I met Andrei when I visited our ICCM school in Monte Santo, Bahia, Brazil, in September. I asked if I could get a picture with him because I knew his sponsors. After we had our picture taken together and he had returned to class, Sirlene, the school’s assistant director, told me more about him. Andrei’s … Read more
God gave school director Jonathan Da Cunha a vision for the city of Encarnación. There was only one Christian school in town at the time. Jonathan felt led of God to start Light and Life Free Methodist School with the vision of reaching families for Christ and providing the opportunity for academic excellence in a … Read more
ICCM sponsorship has truly brought light and life to 14-year-old María in Paraguay! Today her beautiful smile and outgoing spirit give testimony to the marvelous ministry of our Free Methodist Light and Life Children’s Home and Light and Life Christian School in the city of Encarnación. Abandoned by their father at an early age, María … Read more
At long last, the dream is a reality! Phase 1 of the Dr. Buconyori Free Methodist Boys Boarding School in Kenya is complete. Classrooms, dorms, dining hall, soccer field, and other essentials are ready to go. The first 80 boys are being selected. The keys are being received by the leaders of ICCM and the FMC in Kenya. The leaders are overflowing with … Read more
“Restavek” is a system of domestic servitude in Haiti. Long tolerated in the culture, it is finally being brought into the light and recognized as a form of child slavery. When I first began as Director of ICCM in 2008, I learned about the restavek arrangement, whereby extremely poor parents, usually from the countryside, send … Read more
For over 50 years, ICCM has supported children and families in Haiti through education. Tens of thousands of children have discovered the joy of learning, hope for living and the love of Jesus through our persistent efforts. Sponsoring children’s education, providing uniforms, books, and lunches, and employing teachers and others who oversee 59 schools — … Read more
Nicole is a beautiful 14-year-old girl. Her father (pictured here with Nicole) is Chilean of Spanish descent, and her mother is a native south Chile. Nicole lives with her parents. She divides her time between her studies and helping on the family farm. When Nicole was born, the family had many economic and developmental needs. … Read more
There was no question, Canadian born Linda Stryker loved living in Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo or DRC). She loved working alongside her Congolese friends and colleagues. For 33 years, Linda served as a Free Methodist missionary wearing several different hats – that of a nurse and ICCM coordinator, teacher, mentor, friend. Her friends describe … Read more
In a few countries, ICCM sponsors children of pastors (PKs). One of our most vibrant, successful programs for PK’s is in the Philippines. Pastors’ families deeply value the encouragement and practical assistance of sponsorship because of the financial hardship and the stigma of being Protestant PKs in a Catholic-dominated culture. For several years, ICCM Philippines … Read more
Freedom Sunday 2011 featured our first anti-trafficking project, the Lahu Hostel in Thailand. For five years, 20 vulnerable children have lived together in safety, learned about life and God, attended school and experienced a future and a hope they would not have known without our care. This was my first visit to meet the children … Read more