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.


Brad Orchard, ICM

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.

Brad Orchard, ICM

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.


Brad Orchard, ICM