Issue No 2 - Fall 2023
Watching For Revival
We all long to see God move. We yearn for new expressions of what we have heard in the past; "renew them in our day, in our time make them known" (see Habakkuk 3:2). As we pursue widespread revival and transformation, however, we need to remember that it starts small - with us.
As we and our students study, pray, fast, and lay down ourselves, we see God's presence bringing passion and holiness in our own hearts. The heartbeat of the Institute for Community Transformation is that what God begins in us fits us to be conduits to bring His transformation and revival likewise to others, then still others, until we see a widespread move of God to transform and bless our communities, our nations, and our world.
Many students already report stirrings of this, as God's hand takes hold of them, their lives, and their families, then begins to impact the communities they serve. May God breathe His new life in us, through us, and through all of you, until His Kingdom fully comes.
Where in the World Are We?
These graphs show distribution of students by nationality and age, comparing Fall 2021 and Fall 2023. Nigeria consistently has the most students.
Having begun our fourth year of the Institute for Community Transformation, we thought you might like to see a representation of the students served, our global distribution, and what it speaks to how God has been developing partnerships in the Gospel.
From One Year to the Next . . .
Meaningful Learning
In several of our ICT classes we use a learning tool called the relational diamond to assess the quality of key relationships on the path to personal and community transformation. The relational diamond examines our UP relationship with God, our IN relationship with fellow believers, our DOWN relationship of authority over evil and evil powers, and our OUT relationship with the world.
In our Spirituality and Wholeness classes, we use this paradigm in the context of a careful reading of Ephesians to examine areas where we need personal and relational change or growth. In our Foundations of Integrative Missiology and Theology course, we unfold the relational diamond in the context of a biblical theology of shalom--of God-given peace, reconciliation and flourishing.
Students have found that this four-fold paradigm of interconnected relationships enables them to see which relationship or relationships they need to emphasize for growth and transformation in themselves, their families, and the communities in which they serve. The relational diamond is one way that ICT expresses our conviction that all of life is meant to thrive under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Engaging in NextGen and EMS
Director Todd Pokrifka and Project Coordinator Dawn Loughry were able to attend April's NextGen conference. Networking and encouragement grew in the context of deeper discipleship and simply seeking God's face. In October, they also attended the Evangelical Missiological Society conference. We pray for God to use what He has begun to build ICT as well as us personally, and continue forging connections across the globe.
Certificates Awarded!
After finishing our third year of ICT, we awarded our first Certificates and Graduate Certificates! Praise God for all He has done!
Prayer requests!
Pray for students who have graduated from ICT, for discernment of future steps and implementation.
Pray for students actively involved in ministry and outreach, for protection, fruit, and great joy!
Pray for new students, faculty, and staff. May God's grace cover them as they step into learning and relationships within ICT.
Pray for God's presence, protection, provision, and peace for all those in ICT.
Please join us in what God is doing!
With so many students from Africa and the developing world, we offer tiered tuition rates based on their country’s level of development. Even with this, many need financial assistance to cover the costs of the program. ICT's Scholarship Fund goal is to raise $24,000 total this year. The ICT General Fund that supports the whole program aims to raise a total of $34,000 this year. If 12 more people give $1000, 24 give $500, 40 give $250, and 120 give $100 in one time gifts, we will reach these goals. Praise God for His provision! If God would have you invest in our students' lives and kingdom work, you may use this link OR, please make out Checks to Frontier Ventures. On the memo line, write "ICT MS 914" for the General Fund or "ICT MA 924" for the Scholarship Fund.
Mail to: Frontier Ventures, Attn: Ministry Accounts ICT, P. O. Box 41450, Pasadena, CA 91114
All gifts go to Frontier Ventures (a 501c3 organization), which is our mother mission organization.
“I thank my God every time I remember you... I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work... will carry it onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
