UPDATE
September 24^th, 2007

Dear Saints:

We at ICM believe in the power of prayer. We continue to depend on your prayers as we equip rural-based church planters and pastors to be key agents in the evangelization and discipleship of God’s people in the Asian nations. Thank you for standing with and believing in us! We too wish to pray for you and your personal needs. Can you write to let us know how we can pray for you?

‘Trusting God when you don’t understand’

In her comments on her latest book ‘Why?’, Anne Graham Lotz said: “Our prosperity has anesthetized us to pain and suffering. We feel very self-sufficient and very independent of God. Maybe one reason God allows suffering is that when we're suffering we tend to turn to God. A prime example is 9/11. Our immediate response is to turn to Him, which is one reason I think He lets bad things happen, to get our attention and to let us know we need Him”.

Let’s look at the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in Daniel chapter 3:1-30. I pray that this meditation will encourage you during these days when so much is going bad in the lives of God’s people worldwide. One such example is the much-publicized ‘bad experience’ that a group of South Korean missionaries recently had in Afghanistan. Things cannot get worse than getting thrown into a fiery furnace (Dan. 3:19-23). Where was God when things went this bad? God was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in and through this ‘bad experience (Dan 3:24-27).’ He assures us that He will not leave His people when things go bad (Heb. 13:5-6). He has sovereign control over everything even though it might not immediately appear to be so (Rom. 8:28). When things go bad:
i. God is with you working out His sovereign purposes, which are larger and bigger than yours. (Dan. 7:15-28)
ii. God is with you working out your special assignment in His program of salvation and restoration for mankind (Dan. 3:28-30)
iii. God is with you working out your transformation into Christ’s likeness (His image) (2Cor. 3:18; 1Jn. 2:6;James 1:2-4)
iv. God is with you setting a stage from which to manifest His glory and goodness. This often involves defeating or out-maneuvering satanic forces. (Dan. 3:24-30)
v. God is with you opening doors for your vindication, elevation (even in death), restoration, promotion, over-compensation etc. (Dan. 3:29-30)

Do you feel alone in your struggles? We would like to support you in prayer at our weekly prayer sessions. Please contact us and inform us of your prayer requests.

Here is some updated news for this update.

The Philippines’ Community Transformation Program based on the Bible School in a Briefcase.

Pray with us as we redesign this nation-wide revival program for the Philippines. When ICM’s International Ministry Team was on the ground in the Philippines from 24th August to the 28th, 2007, it was decided that the moral transformation training program be re-designed. It will now incorporate pastors and village community leaders in addition to Philippine National Police officers. The new dates proposed for the program are 22nd to 29th March or the first week of April in 2008. This first phase of ‘training the trainer’ program is now envisaged to encompass about 238 trainees comprising police officers, community-leaders and provincial pastors from region 1 out of 16 regions. It was also agreed that weekly community transformation programs would be organized by ICM-trained ‘trainers’ at the ‘Barangay’ level (village comprising between 500 and 1000 villagers). At this level Police officers and ‘Barangay’ chairpersons can invite villagers to meetings for the good of the village. Such meetings would be held on Sunday afternoons to avoid clashing with church services normally held on Sunday mornings. It was agreed that both ICM Inc. and ICM Philippines contribute resources towards this big project. We will provide training materials, trainers, meals and refreshments estimated to cost 500,000 pesos (USD11.000). ICM Philippines will contribute accommodation for participants, the training venue and transportation for trainees.

Sarawak: ICM Malaysia’s Short term Mission 28th-30th July

The training of rural-based church planters and pastors remains the core-focus of ICM and one practical aspect to this training involves participation in short-term missions. Pastor William Tam Along, the ICM coordinator in Sarawak has highlighted the following from this mission trip: (i) “…The Night Revival Meeting in Kepayang Simunjan on 27th July 2007, the Holy Spirit worked powerfully healing the sick and opening spiritual eyes of those who have not seen signs and wonders in the name of our Lord Jesus. About 300-500 souls filled the hall in Kepayang this night.” (ii) “…The move of the Holy Spirit in combined churches KKR (Evangelistic and Healing Rally) in Simunjan city from 28th to 29th July 2007 was powerful. Hundreds of souls were present to observe Pastor Delly Amera, Pastor Albert Lawren and their team “REJOICE” from Miri and guest preacher Pastor William Tam Along, present the theme titled: - Know God’s Power (Philip 4:12)”. (iii) “…Revival Meeting in Sri Aman city in Mr Dicky’s house, leader of the Anglican Church. About 200 people were present in this night meeting on 29 July 2007. God’s miracle was evident as one child spoke despite the fact that she was dumb for 3 weeks.” God is clearly using ICM beyond our thoughts and plans!

Sebatang, Sarawak: Church Planting Institute Training 3-5th August

ICM is all about partnerships with local churches and our international partners in reaching the nations for Christ and training and releasing church planters and leaders. The Church Planting Institute training held at SIB Sebatang, Sarawak from 3rd to 5th August involved one hundred (100) trainees drawn from local churches in Zone 5 Bakong Miri. Forty-seven (47) of these trainees were local church leaders. While the CPI Module 1 lesson is given free to train local church planters and pastors, church members are encouraged to purchase the Module at between RM1-00 to RM10-00 (Malaysian Rinnget). A total number of 50 copies of Module 1 were distributed free to these trainee leaders, as most church members could not afford to pay for theirs.

Philippines Short Term Mission August 25th-31st

Three ladies and eleven men including four members of ICM’s International Ministry Team made up this short-term mission team. While in the Philippines, the team traveled a total distance of 3000 kilometers between Clark Base, San Fernando, Baguio and villages up in the mountains to preach in churches and train church planters and pastors. One highlight was preaching and ministering to spiritual and emotional needs of highly responsive inmates inside San Fernando prison. The revival that is spreading throughout the Philippine National Police was evident to us. Our team felt the passion and love for inmates expressed by representative members of the Philippines National Police, such as Major Deus and Sergeant Cacdac. Another highlight was a two-hour very bumpy drive in a commuter transport to a small village church pioneered by a Philippine pastor who was trained by ICM. At the night meeting, many souls were saved.

Pray for the health of Rev. Henry Khoo, an ICM founder member

Please allow me to include a quote from a recent letter I sent out to a few of you requesting prayer for one of ICM’s founding directors, Rev. Henry Khoo. It reads, “I am writing to ask you to pray for my beloved brother Henry Khoo, who is diagnosed with liver cancer. Although it is in early stages, it is treatable but in his present physical condition, it will not be through surgery. Let’s believe together that God’s healing power will fall on Henry’s body and that he will be healed completely. Henry and his family have been praying and have a peace that God will see him through. As his son Tim Khoo puts it, “it has happened so that the work and power of God may be evidenced in his life”. Henry was one of our first directors of International Christian Mission and was used mightily by God in prison work for over 30 years. Until his retirement, he was the Senior Pastor of Changi Christian Fellowship. He has such a love and passion for lost souls and I thank God for his faithfulness in praying me into the Kingdom over 30 years ago.’

All of us at ICM want to say thank you to everyone who recently gave during our time of need. We received a tremendous response and have experienced God’s provision and clear confirmation of His hand upon our ministry.

We are now faced, happily I may add, with a new challenge. We did not provide for this in our Annual Budget and will not turn down the opportunity for this reason. Will you help us? We need an amount of US$50,000 to roll out this program we call Operation PNP for one year. This program not only includes the training of police chaplains but also church and community leaders. What an investment and what impact they will have on the lost for Christ! The nation of Philippines is experiencing the Lord’s love at this time.

We appeal to you to participate in this end-time ministry. Please pray and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct you to help us with a strong financial gift for this project. Please send your gift to us at Suite 2040, 17300 North Dallas Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75248, USA or at 126A Rangoon Road, Singapore 218404.

Please visit us at http://www.icmission.net. We love to hear from you.

Our Love and Blessings.

Khoo Hin Hiong
President/Founder
International Christian Mission
E-Mail: icm@pacific.net.sg
E-Mail: icmglobal@gmail.com
Web-site: www.icmission.net
Tel: (65) 6291-2477
Fax: (65) 6292-0996