Dear friends of ICDM,
Three languages, several hues of skin color, many different cultural settings, but hearts united in Christ. ICDM’s 2023 Leadership Conference provided a foretaste of heaven when people from every tongue and nation will gather around the throne of God to praise Jesus (Revelation 7:9-10). The Leadership Conference which took place February 22-25, 2023 in Santiago, Dominican Republic was all this and more…
The theme for this year’s conference was “The Fields are Ripe for Harvest,” based on Matthew 9:37-38. The whole purpose of the conference was to raise up more workers for the harvest of souls and lives that are aching for good news. During the week we looked at how Spiritual Gifts can empower us to do God’s work, how teams make a difference, and how we can reach our communities more effectively for Christ, both in terms of winning people for heaven and improving their lives here on earth.
Our speaking team was made up of Americans, Haitians, and Dominicans. Each speaker brought a unique perspective on how to better equip people to help a hurting world. The conference participants were hungry to learn more, and we had a deep sense that the conference will impact their communities almost immediately.
For friends of ICDM you need to know that the Annual Leadership Conference is just one of the equipping arms of ICDM. Communities throughout Haiti and the DR continue to be impacted by our Schools of Evangelism and Portable Bible Schools where first-rate ministry training is brought to the people where they live.
Besides the learning that took place at the conference, we also gained a lot of insight by hearing people talk about how they were already trying to reach their communities. One family that is doing an excellent job of this is Pastor and Dr. Robinson Jeudy. Pastor Robinson and his wife were our hosts for the week. They pastor a church that is reaching many young people. They are also reaching some of most forgotten people of Santiago—Haitian children who cannot obtain birth certificates. The lack of a valid Birth Certificate makes them ineligible to attend school. Pastor Robinson has spent ten years building relationships with the families of these children and they now trust him as their pastor. He is in the process of converting a house in the midst of where they live so they can attend church with greater ease and safety.
Currently, ICDM is working on plans to help Pastor Robinson build his church and help the children obtain birth certificates. If you are interested in helping with either of these projects, go to https://icdm.us/get-involved/. Click the drop-down menu and select “Most Urgent Need.” In the comments box indicate either “Birth Certificates” or “Church Building.”
The fields are ripe in Haiti, the DR, and in North America. Sometimes the work to be done can seem overwhelming but through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is possible. To keep us focused on the what and how of our calling we had a theme song: “I’d Rather Have Jesus.”
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather be His than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
Even when ministry is hard, I’d rather have Jesus. How about you?
Your brother in Christ,
Yvan Pierre
Founder and Director of ICDM |
|
