In July, International Child Care Ministries held a five-day gathering of ICCM’s top leaders. Six of the seven regional coordinators were able to attend the summit in Indianapolis: Ray Babcock representing Brazil, Neddy Nanjowe representing Central and East Africa, Vickie Reynen representing West Africa, Kay Stotts-Godoy representing Latin America, Belle Villanueva representing Southeast Asia and Stella Bokare representing South Asia. Rex Bullock, regional coordinator for Haiti, was unable to attend but Skyped in several times. Paula Moriarity, the director of ICCM Canada, also participated. The meetings were hosted by ICCM Director Linda Adams and the ICCM Central Office team. This was the first time the Central Office staff members have had a chance to interact with all the global leaders face to face and participate in strategic meetings with them.
Each regional coordinator presented highlights of what God is doing through ICCM in their part of the world, and several gave presentations based on their areas of unique expertise or excellence. Central Office team members also contributed to the sessions as the whole group worked to achieve greater clarity on new forms of partnership and on our shared policies and procedures. Director Linda Adams offered her perspective on changes and trends as ICCM seeks to be relevant and effective in a great variety of contexts.
On Sunday, the leaders fanned out to speak in six area churches. All returned with encouraging stories of the churches’ enthusiasm to partner with ICCM for the good of children around the world. About 30 children were newly sponsored.
This close-knit group of leaders is once again dispersed around the world, but their unity of spirit and devotion to the cause of ICCM will continue to burn brightly until their next global gathering at General Conference 2019 in Orlando.
2
