The terai (low plain) was golden yellow with wheat ready for harvest as we neared the village of Butwal, in the district of Lumini. Pastor Richard Toh and I had travelled almost 300km from Kathmandu to visit the church there. It was planted by Pastor Gopi, who graduated from our Timothy Program (the training of village church-planters) five years ago. Life in the terai has always been hard. The bountiful harvests of basmati rice (summer) and wheat (winter) are the result of back-breaking labour of generations of poor Nepalese farmers. Pastor Gopi’s congregation is made up of these farmers and he often receives his remuneration by what is harvested from the land.

Nepal BUTWAL, 23

rd – 29

th MARCH 2015

ICM Link

MAY 2015 ISSUE

Nepalese terai near Butwal

ICM Link

Evangelistic healing ministry ministering

continued on the next page…

2 KALLANG AVE, #04-13 CT HUB, SINGAPORE 339407 TEL: 6336-0019 FAX: 6224-0750 Email: admin@icmsingapore.org.sg Website: www.icmsingapore.org.sg

Greeting Pastor Gopi's family Healing ministry

Nepal village outreach

Pastor Gopi (who is 44) loves the Lord and he works hard. Since graduating from the Timothy Program, he has planted six churches with a total of more than 500 members. He is also training more church-planters himself, in the hope they will plant churches in West Nepal (the poorer, more remote part of the country). The Lord is bringing in His harvest in the terai. Many Nepalese and Indian migrants in the district of Lumini have turned to Christ. The pastors and church leaders we met were vibrant and `on fire’ for the gospel. There is unity and love among God’s people. What is happening is clearly the work of God, not of men. We give Him all the glory and praise! Our visit to Butwal has warmed our hearts and lifted our spirits. Men like Pastor Gopi are bringing in the harvest in Nepal’s countryside. It affirms the importance of our Timothy Program – the training of village church-planters who will reach the whole of Nepal for Christ! Charles Vun ICMS Director & Treasurer

With Pastor Gopi (centre), who planted 6 churches

…continued

2

Puppet show – Children’s ministry

It was my first trip with ICMS after getting to know the Ministry through a talk given by Dieu, President of ICM Singapore, in Evangel Baptist Church. There is always the sense of excitement of both what God is going to do to me and to the people there. To the end, I was richly blessed. The Lord touched me in a unique way, quite different from my previous two mission trips to Chongqing with MSI Professional Services (part of OMF) in 2011 and 2012. I was given the opportunity to teach "Principles of Christian Leadership" and "Decision Making" to the Timothys. The topics would have been easy to handle given prior experience in adjunct lecturing. But alas, this was teaching God's own chosen people (the Church Planters who travelled many miles to attend our classes) so illustrations instead of being drawn from Harvard Case Studies had to be sussed out of the Bible! Like in many such teaching contexts, often the lecturer learns more than the students....looking at their eagerness to learn humbled me.

The most challenging was being assigned to preach in two services at the Koinonia Bungamati Church on Saturday. Not being trained in any bible school, I felt intimidated by the challenge. Who am I to preach the gospel? But like many characters in the Bible - Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah - when I just looked up to Him, He provided me the theme, verses and content. I felt that the Holy Spirit just enabled me. The Lord's work done in His way indeed. We just have to be available!

Marketplace leadership training

3

continued on the next page…

Benny Lee, ICMS Partner

4

…continued

Village worship

Children’s ministry

Seeing some of the sisters in our team praying for the ladies in the closing session of the CPI course touched my soul in a special way. Some of the female CPI trainees were very emotional. One could see in that scene how ordinary folks like all of us in the team can be turned into His angels to minister to others in such a powerful manner. We ended the week on a high note by belting out some Christian contemporary songs, thanks to the very capable sister Jenny Sutanto. The world needs to see then believe but we Christians are called upon to believe then see. Going on such trips will consolidate your faith in a living God that words and sermons cannot. Join us! Benny Lee ICMS Partner

The team to Nepal

CPI training

4

25

6

Philippines DAVAO-PANABO, 13

th – 19

th APRIL 2015

Sharing with school teachers in Davao

Sharing with educators in Panabo

Ministering to CPI trainees

5

This trip was most extraordinary in that new ground was being broken. Panabo, a small city comprising less than 200 000 people, about an hour’s drive from Davao, was the subject of much prayer in the past year. Psalm 2:8 resonated with the directors who sensed the Lord calling ICM (S) to “take the city”. “Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession”. Accordingly a team of 12 went on this trip, teachers as well as businessmen, all God’s servants. Davao The CPI {Church Planting Institute} saw its 6th batch of young Timothys’ taken through the 1st of 8 modules. Albeit this was a smaller group than the previous one; their enthusiasm for the Word was contagious. Surprisingly most of the students were only 2-4 year-old Christians but already active in their respective churches. The exception: a grandmother with her grandson in tow, as she could not leave him at home alone. She too, was active in her church. It was a tremendous blessing and encouragement to meet people so hungry for more of the Lord! For this first module “Biblical Assurance of Salvation” 14 topics were taught ranging from ‘The Bible is The Word of God’, ‘The Resurrection’, ‘Kingdom Living’, ‘Water Baptism’, ..’Prayer’ and others.

Morning Devotion

continued on the next page…

Sharing with educators in Panabo

Sharing with school teachers in Davao

Personal thoughts Even as I was preparing my lessons, I realized more than ever how important it was for every ‘born again’ believer to have a strong foundation and during the sessions was tremendously blessed and edified by my fellow team members’ sharing too. As such, I laid hold of a verse from Deuteronomy 32:2, claiming this promise daily before the trip:

“My teaching is dropping down like rain, Coming down like dew on the fields, Like rain on the young grass, And showers on the garden plants!”

Then, as our plane was coming down to land over Davao, I had an open vision of rain falling on the streets and pavements of a city! Could it be Panabo? Symbolically, on the very last day of the teaching sessions, after days of stifling heat, the heavens opened up on Davao-and on the garden plants to be raised up as oaks of righteousness!

I personally have been very blessed by this unique trip; the opportunity to visit Panabo to attend the ‘Teach the Trainers’ CPI; make friends with local pastors; and gain new perspectives on expanding God’s Kingdom. I am also blessed by the bonding with not just the students but also those anchoring the CPI ministry. Lois Nga ICMS Partner

6

…continued

CPI training

Marketplace Ministry

Marketplace Ministry

7

Sri Lanka 3

rd – 9

th MAY 2015

Sri Lanka is a large island nation located off India's southeast coast. Until 1972, it was formally known as Ceylon but today it is officially called the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The country has a long history filled with instability and conflict between ethnic groups. Recently though, relative stability has been restored and Sri Lanka's economy is growing. More than 70% of its population of 21.5 million people are Buddhist.

We’ve been involved in training church planters in Sri Lanka for the past 12 years. More than 500 trainees have gone through our CPI (Church Planting Institute) course, and no less than 200 house churches have been established throughout the island.

continued on the next page…

8

CPI Training

At Pastors’ Conference

CPI Training

Husband & wife washing each other’s feet

Richard Toh ICMS Executive Director

Since the new government took over last year, physical persecution has become less. But a new problem (not surprising though) has arisen, and that is subtle deception. False doctrine has crept into the Church, and we need to build strong foundations to withstand the flood.

Four of us were set to go on this trip in May, but a sister had to drop out due to the passing on of her mother in law. By God’s grace, we managed to conduct four days of CPI training with 53 trainees (we call them Timothys), and held a day conference ministering to 35 pastors. We thank the Lord too for the opportunity to engage with some business people in the evening over a late dinner. We need to share with them that business and our faith go together. It was a rewarding time to see lives changed for the glory of God. It was not all work and no ‘play’ - the Lord favoured us with a good R&R day at a lovely resort at Negombo!

Our next trip is on 13 – 20 November this year. Come and join us!

…continued

9

Negombo has a large Catholic following

President Dieu emphasizing a point

Joan Chua at CPI Training

STOP PRESS! Let’s Stand with Nepal

The massive earthquake in Nepal on 25 April followed by another one on 12 May hit our Nepalese mission partners very hard. Within 2 days of the first quake, ICM Singapore launched a strong appeal to our partners and friends to contribute towards the `Nepal Earthquake Relief and Rebuilding Fund’. Given the prompt and generous responses from many of them, the Fund has already made several disbursements of financial aid to our Nepalese mission partners. This enabled them to procure food, water, medicine and temporary shelters for their neighbourhoods and church members. Much more needs to be done in the weeks ahead. Moving beyond the capital Kathmandu, we’ve received reports that more than 90 (out of the 300) of our village church-planters have lost their homes. We need to reach them urgently. Our mission partners in Kathmandu are organizing relief teams to do that. In the longer term, we also need to help them rebuild their homes. Amidst the widespread destruction, we see the Lord’s hand protecting our Nepalese mission partners – none were seriously hurt! We also witnessed their strength, fortitude and compassion. Let us stand together with them! Please give by making your cheque payable to `ICM Singapore’ and indicating `Nepal Earthquake Relief’ on the reverse. Thank you for your partnership and generosity. We will ensure that the funds are properly administered. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

10

Charles Vun ICMS Director & Treasurer

11

May

October

3rd -9th Sri Lanka CPI Training 3rd Singapore BOD Meeting/Luncheon 6th -22nd Kyrgyzstan CPI Training 5th -11th Davao/Panabo CPI Training & Graduation 7th -21st Kyrgyzstan CPI Training

June 12th -21st Nepal CPI Training & Graduation

6th Singapore BOD Meeting/Luncheon 20th -24th Siem Reap CPI Training & Graduation 19th-29th Japan Exploratory Trip

July

November 5th

ICM(S) 25th Anniversary

Fullerton Hotel

13th -24th Myanmar CPI Training 10th -20t

13th -20th Myanmar Sri Lanka

CPI Training CPI Training & Graduation

September

1st -11th Myanmar CPI Training December

3rd -5th Singapore IDMC Conference 3rd -9th Cambodia/ Vietnam

Annual Christmas Outreach & Pastors’ Seminar

12th Singapore AGM 19th Singapore BOD Meeting/Luncheon

37

27

ICM Singapore Calendar of Events 2015

2 KALLANG AVE, #04-13 CT HUB, SINGAPORE 339407 TEL: 6336-0019 FAX: 6224-0750 Email: admin@icmsingapore.org.sg Website: www.icmsingapore.org.sg