2017 Album
December 2017.
We put on a children's program at a very disadvantaged church about an hour away from Moshi, conducted one final Bible College class, and enjoyed the children of our own church demonstrating what they have learned this past semester.
We put on a children's program at a very disadvantaged church about an hour away from Moshi, conducted one final Bible College class, and enjoyed the children of our own church demonstrating what they have learned this past semester.
November 2017. A Month of Thanksgivings:
This month we had 2 separate teams visit us for a total of 21 days, as well as taking some of the visitors and all the ICM-TZ Bible College Instructors up Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was an unforgettable adventure!
The first group consisted of 2 men (Kevin and Fred) from our main sending church in St Petersburg FL who came to dedicate part of the Mt Meru Bible College, and Jim's sister Brenda and brother Allan. These 4 also climbed the mountain with Jim and the pastors. We have pictures from the dedication, as well as the climb, which you can click on below.
The other visit was from the ICM founder and Executive Director, Pastor Dan Finfrock, as well as 2 other ICM Board members who came for the official opening and dedication of the entire Mt. Meru campus. They also visited several of our pastors' churches, taught at each church, and participated in a feedback session at the end of the visit. We are very grateful for them taking time to come and encourage the Lord's workers here.
This month we had 2 separate teams visit us for a total of 21 days, as well as taking some of the visitors and all the ICM-TZ Bible College Instructors up Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was an unforgettable adventure!
The first group consisted of 2 men (Kevin and Fred) from our main sending church in St Petersburg FL who came to dedicate part of the Mt Meru Bible College, and Jim's sister Brenda and brother Allan. These 4 also climbed the mountain with Jim and the pastors. We have pictures from the dedication, as well as the climb, which you can click on below.
The other visit was from the ICM founder and Executive Director, Pastor Dan Finfrock, as well as 2 other ICM Board members who came for the official opening and dedication of the entire Mt. Meru campus. They also visited several of our pastors' churches, taught at each church, and participated in a feedback session at the end of the visit. We are very grateful for them taking time to come and encourage the Lord's workers here.
October 2017: What a GREAT month! We had a husband and wife team come from a church in Charlottesville, Virginia, for 10 days and we did lots of teaching together. We also got to see many animals as we showed them the country. We conducted 2 Bible college sessions this month, 2 women's seminars, and 4-5 mini-seminars in village churches. Here are some pictures from the teaching sessions and the animal sightings. Click on the pictures below to see the albums.
September 2017: There is a LOT of activity going on each month now. We had two 10-day bible college sessions this month, back to back, which is grueling for everyone involved. On "spare" days, Jim is still conducting upper-level IBS seminars to identify more pastoral candidates for the college, AND we are still running two different church services each Sunday. Through it all, it's nice that we can still find moments of laughter and joy to carry us forward! Praise God!
August 2017: Jim traveled to Mwanza, Tanzania, at Lake Victoria this past month to conduct seminars and, in the process, secured our 4th Bible college location/campus. It will be hosted by Bishop Selemani. Read about it in this month's newsletter!
June 2017: Back to the Lord's Work! Pastoring our church, ministering to the Training for Life students, and conducting classes in the new ICM-TZ Bible College! Lots of exciting things this month. Check it out!
May 2017, A Quick Family Visit. We returned to the USA for a month for our youngest son's wedding, but also ended up helping care for Janice's mom for a few weeks and attending the very unexpected funeral of Jim's oldest sister, Judy.
April 2017, New Intensive Care Ministries Bible College Campus. Take a look at our brand new Bible college campus built in one of the upper villages of Mt. Meru, Tanzania. Pastor Loth began building this in 2015 and, with the help of two supporting churches in the US, the entire facility was completed this month. We even got a "bonus" guest house to accommodate visiting teachers.
"Train the Trainer" March 23-25, 2017. We recently held 3 days of training for a new class of potential IBS instructors. Eleven men and two women participated. These are faithful servants who excelled in the 30-day Mt Kilimanjaro Pastoral Training Center program, were offered an opportunity to join ICM, prayed about it and felt the Lord was calling them to take this next step. They must now participate in 3 actual seminars under the watchful eye of more senior trainers before being sent out on their own...please keep them in your prayers.
Inductive Bible Study Training @ The Gathering, (Fort Walton Beach FL), February 17-18 & Teaching Children's Sunday School February 19
This is a church in the town where Jim and Janice met and were married. It is also where our daughter and grandchildren live, and we are blessed to have found such a mission-minded, solidly biblical church to call home when we visit. About 30 people attended the training, and we made many new friends. Several people from Jim's college alma mater attend this church which also made it special!
We also had the privilege of sharing about our mission with the children's Sunday School class on Sunday morning, and it happens to be the class our granddaughter attends. The kids were very attentive and interested in all the pictures we shared.
This is a church in the town where Jim and Janice met and were married. It is also where our daughter and grandchildren live, and we are blessed to have found such a mission-minded, solidly biblical church to call home when we visit. About 30 people attended the training, and we made many new friends. Several people from Jim's college alma mater attend this church which also made it special!
We also had the privilege of sharing about our mission with the children's Sunday School class on Sunday morning, and it happens to be the class our granddaughter attends. The kids were very attentive and interested in all the pictures we shared.
Inductive Bible Study Training @ Northeast Presbyterian Church
(St Petersburg), Jan 20-21, 2017
NEPC is one of our "home" churches, having attended there 1994-2011. It is a congregation near and dear to our hearts. Almost 40 people attended the training in a desire to further their own personal study time, being better prepared to teach and lead studies within the church, and to have a better idea what we do in Africa. We were truly blessed to spend that time with them.
(St Petersburg), Jan 20-21, 2017
NEPC is one of our "home" churches, having attended there 1994-2011. It is a congregation near and dear to our hearts. Almost 40 people attended the training in a desire to further their own personal study time, being better prepared to teach and lead studies within the church, and to have a better idea what we do in Africa. We were truly blessed to spend that time with them.
January & February 2017..."Where are We Supposed to be Today?!"
After finishing our time in NC, we moved on to Florida, Oklahoma, Colorado and back to Florida...being in a different church every Sunday, and sometimes Wednesdays. Got to see lots of old friends this way, and made several new ones!
After finishing our time in NC, we moved on to Florida, Oklahoma, Colorado and back to Florida...being in a different church every Sunday, and sometimes Wednesdays. Got to see lots of old friends this way, and made several new ones!