SPECIAL EDITION

One of the goals of ICM is to empower and equip churches to transform their
communities. This requires intention of churches and their leadership. When
this is done, change takes place. For two years we have been running a pilot
project in Kenya to help churches transform their communities. The results
were beyond our expectations. This is a short report from Renita Reed Thomson, our Intl. Coordinator of Discipling Marketplace Leaders.
Phil Walker, President, ICM USA

The Vision of DML is to reclaim

the redeemed marketplace
through Church-based Business
as Mission and bring it under the
Lordship of Christ.

The Mission of DML is to empower the local church to establish

and run successful Marketplace
Ministries, empowering, equipping, encouraging, and discipling
business people to have a quadruple bottom line: spiritual, social,
economic, and environmental.
Our Activities:
Discipling Marketplace Leaders
Church-based Business as Mission
A Reclaimed
Redeemed Marketplace
Job Creation and Poverty Alleviation

April 5, 2016
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I just returned from a trip to Kenya, where we developed a new tag line for the
work of Discipling Marketplace Leaders (DML):
Unleashing the Church - Transforming the Community - Changing the World
Sounds pretty good, doesnt it? A little optimistic, you might be thinking? I
know that I thought that too. But then I thought about the interviews we had
with business people. They shared stories with us of how they have incorporated a quadruple bottom line in their business: social, spiritual, economic, and
environmental. They shared how
this shift was impacting so many
people. I thought about the interviews we had with pastors who
energetically talked about their
churches growing, some for the
first time in 20 years! Unleashing
Church members and discipling
them to purpose was leading to
community transformation in the
Marketplace.

Advocacy

Mentoring

Training

Bishop Lister in the forefront

Partnerships - Pulpit Pastors & Marketplace Ministers

Business as Mission

Let me tell you the story of Bishop

Lister from Kisumu, Kenya. He is the founder of Word of Life Ministries and
oversees four churches. He and his wife care for a number of orphans, as is
common for many pastors in Kenya. They needed some income-generating
activities to support the children. They started making liquid detergent and
then proceeded to bar soap. Two years ago, his business attracted the attention of the Kenya Research Group. They were instrumental in helping Bishop
Lister develop his product. Last year Bishop Lister was named one of the top
ten innovators in Kenya by the Export Promotion Council. The bar soap that
he has developed is 100% organic, made of seven different oils and no chemicals, and helps with a variety of skin conditions. He began attending trade fairs
and even traveled to Ethiopia
where he found a large potential
market. But his production was
still at a small scale. The Bishop
needed machines to scale up production that would enable him to
export his goods. He was asked
over and over for copies of his
business plan, but he did not have
one. He did not know how to
make one or where to go for help.

Last November he heard about DML from a fellow pastor in Kisumu and joined the local class. He told us that the DML class
changed the way he looked at business, a complete paradigm
shift. He shared how the class gave him the tools to write his
business plan, and so much more. He now wants the DML class
introduced into all his churches. He has also seen a different approach for how to support, equip, and disciple his business
members. Now the good Bishop can present his business plan
that will open the door for purchasing the machines he needs to
seize the opportunities. For his six employees, and the orphans
he cares for, the future is filled with possibilities. The Bishop
has a working, viable business plan, basic business training and
Our interview with Bishop Lister
and two of his employees.
the endorsement of the Export Promotion Council, as well as a
product which exceeds Kenyas export standards. His life and
the lives of those working with him have changed. His churches have a new model. Together with his wife
they are able to help those who cannot help themselves: the bishop has a quadruple bottom line!
Unleashing the Church - Transforming the Community - Changing the World
So maybe its possible, one church at a time, one business at a time, one dream at a time.
Want to join us? By Gods grace we can work together at Changing the World.
We are exploring opportunities of starting this ministry in Ghana, Egypt, Ethiopia and Nigeria. We are encouraged with how God is opening doors, even as we see the challenges of different cultures and contexts.
Your prayerful partnership as well as your financial partnership are critical to keeping the momentum going
as we work to reclaim the Marketplace for Christ. If you would like to financially assist with this work, please
give through the envelope enclosed and include 609045in the comment line.
Thank you for your faithful prayers, encouragement and support in partnering with the DML ministry.

Your sister in Christ,

Renita Reed-Thomson
Discipling Marketplace Leaders International Coordinator
renitar@icmusa.org
www.reedsinthewind.blogspot.com

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$_________This gift is to be designated for: 609045 DML-USA

$_________This gift is to be designated for: 010100 Hope of Africa

If you wish to give electronically, please visit our website at www.icmusa.org You can give one-time or monthly
gifts with either your debit/credit card or by a direct transfer from your bank account.