Are YOU ready, really ready for ICOM?  This gal is!

Revival at ICOM
By ICOM Attendee-Diana Zimmerman

I attended ICOM 2017 solely for the purpose of exposing my 17-year old daughter to different mission options, because one of her dreams is to do mission work in Africa. Little did I know that I would get as much out of this conference as she did! Since November, I have said countless times, “Right after ICOM, I….”. It may sound strange, but I didn’t gain missions information there—I gained a spiritual renewal! For me, ICOM was more of a set of Christian growth classes than preparation for the mission field (although maybe that is in God’s plan for me later in life!). I loved what I learned about different ways to pray and about dealing with spiritual warfare. I am intrigued by what I learned about my journey timeline (he described my spiritual path to a T). I loved the main session speakers and music. Then came Dean Trune’s prayer journaling course. I think I was Dean Trune’s divine appointment that day…..or was he mine??? As I was crossing the skywalk, I offered to help one of the presenters carry a box. Little did I know that this presenter would be an encourager to me that day and in the months to follow. I went to his session on prayer journaling, and I haven’t told him this yet, but I wanted to leave after the first five minutes because I thought it was going to be more about “artsy Bible journaling”…..but a lady with a baby was blocking my path, so I couldn’t get out of my seat! I don’t know what happened, but by the end of the session, I was sold. I wanted to improve my relationship with God through journaling, and I wanted to experience divine appointments. I spoke with Dean after the seminar and discovered that he was ministering at MSU the same time I was a student there, but I was leading a non-Christian “college life” and our paths never crossed. He provided encouragement and offered to pray for me regularly.

Since ICOM, I

  • have experienced two without-a-doubt divine appointments.
  • have been prayer journaling in a daily planner.
  • have been consistent with morning God-time.
  • have joined the prayer team at my church and have learned to pray heartfelt Spirit led prayers. I signed up to lead the prayer time in front of the whole church later this month, which is out of my comfort zone, but I’m excited about this growth opportunity.
  • have reached out to the local jail ministry and pregnancy ministry to see if I am a good fit to serve there, but I think God closed those doors.
  • am currently taking the Redemptive Compassion class at LOVE, INC and will take the Affirming Potential class in the fall in preparation to become a future facilitator for that class.
  • have felt God give me tasks and I have followed through (including praying at my local high school on a few Sunday evenings).
  • have sought out a spiritual mentor group and it is now my favorite night of the week!
  • have helped missionaries make connections with speech therapists.

I was on a mild growth path prior to ICOM, but I truly believe that ICOM re-ignited my Christian walk! It feels incredible to be on fire for God once again!

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4