It’s sometimes amazing what God can use to encourage and inspire us. The other day, I heard something that got me thinking. The radio broadcast mentioned that Willi Nelson had just released his second album of the year, at the Continue Reading →

     Perhaps one of the most recognizable hymns is “Amazing Grace.” Its timeless lyrics seem to be able to speak into each of our lives, regardless of what we have, or are, going through. Recently I have been rereading the Continue Reading →

What a privilege it has been over the last several decades to be able to work with such a wide diversity of churches and denominations within a variety of countries and languages. Our experience has been that there is much Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil. If your experience has been anything like mine, then you likely grew up learning to appreciate the importance of maximizing your time. This likely took the form of learning not to waste time and being intentional about managing Continue Reading →

     I am beginning to write these reflections as I bounce along my overnight train trip back west through Ukraine to the Polish border. Under the clear blue autumn sky the endless wheat and sunflower fields pass by to the Continue Reading →

I think we all would agree that each one of our life’s journey is specific and unique. Yet I was reading a book lately (Decade by Decade – Life is Surprisingly Predictable, Bobb Biehl) that makes the point that, decade Continue Reading →

I think the older we get the greater our desire to leave something behind that will outlive us. Perhaps this has something to do with the phrase from Ecclesiastes that we truly have “eternity written in our hearts.” We seem Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: Well it’s another new year, and if you are like many, you have made (or thought of making!) some sort of New Year’s resolution. Of course, since it is nearly March, if you are like most, some of Continue Reading →

This year sure has had its ups and downs. On one hand it was great to be able to connect again with some of our global team members, but this was overshadowed by the heartache of the war and not Continue Reading →

This newsletter has highlighted the Finishing the Race retreat that I facilitated for leaders in Dominican Rep. earlier this year. The material is intended to help leaders navigate what Bob Buford has called “Life 2.” He refers to Life 1 Continue Reading →

I am sure over the last months you have heard more news about Ukraine than perhaps at any other time in your lifetime. Having worked in this region of the world for many years, through many highs and lows, I Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil.  Over the last few years have you been wondering how world events fit into the narrative of our own life as well as the bigger narrative of God’s plan? The effects of the pandemic, and now the war Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil:      In light of the latest geo-political developments, I was reflecting on my trip to Ukraine and Russia in 2014. If you recall, at that time Russian annexed Crimea to once again be part of Russia. Within a Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – In the last Update I walked down memory lane of how I sensed God’s calling to inter cultural missions as a young teen. The problem with getting older is that the milestones just keep coming! Early next Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – This past summer I had the chance to take a road trip back to my camp meeting roots. Now I realize that for some this is a concept  from the distant past, but back in the day Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil:   Recently we have just celebrated the most important fact of our faith – the Resurrection! For most of us it was, again, quite different than our typical in-person community celebration, Of course, this does not diminish the reality Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil:  Scars. Not something we usually want to talk about or perhaps admit to. Yet I would suggest that they are important reminders of God’s faithfulness as we face the future. Like most of us, you may have picked Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: I am sure many of us will be happy to see the end of 2020! In many ways it has been a dark year as many have been personally touched by the virus, had their livelihood threatened, and Continue Reading →

by Dr. Phil Jeske I have been reading Henry Kissinger’s book World Order (again) over the summer and he had a few thoughts on information, knowledge, and wisdom that I have taken and added my own thoughts. I thought you Continue Reading →

by Dr. Raydel [Dr. Raydel is a surgeon from Cuba and is currently living in Dominican Republic. He serves the Church there and Latin America as a teacher and leadership mobilizer. He first was in contact with ICM’s ministry in Continue Reading →

Have you ever wondered how the five equipping gifts from Ephesians 4 (“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to equip his people for works of serve so that the body of Christ Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: It is likely that we all would agree in principle that the “Church” is much more than just a building or location or even one local group of believers. Yet a year like this one has made us Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: Are we as Christians any different than others in a Pandemic? Perhaps a bit of an odd questions, but I was thinking about this as I have been following the news coverage and having to adjust our travel Continue Reading →

At the MCNet Intl. Consultation in August of 2019, a presentation was made by Doug Friesen (ICM board member and Exec. Dir of CLIMB, MCNet Canadian affiliate), regarding the need for a new model for theological education in the 21st Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: Well it’s hard to believe that it is the year 2020… .or put another way, we are one fifth of the way through the 21st Century! It makes me recall conversations I had with my father regarding his Continue Reading →

The markers signifying a milestone are merely signposts – showing where we have come from and where we have yet to go; obviously, they are not the destination only a point between the past and future. As I have written Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: As I look back at years of walking with the Lord and how God has led us in the ministry, I am reminded of Proverb 16:9, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their Continue Reading →

Well in June of this year it will be 30 years since we began ICM in Canada (originally, Global Outreach Association). We first spent a couple years in Africa and then, after returning to Canada for a few years, relocated Continue Reading →

The short answer to this question is yes and no! While these terms are used interchangeably, we make a distinction for various specific reasons. Let me explain. Since we first released our mentoring materials (Mentoring thru Intentional Relationships, 2003), you Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil. As you know, Matt. 28:19-20, is one of the favorite missionary scriptures, ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: Nearly thirty-five years ago now I had the opportunity to speak at my BA graduation ceremony (BTh. 1985). At the time, I used a quotations that I likely did not fully appreciate then, but has stayed with me Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: Well another year is nearly in the history books. Though not as old as some (yet), I have been on this life journey for enough decades to notice something – some years are just better than others. Granted, Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil  The other day I had the opportunity to share in our church from the life of Caleb. You remember him, right? He was the “other” guy. He was there with Moses and Joshua, yet had to wait forty-five Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – In one of the articles in this edition a passage in Galatians was referenced which referred to the reality that our membership in the Body of Christ supersedes our ethnicity, nationality and even gender distinctions. This was Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil   –     This Ministry Update highlights several stories of Good News. In contrast to the Good News, of late we have been hearing a lot recently about fake news. I find this somewhat ironic, particularly in societies Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: As we together embark on another year it seems an appropriate time to reflect on the “Why” of our various activities and involvements. More than even the “What,” the “Why” will determine our priorities and direction for our Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: Well we are only weeks away from again ushering in the new year. I am finding it hard to believe that 2017 is already in the history books. However, I always look forward to this time of year Continue Reading →

There are those times in life when a milestone has been reached and you know it. A marker has been placed in the ground that you know you will always be able to look back upon and know that, whatever Continue Reading →

     It was 35 years ago on June 6, 1982 that Nancy and I made our marriage vows to each other. It was only one  day after our graduation from a discipleship school in northern California. There has been a Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: A couple months ago I came across a blog by Karl Vaters (to read the whole article for to : http://www.christianitytoday.com/karl-vaters/) that encapsulated much of what we teach regarding leadership (and which I wrote about in our book, Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil: Well its 2017 – Not sure what special events you may be looking forward to celebrating this year. . .for my wife and I it is 35 years of marriage, nearly the same in ministry and 28 years Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – As the year 2016 draws to a close it seems like an appropriate time to reflect on the year that was. As with every year, including the upcoming one, there are no rehearsals or do-overs; we travel Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – As a ministry our focus is helping leaders train up others. If leaders fail to do this, not only do they fail in their fundamental responsibility, but Gospel witness in a community and nation suffers. Yet what Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – The strategies and methods to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20 – “Go into all the worlds and make disciples. . .”) is as varied as the gifts/personality of the missionary, the society in which they work, Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – In addition to my overseas travel schedule, I have been teaching a History of Missions course at a local bible school (in Canada). The  course focuses on the individuals and movements that have been faithful to the Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – When is a Network not just another organization? When it come to organizational development, and mission groups specifically, the term, network is not just a synonym for organization. It is actually a very specific type of organization Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – An effective Vision (personally or organizationally) is always based on congruent values (the important stuff we believe in). However, it is also important to realize that values are based on assumptions. Assumptions are those values that we Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – Typically, many people who take on responsibility in the church have it thrust upon them, rather than being prepared and released as part of an intentional process. Reflecting on your own path of Christian service, you may Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – Well this last page of the newsletter is usually reserved for my musings about life, ministry, or some behind the scenes info regarding some article in the Update. This month I would like to take a more Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – The greatest surprise of my trip to China was the impression I received from many leaders that the “revival” of the 80s and 90s was by and large over. They explained how the revival, which saw tens Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil –  Last month I shared the five core values that motivate us and make us tick as an organization. Just as this process is important on a leadership/organizational level, I also reflected on the importance of values on Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – It does not take long when talking about leadership, teams, and organizational development to mention values. But what are values? And why are they important? You have read in this and previous Updates about how those in Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil – Paul Henderson (a bit of a Canadian hockey hero from Canada-Russia series in 1972), commenting on what it takes to succeed, said: Start Small, Think Big, Go Deep, Finish Well. As we wrap up 2014 and look Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil  – While it is important to not allow current geopolitical struggles sidetrack us from pursuing our primary goal of leadership training and building healthy churches, it is impossible not to be affected by current world events. As we Continue Reading →

Dr. Phil  –   At one point or another, we have all wrestled with the question: What is God’s will for my life? For most of us our life path is anything but a straight line, with our fair share of Continue Reading →