological needs. If healthcare staff were inspired and properly equipped, they could play a key role in ministering to the needs of their patients.

On Christmas Eve 1936 their aged father passed into eternity, and they looked upon this period as the birth of Healthcare Christian Fellowship. It was an example of life out of death and subsequent joy for many around the world, born out of sorrow of a broken-hearted family.   Constrained by God, the first steps were taken for the formation of a fellowship movement known as International Hospital Christian Fellowship – known as Healthcare Christian Fellowship International.

Pioneering journeys to Europe, the Middle East and Africa were undertaken by the founder Francis Grim, from 1951 onwards, and then from the ’60’s, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States and Canada. The Lord has blessed the ministry by allowing it to spread to more than 80 countries around the world. The HCFI headquarters is based in Benoni, South Africa.