Faith News Network

International Cooperating Ministries (ICM), a nonprofit whose vision is a church within walking distance of every man, woman and child in our lifetime, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Started in 1986 by businessman Dois I. Rosser, Jr., founder of POMOCO, ICM has collaborated with indigenous ministry partners to build more than 6,000 churches for congregations in 82 countries. At no charge, ICM distributes the late Pastor Dick Woodward’s Mini Bible College, a comprehensive Bible study available in more than 40 languages via apps, broadcast radio, Internet, audio players and print. With these two tools, the church building and a practical understanding of the Bible, congregations begin to address the social needs of people in their villages, providing vocational training, education, food, shelter, medical care and clean water.

In conjunction with the Oct. 21 release of the inspiring true story, “I’m Not Ashamed,” Pure Flix Alliance and thousands of ministries across the nation are joining forces in outreach and service through the I AM HOPE movement.

Last Christmas in the Caribbean and Central America, 11,500 kids in dire poverty tore open gifts from Cross Catholic Outreach’s Box of Joy ministry. This year, the number of kids opening gifts may jump to more than 20,000.

Church of God in Christ (COGIC) churches devastated by the recent flooding in Louisiana will receive assistance from COGIC Charities.

As selection chair for the 2016 Lausanne Young Leaders Gathering (YLG2016), The Mission Society’s Rev. Richard Coleman facilitated a process to identify some of the most influential evangelicals in the world under the age of 40. Coleman spearheaded a two-year review of thousands of nominations and selected nearly 1,000 emerging young leaders from 150 countries to attend the gathering.

The Reverend Dr. Donald W. Sweeting, President and James Woodrow Hassell Professor of Church History at Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando (rts.edu) has been elected the new President of Colorado Christian University (ccu.edu). Dr. Sweeting has served at RTS Orlando since 2010, and will succeed William L. (“Bill”) Armstrong, former U.S. Senator and president of CCU from 2006-2016.