Passion to reach the lost for Christ is uniquely demonstrated in the life and ministry of Pastor Michel Ouedraogo. With a heartfelt burden for the poor Muslims in the West African nation of Niger, Pastor Michel organizes groups in his homeland of Burkina Faso into evangelistic crusade teams. His people are so poor that he asks them to save half of their Christmas meal, the only feast they enjoy all year, and use it as their travel sustenance. Then they enter Niger and set up outdoor meetings to introduce the good news of Jesus Christ to the poor Muslims of Niger. In one such event, a Muslim village chief, gladly received the team and assisted in every way to ensure a good meeting. Toward the end of a crusade, a woman fully clad in a traditional Islamic burka, rushed the stage from the back of the audience and in tears, fell to the ground begging for Christ. Hundreds also gave their lives to Christ. Two weeks later, the village chief died. Pastor Michel believes the old man met Christ before his death. Today, ICM is entering into a new partnership to build churches and nurture new believers in Niger as God uses the ministry to reach the lost in West Africa.
As war in Liberia intensified, ICM Ministry Partner Rev. Claudius Deah harbored fugitives and refugees in his home. In an African version of the story of Schindler’s List, he eventually hosted 375 people crammed into his small 4 bedroom home. As the enemy approached and began to surround the district, it became clear that this collection of houseguests that included the wounded, elderly and children had to escape and cross the border into Guinea. With the faith of Moses, Rev. Deah bravely led the mob in the dark of night away from gunfire and into safety. As they walked and sometimes ran through village after village, people joined the exodus. As they approached the border, they encountered armed rebels who warned of mass murder if they continued their journey. Deah would not be deterred, “the battle is God’s and He has gone before us,” the pastor proclaimed as he courage sly marched forward. Upon this display of confident faith, the soldiers laid down their rifles and weapons and joined the refugees. When they crossed the border, the crowd had grown to 17,000 people. When war ended, Rev. Deah established a church planting ministry in Guinea and eventually Liberia and then 5 other West African countries. ICM is honored and humbled to partner with a giant of faith such as Rev. Claudius Deah.
It has only been seven years since war ended in Liberia and the scars still remain. During the tribal conflict, rebels massacred over 250,000 men, women and children. ICM Ministry Partner Bishop Jerome Klibo lost his Father in the war. In the presence of family members, 75 year old Klibo Senior was hacked to death with a machete as people cried out, “what is gained by the death of this old man?” Grief stricken, Bishop Klibo and his family began to rebuild their lives and ministry in war torn Liberia. Years later, the murderer sought Klibo in his church office. Shaking and on his knees, then dropping. prostrate with humility and fear, the former soldier begged Bishop Klibo for forgiveness. Knowing God’s will, he quietly and readily forgave him. Then Mrs. Klibo prepared a meal and they all sat down to dine in fellowship and forgiveness. After dinner, Bishop Klibo gave the tearful and broken sinner money to start a new life in Christ. Today ICM is building churches in partnership with Bishop Klibo in Liberian villages where once the blood of war victims flowed. Now the poverty stricken villages assemble in newly constructed churches to here about how the blood of Christ flowed for them so that they, like the man who murdered the Bishop’s Father, might have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
After a few weeks of being back here in the States, I am still remembering and journaling about all of my Africa experiences. Honestly, it’s a reality check to be back in my own world and to think that everything I saw while in Africa is still going on because it’s their world. However, while there, I was shown that our new friends in Africa are not as far away as we might think. We are all brothers and sisters bonded through Christ. This truth came to life while being in Africa. It was a unique experience to be able to meet the people and see their living conditions that I have only ever seen on television or at Disney. It’s real. So real. I couldn’t believe the fact that when we got off the bus at every church site, the children would run up to us, take our hands, bow down, and say “How are you?” I just wanted to kneel down with them and hug them! The large crowds that welcomed and followed us while we were on site was something I had never experienced. I relate that feeling to how Jesus might have felt while walking the streets of Jerusalem. It’s a feeling of compassion and humility all at the same time. It’s beautiful to have people praying for you across the world and you praying for them. Prayer is power! A piece of my heart is in Africa now and all of my heart longs to go back someday.
Meet some of the children we met on our recent trip to Uganda. This video is taken at the site of Buyubu Orphanage, which is currently under construction. If you look closely you can see the workers as they work on the orphanage!
Our ICM team has just returned from Uganda and Kenya where I was reminded of a wonderful old hymn written by Maltbie Babcock in 1901. The title recalls an expression Babcock commonly used when beginning a hike around his home near Lake Ontario: “I’m going out to see my Father’s world.” While in Africa, the ICM team had a wonderful opportunity to personally see and experience new parts of God’s world!
Uganda is known as the “pearl of Africa” for its breathtaking scenery, lush vegetation, wide variety of animals and cultural diversity. In sharp contrast, this country also struggles with rampant HIV, extreme poverty, corruption and in some locations, horrific human abuse and violence. Africa is filled with irony: beauty and hardship, love and pain, good and evil—yet it is all a part of God’s world.
In the words of Babcock’s hymn:
“He speaks to me everywhere. This is my Father’s world. O Let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and the earth and heav’n be one.”
Our team saw firsthand how God is using ICM to spread the Gospel message of hope, love and peace to a hurting world. In locations around the globe where you would think hopelessness and pain might reign, it is remarkable to see love, gratitude and peace abound all the more. The purity of God’s grace can often flourish in locations where the sense of need is so tremendous.
However, whether we live in a poor African village or a sophisticated American city, God’s personal message is the same for each of us:
“I have designed you to need Me moment by moment. As your awareness of your neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency. I can meet every one of your needs without draining My resources at all. Approach My throne of grace with bold confidence, receiving My Peace with a thankful heart ... I give you sufficient Peace for the present, when you come to me by prayer and petition with thanksgiving.” (excerpt from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young)
While recognizing our neediness as individuals and as a ministry, let us go before the throne of Grace with our prayers, petitions and praise:
Pray for the Light of Christ to shine boldly through the lives of the pastors and believers in the most remote villages of Africa.
Pray that individuals and small groups in Uganda, Kenya, Burkina Faso and other countries of Africa using Mini Bible College materials would learn to treasure the Word of God as the pearl of greatest value.
Pray for the expansion of the Church in Africa … that it would be both deep in the Word and wide in its growth!
“The World is Mine, and all that is within it.” Psalm 50:12
After visiting ICM built churches and church/orphanages in Uganda and Kenya the last few days, the vision trip team has noted one important fact; African orphans are starving for love. Everywhere we went, we met children with smiles full of joy, deafening laughter and shouting and outstretched arms seeking just a touch or a moment of love from us. The work ICM is being allowed to do by God here in Africa is indeed humbling. By His grace and by the generous giving of faithful donors, ICM is continuing with our African ministry partners, to construct church/orphanages that are not only houses of worship, but also much needed housing for orphans who have been parentally stranded by AIDS, war and poverty. Soon our team will return home with hearts full of what they've experienced here in the wilds of the African Continent. Thanks for reading and thanks for your prayers!
The team arrived at our hotel last night after an amazing day....we sensed God's presence every step of the way! The first church and orphanage construction site we visited was in a village setting far off the main paved road. As the bus drove up, we could hear the rhythmic sound of drums and voices and clapping hands. The old ladies and young children could hardly contain their excitement. Women were cooking food over an open fire situated beside mud huts. A tent supported on poles is the temporarycovering for the congregation to gather. Just behind the gathering, we saw the beautiful church being constructed. The workmen were laying brick for the walls....the pile of hand made bricks were waiting to be used. The community elder spoke with great pride over this miracle happening in their village....the answer to his many years of prayer! Their village was being transformed by having a church building of their very own! To God be the glory! It is Satrudaymorning now in Uganda and we are off to a worship service at another church orphanage project....can't wait to see what God has in store!
I am often asked , “Just what exactly is a vision trip?”Most people are familiar with short term mission trips, where you go to one location and spend time on specific projectswith one ministry or church.In contrast, an ICM vision trip is intended to give the team a chance to interact with multiple congregations and pray with numerous local pastors and leaders….hopefully, it is a blessed opportunity to capture a vision for how God is moving in the country and to get a sense of how ICM is being used to accelerate the vision to blanket a nation for Jesus Christ.
Of course, that is a wonderful purpose for the trip.However, I have always felt the more important goal of a vision trip is the opportunity to see Jesus.The team is already praying that our eyes would be open to see all that God has on his heart for us to experience spiritually…..we are praying that we would have spirits open to see Jesus in the faces of the men , women and children in the villages of Kenya and Uganda.We are praying that the blurred vision which can result from the distractions fromdaily lives in America will be refocused on God and what He is doing amongst His people to bring the world unto Himself.Thank you for praying for the Africa vision trip team!!
As soon as the last 4th of July firecracker has exploded and the barbeque grill is cleaned, 13 people from all parts of the U.S. will be boarding a plane for Africa! The mission? Visit ICM Church/Orphanages and explore even more church/orphanage opportunities in both Uganda and Kenya. A "church/orphanage" is a hybrid building with two floors; a worship sanctuary on the first floor and living quarters for 50 little orphans on the second. Traveling with our ICM Vision Trip Team will be Air Personality Joshua Ashton from AIR 1, the national Christian Radio Network. He'll be sending live updates back to the U.S. during the trip. His traveling with our Team is part of a gigantic AIR 1 fundraising campaign to build church/orphanages all over Africa! The entire ICM Vision Trip Team will be mingling with orphans in remote African villages as we prayerfully consider building the next batch of church/orphanages. The orphan situation in Uganda and Kenya and all of Africa for that matter, is massive. War, poverty and AIDS have claimed the parents of so many little children. ICM, along with supporters and friends like you, are faced with an historic opportunity to not only relieve their suffering, but see to it they're brought up in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ! Be sure to check here for daily blogs and pics as we traverse the beautiful East African landscape. And remember, your prayers are needed, welcome and greatly appreciated!
January 26, 2010 -
11:39 AM -
Vision Trip Traveler
As I wind down a 16 day trip through Africa working with ICM ministry partners, the paradox of obstacles and opportunity becomes apparent. In the Democratic Republic of Congo we have, by God's grace, constructed over 70 churches. But the need for churches is in the thousands. The people are in dire need of the Gospel as well as basic needs. The oppression they experience can take your breath away. A new partner and his family live without electricity because the local utility went bankrupt. In their city of Mbuji-Mayi, a large diamond mining business co-owned by the Congolese government and Belgium interests, manages to produce enough electricity to generate profits, but the largely million-plus population surrounding them lives in darkness. In picturesque Madagascar, the poverty is intense and yet our new partner has managed to plant over 200 congregations in rural villages. I visited a hilltop where in the 1600's the Queen of Madagascar executed Christians by having them thrown over the cliff to their deaths. I was humbled to be invited to preach at one of our partner's churches and over 50 gave their lives to Christ. In Ethiopia, the airline lost my luggage on the same day an Ethiopian airliner plunged into the Mediterranian Sea killing all 90 on board. I am privileged to escape such an incident given the volume of flying I do in this part of the world. I lost a bag while so many lost their lives. Thankfully, God is blessing all the trouble here king opportunities to advance His Kingdom. God bless you and thank you for reading!
It's quite possible that Sunday, January 17, 2010 will be remembered as an historic day for the work of ICM in Africa. Without a doubt, it will be remembered by the 300 adults and children who participated in the very first Church/Orphanage dedication service and celebration in Kitale, Kenya last Sunday. Over a year ago, we believe the Lord led ICM to embark on a new initiative, partnering with indigenous African ministries to construct combination church/orphanages. It seems before we could catch our breath, we had nearly 15 such projects in various stages of development throughout the Continent. Church/Orphanages, first pioneered by ICM and our partners in Cambodia, India, Viet Nam and Pakistan, are now finding their way to Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Uganda and our very first project in Kenya, dedicated last Sunday. During the service, we were reminded that David provided a place at the King's table for Jonathan's son and that Christ Himself is preparing a place for all those who trust Him for their salvation in His Father's house (John 14). Now He has provided a place for these little African orphans to live, be nurtured and grow in Christ. We also marveled that the two-floor church/orphanage symbolically places the orphans living on the second floor closest to Heaven, while on the first floor, the church is there to undergird and support the young fatherless ones! Please pray for the new church/orphanage in Kenya and for the other similar projects under construction throughout Africa. And please pray for the author of this blog as he continues to travel in Africa this month. I am writing from the Democratic Republic of Congo presently but soon I will continue on to Madagascar, Ethiopia and Egypt before returning home to my family at the end of the month. Praise God for His lovingkindness. God bless you.
The first leg of a crucial trip into Africa brought us to the harsh, desolate dust bowl of Southern Sudan this past Thursday and Friday (1/14 - 1/15/10). As we drove over the border from Kenya, the presence of our spiritual enemy was palpable. Traveling with me was our Kenyan Ministry Partner, Pastor Benjamin Mutoka as well as leaders of Chicago-based Warm Blankets Ministries, Craig Muller, Jim Whitfield and Gary Marsh. Our mission into Sudan was to evaluate church/orphanage construction sites, and for me to check on two older ICM church projects. Naturally, demonic forces were working against us. Our 2 vehicles each broke down delaying our border crossing. We received an armed military escort over the border (this due to recent skirmishes in the area) and encountered corrupt patrol guards who attempted to pillage our money and electronic equipnment under the guise of a security check. But we prayed and God was good, as He always is. Thanks to the grace of His provision, we entered Sudan successfully and while the evil forces did press against us, and we could feel it, sense it, the beautiful faces of the orphans encouraged us to work and pray even harder to accomplish the task God has set before us in this desperate and forboding land. Please pray as I now proceed with our church/orphanage dedication service Sunday 1/17/10 in Kitale, Kenya followed by a flight back to Nairobi and then on to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Pray God continues to use me as His ambassador and servant as this is the desire of my heart. God bless you and thanks for reading!
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