- International Christian Ministries

ICM Impacts Nations

Introduction: Paul and Sheryl Giesbrecht traveled with me to Nigeria to participate in a week-long conference. After the week in Lagos, Nigeria Paul and I headed to Kenya and Uganda where we participated in the graduations at the seminaries in Uganda and Kenya (more on that later). Paul did an excellent job teaching and representing the ICM Board at the many meetings and churches we visited.

Sometimes I forget just what an amazing job our national leaders are doing. They are impacting lives at every level, from the heads of state to the rural pastor. Enjoy Paul's journal from our recent trip! Phil Walker

Paul is currently the Vice-Chair of the ICM Board.
This article was adapted from Paul's email journal.

Dr. Phil Walker and I had an incredible day in Nairobi on April 21, 2008. The morning started off with a briefing from ICM Kenya director Steven Mairori. He had hosted Rick Warren while he was in Kenya and gave us an update on our partnership with Saddleback/Purpose Driven.


Next, we stopped at the Serena Hotel where the peace between political parties in Kenya was brokered. We had tea with the Parliament Minister for the Mt. Elgon area, who said, “ICM played a large role helping in the peace process.”

Then we headed poolside to lunch with General Sumbeiywo, a retired General who was a lead arbitrator between the factions in Sudan. More recently he played a part in negotiating the agreement between political parties in Kenya. He showed us where he and the Secretary General of the U.N. sat for weeks of dialog. The General is a personal friend of Dr. Walker and said they could have used him to let them know that the process was on the right track for peace. Oh yeah, recently the U.S. Ambassador sent the General to help out Condoleezza Rice with some Sudan unrest. To top it off, the Kenyan Secretary of Planning and Development stopped by for a quick chat.

Our next meeting was with Bishop Paul of the Coptic Church, the director of World Missions for that Church. Bishop Paul is an amazing man with an incredible hospital and clinic for thousands of Aids victims there on the church grounds. His co-worker, Father Moses, is a humble God fearing man, who runs the work in Nairobi.

After that were off to have afternoon tea with Ken Wathome, who is one of the major small-business loan bankers for Kenya and started an accountability group for the top businessmen in Nairobi. He is excited about working with ICM to reach the business community leaders.

That evening we had dinner with Bishop Adoyo. One of the most respected pastors in Kenya – directing several organizations representing millions. What a fun man to be with laughing at a bunch of guy stuff. The morning we left he was heading up dialog between pastors on doing better in raising up leaders.

For more of the story click here: Find out why Dr. Paul thinks these meetings are so significant!

Why do I list all these? Everyone knows the only long term hope for Africa is through transformed leadership. Foreign aid will not fix anything long term (sorry Bono) and is viewed with skepticism. Recent violence, especially in Kenya, has pastors realizing they have not done their job in producing godly leadership. ICM realizes the Hope of Africa is Jesus and the changes that only He can make in transforming Africa's leadership from the top down. I am amazed at the influence level ICM operates at. They are discipling and affecting the leaders that influence millions. What is amazing is these ICM guys don't even realize what amazing things they doing. Doesn't everyone have days like these? We had the privilege to pray with all these men and praise God for such a opportunity. So who knows - maybe some day I will have more of a part in all this?

Thanks for your prayers and short emails. I don't have much time to read. We (ICM Seminary President, Deans, Country Director, board members, etc.) have been finalizing our next level of accreditation. The process is evaluating word by word through our 160 page document wondering if this or that will be adequate for the accreditors. Soooo fun. Wish you were here. (Actually, it is very exciting.)

Today, I heard how valuable the seminary has been to many people. One such person is the bishop of Kenya’s largest denomination and how they are being affected. I got some of it on film – most of it you just can’t capture.

ICM
Graduates
2008

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