ICM eNews – September 2010

Are you engaged? Not “engaged” where a couple decide to get married but are you
engaging the world around you? The kind that says we have mutual responsibility and
need to interact. Sometimes it is hard to be engaged with the world around me. In fact,
truth be known, I most often prefer not to be engaged outside of the absolute
necessities of what I do. But Jesus was engaged with a lot of people in a lot different
settings. He engaged thousands, and even fed them. Other times he engaged people
one at a time. A few things stand out: 1) he was always strategic, no wasted engagements with people
and 2) he always honed in on the needs, physical and spiritual. As we prepare for our annual leadership
conference I pray that God would grant us wisdom to be strategically engaged with this world, and not
simply do “ministry” as if it were a job.

ICM USA: One of the hardest things for me to do as a leader is lay off good people. Bev Reaney has
been with us for over 7 years. She has traveled and ministered in Africa and
ministered to many Africans here from our office. When I returned from my last trip
to Kenya I had to lay Bev off. One of the directors from Africa summed up what many
of us feel, “we cannot imagine coming to the ICM USA office and not have Bev there!”
We have shrunk the office down to the irreducible minimum. But we believe that, by
God’s grace, we can move forward within a strict budget.

Irony: Administration is a critical part of what we do. Having the office and staff to process donations,
answer questions and report to donors is a vital part of the ministry. But it is the one that is least
supported. People in general want their donations, all of their donations, to go to the ministry in Africa,
and rightly so. But without support for the office we cannot do the vital things from our side that makes
the ministry in Africa viable. So, please keep us in your prayers. If you would like to support the office
just send your donations to ICM with a note: Hope of Africa, Office.

Pastor Gideon Wanyama: While in Kenya in August I had the privilege to going to Busia, a town located
on the Kenya/Uganda border. I preached in a church started by one of our first students, Gideon
Wanyama. I also held a one day conference for local pastors. Gideon came to
the Seminary as an elder in his church while working for the Kenya Water
Authority. For the past 14 years Gideon and his wife Jane have worked in the
greater Busia area. To date they have planted 15 Churches, raised up leaders
and are looking forward to the next adventure of faith. According to Gideon,
God is calling them to go to Zambia and start ICM in that country. This is what
Pastor Gideon said about his journey:

When I came to ICM, I was discipled by Dr. Phil Walker and Dr. Myron Goodwin the co-founders
of ICM.W hat happened changed me completely! I would have left college but Dr. Walker’s
sensitive fatherly heart encouraged me to continue. I watched him wash his dishes along with
the students and that really changed my perspective about leadership. I learned from him that
leaders are to help others succeed, not to be the boss. They demonstrated servant leadership.
 In 1994, there were clashes in West Pokot and my family was greatly affected. Again, I was
nearly ready to drop my studies due to financial struggles, when I received the wonderful news
that someone from Israel had given a Shepherd Scholarship which helped pay my school fees.
Imagine! Somebody who didn’t know me helped me get trained.

After that, I committed myself to helping others be trained. In 14 years, God has led us to plant
15 churches. Today, I have a Bible School in Busia. We are currently training 20 pastors from
different denominations in our city. This is the fourth group of pastors that I am privileged to
disciple and the first group outside of my Deliverance Church denomination. ICM put tools put
into my hands which have enabled me to present something good to others.

Shepherd Scholarship: It costs $2,000 a year to train a pastor in Africa. Our Shepherd Scholarship is
$1,800 and covers 80% of the cost for one year. Our expectation is that leaders need to cover part of
their costs: this encourages faith and ensures that those who are trained are serious. Those coming to
ICM’s Africa Theological Seminary must have ministry experience, be sent by their church and be
actively involved in ministry. Why not take a moment and consider sponsoring someone like Gideon?
Strategic engagement is investing in the lives of others for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. Invest in a
Shepherd Scholarship now!

Inspired Vision Meets Divine Opportunity: Randy Martin is the founder and director of Covenant
Community Services in Bakersfield; he is also on the ICM USA board. Randy is truly a spiritual
entrepreneur. He has worked with James Kamau (ICM Tanzania
Director) to help set up and sponsor a children’s home in Tanzania.
Most recently he has started a coffee business as a ministry. It is a
way to help support a ministry while providing
a service. But Randy has a dream of doing
much more. His dream involves actively (L-R) Isaac, Greg (ICM Missionary)
helping and supporting coffee growers in Mark and Randy

Africa (who are often short changed in the sale of their coffee), ICM as Covenant’s
Picking Coffee Africa partner as well as Covenant USA.

In August he brought a small team to Kenya and Tanzania to see what the possibilities would be. What
started as an exploratory trip ended in an amazing Divine Opportunity that only God could bring about.
Read Randy’s blog (22 Aug. 2010) as he describes how God orchestrated a visit into an incredible
opportunity in partnership with ICM and Kenya coffee farmers. (You can purchase an ICM coffee blend,
Hope of Africa, that helps support the ministry).

ICM Expands into Ethiopia: One of the goals of ICM is to have a presence in the
most populous countries in Africa. From a strategic perspective 12 countries
have 75% of the population. One the largest, by population and size is
Ethiopia. We have done a number of seminars and different projects in that
wonderfully diverse country, and we are now starting a three year training
program. This project brings together different groups in Ethiopia: Evangelical
Theological College of Ethiopia, many Ethiopian churches, Purpose Driven Ministries, ICM, and Valley
Bible Church of Bakersfield. Beginning early next year we will travel twice a year to hold Purpose Driven
Church training in Addis Ababa and Awassa. It is our prayer that this will be the beginning of a long term
ministry serving the Church of Ethiopia by discipling and equipping its leaders.

Conclusion

I believe God wants ICM to be engaged. To this end we are committed to:

1. Engaging African leaders in authentic transformation. This is accomplished through our

Christian Leadership Institute and Africa Theological Seminary.
2. Engaging the global Church with the authentic African church. This is done through inviting
teachers, teams and partners from the West to join our efforts in training and equipping leaders
in Africa.
3. Engaging the African Church with a lost world. Recently someone told me that Africa is ready to
be a catalyst for worldwide revival. It has the passion, vision, and faith to become a leader in
fulfilling the Great Commission. What is often lacking is a bridge. ICM can become part of the
bridge building, finding ways to introduce African leaders to Europe and beyond.

ICM USA is an extension of ICM Africa. Our goal is to serve our ICM partners in Africa and help them
become all God is calling them to be. Your help and partnership in the grand venture is critical for future
success. Together we can invest in the African Church and watch God move Africa from being the dark
continent of the 20th century to becoming the continent of hope and light in the 21st century!

Phil Walker, ICM USA President

Hope of Africa Cause

ICM News

Follow me on FaceBook