Equally-Yoked Couples’ Ministry ICGC’s Equally-Yoked Couples Ministry is committed to strengthening marriages, by creating a positive and non-threatening venue where married couples can fellowship (recognize the vital importance and purpose of marriage,) bond, grow, increase their understanding of their marital roles (as husbands and wives) – from a Christian perspective. ICGC believes that churches have an obligation to help sustain marital bonds and relationships, and help couples live up to the vows they promised each other, within the church and before God. It is the intention of this ministry to be a witnessing example of this essential role, using a Christ-and bible- centered approach. To this end, the Equally-Yoked Couples Ministry will host seminars, retreats, and socials events, aimed at assisting couples to know themselves (gain self- awareness), hone their communication skills and identify areas in their relationships that need help and attention. A good and successful marriage relationship, ICGC believes, is not the result of good intentions, luck or love alone; every marriage, we believe, is a growing process, requiring regular and continuous maintenance (i.e. a good tune-up) to restore and/or maintain the sizzle. Thus it is the responsibility of both parties to the marriage covenant to learn about the subject (of marriage) from a biblical perspective, particularly issues relating to dating, their partner, communication, conflict resolution, intimacy, financial planning and money management, and any other subject that might potentially jeopardize or derail the marriage relationship. It is our hope that through the Equally-Yoked Couples Ministry, and its events, good marriages will be strengthened, troubled marriages will be saved, broken marriages will be reconciled, and couples will receive the spiritual and emotional nourishment needed to enhance their relationships, and thrive in a society already racked by a high divorce syndrome.

The God-Christ Factor in Marriage:

ICGC believes that the concept or institution of marriage, has divine origins, i.e. Marriage (and family) originated from God. Marriage and family are God’s prerogatives, not man’s. Consequently, for these institutions to survive, have any chance of success or flourish, God has to be in the picture, actively involved in their day to day operation or conduct. A successful and happy marriage and family life is a result of the complete dependence of both husband and wife on God’s sovereign rule and Lordship through Christ. A marriage with God at the center, with both parties totally surrendered to His will, can be likened to “the three-fold cord”, which scripture says, “is not easily broken” (Eccle.4:9-12). Much of the chaos we see in marriages today will cease, if couples will recognize the sanctity or divine nature of the institution, yield to its Author and Creator, and live by His principles governing the institution.

Vessels of Honor Singles Ministry The Vessels of Honor Singles' Ministry is an active department and ministry of ICGC, committed to mobilizing all “Singles” of ICGC behind God's vision for the church, as given by God to the Pastor. The Singles' Ministry is committed to a Holy, Honorable and Victorious lifestyle and walk, consistent with their name “Vessels of Honor.” (2ndTimothy2:20- 21/1stThessalonians4:3-7). This ministry will embrace all singles, regardless of status or background: Single parents, the unwed, divorced, separated, abandoned, widowed etc. Between the onset of adolescence and marriage, every person, man or woman, goes through issues having to do with singleness: • How does a single person handle the weekends, being alone? • How does he/she handle a dating partner or relationship? • How does he/she distinguish between partners who are just curious from those who are really serious, or a short-term relationship from a long- term one? • What about the issue of sex? Why say no when your entire body is screaming ‘Yes’? • How does a single parent (mom or dad) juggle the regular demands of life: Work, Children, Church, Recreation, Emergencies etc. These, among others, are some of the issues the contemporary Christian Single is faced with, issues which often call on him or her to make serious, and sometimes difficult choices and decisions. ICGC believes that contrary to society's often stereotypical views concerning singles, (single parents, those separated, divorced, deserted/abandoned, widowed, never married) 'singleness' can be a meaningful, fulfilling, fruitful and victorious phase of a person's life. It is to support singles in this quest for meaning, wholeness, victory and fruitfulness, that the Vessels of Honor Singles Ministry is formed.

Virtuous Women’s Ministry The Virtuous Women’s Ministry is an active ministry and department of ICGC, with a goal of mobilizing all women of ICGC behind God’s vision for the church. The Virtuous Women are committed to the holistic application of the Word of God to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional and financial needs of women at ICGC, and within our community, to the end that they will become WOMEN OF VIRTUE, consistent with their name. The Virtuous Women’s Ministry is designed to encourage women to grow in their faith and walk with Christ, fully reflecting God’s character in all areas of life as: wives, mothers, parents, nurturers, leaders, business owners, career women etc., strengthen friendships and relationships with other women, and provide opportunities to reach, serve and impact our community.

GENERAL MINISTRY OBJECTIVES:

1. The Virtuous Women’s Ministry is committed to meeting the specific and unique needs of women, both in the church and in the community, using a Word - based and Christ -centered approach in its ministry to women. 2. The Virtuous Women of ICGC are committed to the development of women in all departments of their lives, as outlined in 1st Thessalonians 5:23 (Spiritually, Mentally/Emotionally, Physically and Financially). 3. The Virtuous Women Ministry will provide a forum for all ladies in ICGC and in the community, to bond and grow, as well as harness, cultivate and utilize their God-given talents, abilities and potential for their personal benefit, the benefit of the community and the kingdom of God as a whole.(1Timothy 4:14-15 and 2 Timothy 1:6).

MINISTRY GOALS & OBJECTIVES:

1. As a ministry, the Virtuous Women will set goals in line with its broad ministry objectives, and collectively devise ways to achieve them. 2. The Virtuous Women comes together at least once a month for Prayer, instruction in the Word and Body ministry (fellowship, ministering and strengthening one another). 3. The Virtuous Women will participate in a variety of activities (e.g. Retreats), geared towards the spiritual growth and development of its membership. 4. The Virtuous Women will be active in Missions and Outreach to the community, through a series of programs aimed at reaching the different categories of women in our community: married women, single women, divorced women, pregnant women, the elderly, the shut-in, needy. etc. 5. As we minister to our community, we the Virtuous Women anticipate numerical growth, not only in our membership, but also in the membership of the general church body of ICGC. 6. In our quest for excellence and unity, the Virtuous Women will seek out other like-minded and progressive women’s ministries who may work collaboratively with us, in joint and mutually beneficial ways and efforts to reach our community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 7. The Virtuous Women’s ministry will strive to be self- supporting ministry of ICGC. Thus it will coordinate various fund-raising activities among themselves to support its ministry, community events, outreaches and the church (where possible). We will strive as women to support all other ministries of ICGC (particularly our Youth and Children) not only financially, but in a variety of ways, as the Lord enables us. 8. The Virtuous Women’s ministry will organize events (e.g. seminars) that address the particular and unique situations or issues that the contemporary Christian woman is confronted with: e.g. The Christian Woman: as a Wife and/or Mother at home, on the Job, as a Single Parent etc. Other issues such as Parenting, Family Planning, Maintaining the sizzle in your relationship may, also be addressed. 9. The Virtuous Women will seek to promote healthy living and lifestyles among its membership; activities will be designed to foster peace, love and unity in our community while promoting physical, mental and financial fitness and health: (e.g. Aerobics, Various work-out programs, Anger- Management skills, Budgeting, Sound Management etc.) will be encouraged. Also "Ladies Night" events/programs will be scheduled.

Gideon’s Army Men’s MInistry Developing mighty men of valor (Judges 6:12-14)

GENERAL GOALS:

1. To build a strong ‘army’ of Christian men, who recognize, understand and appreciate their male- ness, masculinity or manhood, and take their God-assigned and rightful places of leadership in the home, family (as fathers & husbands), church and community. 2. To provide a forum and a safe environment where men can be transparent (with each other), bond, grow, harness their gifts, talents and resources, to encourage, help, strengthen and build up one another, through mutual trust and accountability. 3. To mobilize all current and prospective male members behind the vision of our church, as given by God to the pastor, and ensuring that the men become responsible stewards, protectors and facilitators of it.

SPIRITUAL GOALS:

1. Help all men in ICGC to grow spiritually by cultivating the spiritual disciplines of prayer, bible study, commitment to church, evangelism and ministry. 2. Develop in our men the vital, but often intangible, inner qualities of faith, strength, courage, honesty, integrity and discipline, qualities which ultimately determine and enhance our outward performance (emphasis here is on BEING - i.e. character formation, as opposed to DOING). 3. Minister to specific needs of men (e.g. Power, Money and Sex-PMS.) and also to specific categories of men (e.g. Single, Married, Divorced, Gays etc.) 4. Becoming Role Models to the younger men in the church (Youth) some, or most of whom have no Father-figures or Male role-models in their lives, 5. Develop a system of ‘adopting’ and mentoring these adolescent boys, first in the things of God, and secondly in the affairs of life ( e.g. developing a work ethic; e.g. Big Brothers of America) 6. To conduct ‘Mighty Men of Valor’ Seminars on a Monthly or Quarterly basis, as well as retreats and All-Night Prayer Vigils for the men to inspire, motivate and educate each other and other men towards productive ventures and successful living.

SOCIAL GOALS:

1. To develop programs that enable the men of ICGC to attain balance in every department of their lives: spiritually, socially, physically and financially 2. Develop recreational activities for the men: sports, barbecues, inter-church games, new sporting events/games 3. Identify an area or areas of need relative to men, either personally, (e.g personal health and financial concerns) a need in the church (e.g. musical equipment) or community (street/graffiti cleaning), and mobilize the Gideon’s Army to address them through seminars or community outreach programs. 4. Organize seminars geared toward an aspect or aspects of Men’s deepest needs: Power, Money and Sex (PMS). Occasionally invite experts in various fields etc. to speak on issues of relevance to men in ICGC ((e.g. Financial Planning, Investment & Management, Career Issues - Entrepreneurship, Preparing for the Job Market, Health issues - e.g. Regular Physical exams, Prostate health, Obesity, Blood Pressure & Diabetes issues) These will be publicized and given a community profile.