The ministry of MGF began in 1939 when Paul Pietsch was introduced to the need to reach families in migrant camps by Esther Burhans.
Many of the camps became communities complete with a post office, a store, often a school, but without churches or a Gospel witness.
Paul Pietsch was led to minister to migrant families in Buttonwillow. He soon brought his wife, Sarah and 5 children to work in a larger field at Shafter, California. Later they moved to Turlock & established a board and the headquarters.