About

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH

Our Story

ICEFC is dedicated to creating a welcoming and supportive environment where individuals from all backgrounds can come together in faith. Our vibrant congregation focuses on fostering spiritual growth and meaningful connections.

ICEFC originated from a vision to establish a church that embraces diversity and values each individual’s journey towards faith. Our roots in biblical principles guide us to community building and spiritual growth.

Over the years, ICEFC has had the privilege of serving people from various nations and ethnic backgrounds, extending our support and guidance to all who seek solace, spiritual guidance, and a community grounded in love and faith.

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Our Core Values

Guiding Principles That Shape Our Community

Scriptural Foundation

Our church is rooted in the timeless wisdom of Scripture. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word, a divine guidebook for life that offers us direction, comfort, and hope. Through diligent study and application, we seek to understand its truths and live out its teachings in our daily lives.

Love for One Another

“Love one another” is not just a command; it’s the essence of our community. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and loved. Our commitment to love is demonstrated through acts of kindness, compassion, and service, reflecting the love Jesus has for us.

Spiritual Growth and Community

Growing together as a church is pivotal to our journey of faith. We encourage spiritual maturity among our members by fostering a culture of discipleship, mentorship, and shared learning. As we grow in our faith, we also grow closer as a family of believers, supporting and uplifting one another.

Affiliation and Beliefs

ICEFC is proudly affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). This affiliation allows us to uphold our commitment to biblical truth and Christian unity while providing a strong network of support and resources. Through this partnership, we strive to deepen our faith, foster spiritual growth, and effectively serve our community with love and compassion. The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united around these theological convictions:

Statement of Faith

God:
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

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OUR LEADERSHIP: PASTOR

Dr. Manikanta Sai Ankem

Dr. Manikanta Sai Ankem was born and raised in a Hindu family in Vijayawada, India, where he experienced a transformative event of God’s intervention, saving his father’s life. This event led his family to embrace Christianity over 25 years ago. With over a decade of dedicated full-time ministry experience, Dr. Ankem has served in various leadership roles within church ministries, notably as the Senior Pastor of a Telugu Church in Chicago. Additionally, he has contributed to theological education as a faculty member at an accredited Bible College affiliated with the Asian Theological Association (ATA) in India.

Dr. Ankem holds four master’s degrees: Master of Science in Psychology, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology in Pastoral Counseling, all earned in India, and a Master of Arts in New Testament from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). He also earned his Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Leadership from TEDS.

Driven by his mission to serve the Lord and His people fervently, Dr. Ankem is committed to passionately sharing the Word of God and nurturing spiritual growth. He is happily married to Kamala, and they have two children Alethya (girl) and Atseel (boy). The Ankem family are very excited for the new phase of their life at ICEFC.

Meet Our Deacon Board

Our passionate and dedicated deacons bring together a diverse range of skills and expertise to serve our congregation faithfully. From spiritual leaders to compassionate caregivers, we work seamlessly together to support and uplift our church community.

Moses Kunamalla

President

Pradeep Gamadia

Board Member

Aaron Thomson

Board Member

Connect with Us Today

Reach out to us for any inquiries, join our Sunday service at 10:15 am, or get involved in our community events. Let’s grow together in faith and service.

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