Redeemed and Shaped for Greater Fruitfulness
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
Nothing we go through is wasted in God’s hands. Out of her experiences growing up, Nigerian N. had already developed her own ministry before she came to ICT. Her story is an encouraging glimpse of how God redeems the past, shaping us for greater fruitfulness in the future.
Though she grew up in a Christian home and attending church, N.’s journey of knowing the Lord began in the fifth grade when her French teacher addressed her struggles with low self-esteem and peer pressure by explaining how Jesus’ love would transform her identity into God’s beloved. However, after a middle-school teacher’s verbal abuse, she forgot this and began to believe she was not good enough, unworthy of making a difference in the world. A high school math teacher restored her faith and hope one day through his comforting reassurance that she was good enough and created for more in Christ. “My life took a turn for the better,” N. said. “I became more compassionate toward others, recognizing that everyone carries their own struggles. I decided to be a channel of intentional influence, just as my math teacher had been for me. I realized my responsibility to share words of hope and life, coupled with loving service, to help restore people’s faith in God.”
“ICT reshaped my perspective on holistic community transformation and confirmed my calling. Through it, I also discovered the profound impact of discipleship.”
As N. discovered purpose through her pain, she grew as a leader and, after graduating from university with a degree in economics, founded the Salted People’s Foundation to shape and inspire young people to be aware of their identity in Christ and their responsibility to create meaningful impact. Through N.’s search for training in development and transformation, God led her to ICT in 2021. “ICT reshaped my perspective on holistic community transformation and confirmed my calling. Through it, I also discovered the profound impact of discipleship,” N. said.
Vida Rush, N.'s social business that promotes wellness.
In 2022, N. started a healthy beverage business that provides both wellness-promotion and a platform for ministry, something she had never imagined. “Through ICT courses and coaching, I quickly learned how to make the business profitable, enabling me to support my family and ministry financially. I also trained other young women to start their own small, profitable businesses.” Even as she disciples these young women, she is prayerfully planning to expand her business for greater Kingdom impact and widespread community transformation.
Please pray!
Pray for N. as she disciples others, serves and builds up her community, and prays over how to expand her healthy juice business for greater Kingdom impact.
Pray for ICT faculty and staff as we mentor and train students like N. for lives of fruitful blessing that draw many to Christ. Pray also for our global staff team as we learn and grow for more effective, united work and service, led and shaped by the Holy Spirit.
Pray for the projects our ICT learners are implementing in their communities of service. May God give wisdom and favor and His blessing as they put into practice all they are learning.
For God’s presence, peace, provision, protection, wisdom, health, strength, joy, and blessing for all in ICT. May God’s power, glory, and grace be over us all.
Thank you for joining us as God builds the Institute for Community Transformation and through us furthers flourishing communities, marked by His shalom, among all peoples!
