Disciples

Rick York, who has since retired.

They came to ICOM for two reasons. First, they are looking for instructional resources that can aid them in their ministries. Second, they came to connect with churches that might want to send shortterm teams to the Dominican Republic.

There are between 125 and 140 Christian churches in the Dominican Republic. The association to which Mitchell and Luis belong, Centro Cristiano, had been slowly dying. However, a mission organization that builds homes for people, Casas Por Cristo, formed a partnership with the pastors, and since that time there have been many short-term teams who have come and helped. Forty teams came in 2016, and the pastors are hoping there will be 50 to 60 teams a year. These teams have provided resources and have helped the churches to grow.

Disciples Must Make Disciples

People, some 3,500 of them, come to the International Conference on Missions for a variety of reasons. Some wish to connect with places where they might serve. Some come to lead and attend workshops.

Many come to tell others of their ministries, and of course many come to ICOM to learn of God’s expanding kingdom around the world. While ICOM has a small staff that runs the conference, each year’s event is led by a president who has a large say in the year’s program.

The theme for the 2016 conference was “Mobilize: Disciples Making Disciples.” President Mike Schrage, executive director of Good News Productions, International, said that “becoming all things to