BRIEF HISTORY OF ICP
International Church Planters began shortly after Dr. Steve Wilkes, director of Summer Missions at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee, was burdened by God for the people of the former Soviet Union. During the summer of 1992 Dr. Wilkes and twenty-five students participated in evangelism projects at four locations in the former Soviet Union. As a result of their efforts, 2500 professions of faith were made in Christ Jesus. During the spring of 1993, Troy Bush, his wife Carol, and Dr. Wilkes formed International Church Planters, ICP, and Dr. Wilkes became the first president of ICP. The purpose of ICP was to assist people in starting new churches around the world.
In 1995, Troy Bush became the first full time employee of ICP and took on the responsibilities of being the International Coordinator. Through a study of the Great Commission given by Christ and an observation of the past efforts of ICP, Bush recognized that professions of faith did not accomplish the command to make disciples. The emphasis of ICP shifted away from evangelistic crusades toward training pastors and church planters in the former Soviet Union. The first international school of church planting was conducted in Pskov, Russia, January, 1995, and lasted for three months. At the end of the training, ICP aided the new graduates in planting churches through evangelism projects as well as three to six months of financial support.
Dr. Wilkes resigned as president of ICP in 1996 and Troy Bush was elected in his stead. The headquarters of ICP was then relocated from Memphis to Louisville, Kentucky. This move allowed Bush to continue his graduate studies in Missions.
Todd Robertson, experienced church planter in the Americas, joins the staff of ICP in July of 1997. Through his efforts ICP began work in South America. As a result, ICP to this day continues to train church planters in Ecuador primarily among the Quichua Indians.
Troy Bush resigned the presidency of ICP to accept an IMB appointment in the fall of 1998. At that time Barry King, pastor of Tumbling Shoals Baptist Church in Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas, was elected as president of ICP. Dr. Frank Jones, associate pastor of Kirby Woods Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, was also elected as Executive Director of ICP. In December of 1998, ICP headquarters were moved to Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas, where it remains to this day.
Bill Williams joined the staff of ICP in September of 1999 while continuing to serve as Minister of Music at Tumbling Shoals Baptist Church. Williams was elected to the position of Vice President of ICP in 2000.
In January of 1999, ICP and the IMB explored the possibility of beginning ICP institutes in Nepal. In February, 2000, Barry King, President of ICP, along with Marshall Smithson, Steve Cochran and Larry Ramsour held a 3 day pastors conference in Kathmandu to begin the work. The first ICP training institute in Nepal took place in 2001. Since then, 18 church planters have been trained and another 6 will be trained in January & February, 2004. Until 1951 Nepal was completely closed to outsiders and the gospel. Fifty years ago there were no known Christians in Nepal. By the grace of God over 300,000 Nepalese now claim the name of Christ. Still a great need exists to train pastors and church planters to evangelize the Hindu country of Nepal which is home to more than 22 million people.
Under the leadership of King and Williams, ICP has continued to train church planters in Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Lithuania, Ecuador, and Nepal. Funds have been given toward the building of a church planting center in Nepal which was completed in 2002. During the early months of 2002 in El Tambo, Ecuador, ICP assumed ownership of a facility for the training of indigenous church planters. This facility provides class rooms for instruction, dining and sleeping quarters, and is the staging point for medical, dental, and evangelism projects.
In October 2002, ICP moved into its new administration building located in Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas. The staff of ICP, consisting of Barry King and Bill Williams, was joined by Anna Bennett during the summer of 2002.
In the spring of 2002, Barry King announced his intentions to leave the pastorate of Tumbling Shoals Baptist Church and move to London, England. In April of 2003, Barry along with his family moved. In May, 2003, Barry decided to begin process to turn ICP over to Bill Williams.
In June 2003, Bill Williams traveled to Zimbabwe and South Africa, where he preached 12 times and saw many opportunities for ministry for ICP. In 10 years of ministry, ICP has trained over 300 church planters in 7 different countries and are praying that God will raise up the “Men” and the “Means” to move into Africa in the near future.
In August 2003, ICP will begin its fourth teaching institute in El Tambo, Ecuador with 6 new students being trained. The week of October 17-25 will conclude the institute with a medical, dental and evangelism team ministering to the Quichua Indians.
In January 2004, the work in Nepal will continue with an institute training 6 new students and evangelizing in the area.
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
