Personal Freedom Outreach (PFO) is an Evangelical

Evangelicalism

Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...

 organization that serves to "educate Christians about the dangers and heretical doctrines of religious cults

Cults

Cults is a suburb on the western edge of Aberdeen, Scotland. It lies on the banks of the River Dee and marks the eastern boundary of Royal Deeside.Cults, known for its historic granite housing, sits approximately six miles from the coast of the North Sea...

, to use the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reach members of those cults and to warn Christians of unbiblical teachings within the church itself." PFO operates its ministry from three separate post office boxes, with the main office located in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...

. PFO consists of 10 people, including seven officers and three board members.

Focus

PFO was founded by M. Kurt Goedelman in 1975. PFO publishes tracts and other materials that biblically critique the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormon

Mormon

The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...

ism, The Way International

The Way International

The Way International is a non denominational Christian ministry based in New Knoxville, Ohio, with home fellowships located in the United States and in over 30 other countries. It was founded by Victor Paul Wierwille in 1942 as a radio program, and became The Chimes Hour Youth Caravan in 1947, and...

, the Unification Church

Unification Church

The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...

, Christian Science

Christian Science

Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...

, Christadelphians

Christadelphians

Christadelphians is a Christian group that developed in the United Kingdom and North America in the 19th century...

, and other controversial religious movements.

PFO publishes the Quarterly Journal since 1981 (since 1988 under that name), which is a scholarly journal. It has included articles on Protestant teachers and organizations which it considers marginal such as Benny Hinn

Benny Hinn

Toufik Benedictus "Benny" Hinn הין; born December 3, 1952) is a televangelist, best known for his regular "Miracle Crusades" – revival meeting/faith healing summits that are usually held in large stadiums in major cities, which are later broadcast worldwide on his television program, This Is Your...

, Rebecca Brown

Rebecca Brown (Christian author)

Rebecca Julia Brown is a controversial Christian author and former doctor best known for her claims of having helped people escape the occult in Indiana and various locations. Brown later had her medical license revoked for improper diagnosis and over medication of patients...

, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland

Kenneth Copeland

Kenneth Copeland is an American author, public speaker, and televangelist. He is the founder of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, which preaches a “prosperity gospel”: "Prosperity gospel assures followers that the more they give including in the form of tithes to the church, the more they will receive...

, Bill Gothard

Bill Gothard

William W. Gothard is an American Christian minister, speaker and writer, and the founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles , notable for his ultraconservative teachings...

, Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer is a Charismatic Christian author and speaker. Meyer and her husband Dave have four grown children, and live outside St. Louis, Missouri. Her ministry is headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of Fenton, Missouri.-Early life:Meyer was born Pauline Joyce Hutchison in south St. Louis in...

, and the Trinity Broadcasting Network

Trinity Broadcasting Network

The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...

, as well as groups which it considers cultic or theologically aberrant.

Standards and credentials

PFO is a member in Evangelical Ministries to New Religions

Evangelical Ministries to New Religions

Evangelical Ministries to New Religions, often abbreviated as EMNR, is a coalition of Christian countercult organizations.-Purpose and Activities:...

 and has cosponsored a conference where they adopted a comprehensive manual, establishing guidelines in theology and ethical conduct for member organizations of the countercult network. The standards are inspired by the Lausanne Congress

First International Congress on World Evangelization

The First International Congress on World Evangelization held from July 16–25 July 1974, is sometimes also called the "Lausanne Congress", "Lausanne '74", or "ICOWE"....

in 1974.

Bud Press of the Christian Research Service has endorsed PFO for their "well-written and researched articles, editorials, news updates, and book reviews."

They have also been laudably evaluated in scholarly literature. Everett Shrophire and John Morehead note the wealth of information possessed by organisations as PFO and envisions a central place for them in the coming challenges to Christian mission. Paul Carden makes much the same observation.