Otis and Irene Keener
January 1973 – April 1975, November 1976 – August 1977
 The late Pastor Keener founded the International Christian Assembly in Hong Kong. He said it was the burden in his heart that led him to start an English-speaking church: "Standing one night on the Peak, the Holy Spirit pressed my heart about coming to Hong Kong and starting an English-speaking church. That was late summer in 1972. I had just preached a series of meetings in Seoul for Pastor Cho and came to Hong Kong for a conference. We had been ministering many times in Hong Kong since 1962 and prayed for God to send someone to reach the business community."
In autumn 1972, the Holy Spirit confirmed the burden in Irene’s heart and the Assemblies of God Department of Foreign Missions in the US sent the Keeners to Hong Kong to pioneer the English-speaking congregation in spring 1973. The first services were held at New Life Temple. Then the Lord performed a series of miracles which opened up the Furama Hotel as a regular meeting place on Sundays. This led to the church to initially being called the Furama Fellowship – An international English-speaking service.
The Keeners felt they were to pioneer the work and would believe God to raise up a body of believers in two years. Then they would look for another pastor. In May 1975, they left Hong Kong, leaving Howard Ridings to continue the work.
When the Ridings departed suddenly in 1976, the Keeners were asked to return for a few months pending the search for another pastor. The Keeners returned in November 1976, but they were to serve for almost 10 months before they were replaced by David Cawston.
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Howard and Rosella Ridings
March 1975 – October 1976
 In the two years of their ministry, the attendance grew to 500. June 20, 1975, was an exciting day as they dedicated the new Christian Action Centre to the service of the Lord. The CAC was on the seventh floor of Rediffusion Building in Wanchai. It was a 1,000 square foot, multipurpose centre for Bible studies, seminars, counselling, prayers, a tape and book library, offices and a chapel seating 100. It was staffed by the late Pastor Howard and Rosella Ridings and an employee. |
David and Nancy Cawston
July 1977 – August 1979
 Then Pastor Cawston came to Hong Kong in summer 1977. The church services were held at the Furama Hotel.
Chandru Shamdasani opened their home on Sunday afternoons for the Filipinos to have a time of fellowship. This started in the later part of 1978 and the group has grown to great proportions.
Pastor Cawston’s parents, Alfred and Elizabeth Cawston, also came to Hong Kong to help in the work of ICA. The church office moved from Rediffusion House to Gaylord Building on Lockhart Road.
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Alfred and Elizabeth Cawston
September 1979 – November 1980
 The late Pastor Cawston took over the running of the church when his son Pastor David and his family returned to the US. Pastor Alfred knew the congregation needed a shepherd and so decided to stay on for a while. He and his wife are best remembered as "Doc" or "Papa" Cawston and "Mom" Cawston by the congregation. Both were teachers of the Word, well-spoken of, and well-loved. One song that was sung often by Pastor Cawston was “He’s The Saviour Of My Soul", usually after the end of Bible study.
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Lester and Betty Jo Kenney
November 1980 – December 1980
 The late Pastor Kenney was well-known to those who attended ICA in the early years. Lester served on the church Board from the early days until end of 1987. During the 1970s, he served as interim pastor in the absence of the senior pastor.
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Eldon and Sue Brown
December 1980 – August 1984 and April 1989
 When the Browns arrived in December 1980, there were about 250 members attending the Sunday services at the Furama. The church grew in numbers during the first year of Pastor Brown’s ministry, making it necessary to begin a second morning service in late 1981. The Easter morning service in 1983 had a record attendance of 728. It became increasingly difficult to handle the crowd at the Furama; the lobby, lifts, stairways and rest rooms were filled to capacity. The hotel's management then asked the church to look for other facilities, ending a nine-year use of the place.
While searching for a new place of worship, the church had to hold its services in several locations including the Sheraton Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Excelsior, Duke of Windsor Building and CAC. ICA was able to rent space at Island School for a few months and at South Island School.
Pastor Brown was also instrumental in developing a constitution and charter which established ICA as an official church organisation under Hong Kong laws. During his tenure, ICA bought the fourth floor of Queen’s Centre for use as offices and chapel services. In 1984, the church negotiated for the use of China Fleet Club.
The Browns left Hong Kong in summer 1984. They returned as interim pastors for a few weeks before the arrival of Pastor Jack and Mildred Ellsworth in 1989.
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D.L and Marion Nultemeier
June 1984 – December 1984
 In June 1984, the late Pastor Nultemeier was sent to Hong Kong on a special assignment by the Division of Foreign Missions in the US. The church was then in the process of looking for a pastor after the departure of the Browns. Pastor Nultemeier was asked to serve as an interim pastor until a permanent appointment was made.
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Lowell and Edna Ashbrook
December 1984 – December 1988
 In December 1984, the late Pastor Ashbrook took over from the late Pastor Nultemeier. The China Fleet Club building was completed and the church rented the auditorium. The first service there was held on August 1, 1985. On August 8, a second morning service was started. A third service started about a year later.
Meanwhile, the Filipino Fellowship continued to grow under the direction of Moira MacPherson.
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Ken and Linda Benintendi
December 1988 – March 1989
 Pastor Ken served as pastor between December 1988 and March 1989 after the Ashbrooks left and before the Ellsworths arrived. He had responsible role in recommending to the Board several of the pastors that have served ICA.
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Jack and Mildred Ellsworth
May 1989 – January 1992
 On May 5, 1989, Pastor Ellsworth arrived. Their ministry would prove to be exceptionally enriching and life-changing for them as well as for the congregation of ICA.
One month after their arrival, a fourth Sunday service began at 10am at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Henry Chia is to be credited and thanked for arranging this tremendous venue. The first service was on June 4, a date ever to be remembered by the people of ICA and the people of Hong Kong
Under the Ellsworths’ leadership, the Family Worship Service expanded. Many ministries were formed, too. To cope with the expansion, the church had to hire more staff.
Of the many ministries, one was the Vietnamese Ministry, started by Keith Holcombe. Many Vietnamese are now Christians and spreading the Good News back in Vietnam because of this ministry.
In March 1991, Monit Brion assumed responsibility for the Weekday Filipino Fellowship after Margie Dawa returned to the Philippines.
The Thai Ministry came under the care of Pastor Wiphawan Thirasetmanakul, who arrived from Bangkok in April 1992.
Meanwhile, the church bought a property in Happy Valley. It was converted into two flats, providing accommodation for senior and associate pastors.
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Leroy and Janice Cloud
January 1992 – August 2001
 Pastor Cloud assumed service on January 23, 1992. Three weeks later, the church was called to fast and pray for three days to seek the Lord’s direction for the year. "Preparation precedes blessing" was one of the principles that Pastor Cloud taught.
Multiple committees worked as teams to administer the different areas of ministry to the congregation. Pastor Cloud regularly conducted Foundation of Faith classes to "equip the saints to do the work of the ministry".
Outreaches were conducted on the streets and in the parks of our city. Missions projects were supported and teams were prepared for missions outside of Hong Kong.
In November 1992, services ceased at the China Fleet Club and were held instead at the Causeway Bay Community Centre. In May 1993, ICA bought a cinema in Chai Wan. Family worship services continued to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre until 1997 when the congregation moved to a cinema on King’s Road in North Point. The building, which cost HK$80 million including renovation, was fully paid off by June 30, 1998, after 24 months of fund-raising activities.
Sunday services were held in three different locations. There were 10 services in six languages: two family worship services in English, services in Cantonese, Thai and Sri Lankan at the North Point church, three services for the Filipinos at Chai Wan church and services for the Indonesian and Filipino congregations at the CAC.
In 2000, Tanner 1 was bought for the use of the Thai Ministry and offices.
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Ken and Linda Benintendi
September 2001 – August 2008
Pastor Ken Benintendi took over the leadership in September 2001 and further expanded the ministries to include the Indian fellowship. Tanner 2 facility was bought for the children and youth ministries. As the staff size grew to more than 20, new office space was acquired at Marble Road.
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Edmound and Yvonne Teo
September 2008 – Present
Pastor Edmound is the first Asian pastor of ICA. He first joined the church as an associate pastor under Pastor Cloud. The church was called to fast and pray for 40 days each year. "Expectation precedes blessings" is one of Pastor Edmound's principles. As the church celebrated her 35th anniversary, he called on the church to renew her relationship with God, each other and the lost (The Renaissance Church). The ministries expanded to more than 40, cell groups to more than 50 and five new language ministries were started – Nepali, Putonghua, Brazilian, Tamil and Hindi. The staff grew to 50 strong and the church expanded its office premises to include the second floor at Marble Road.
Today, ICA is a growing and dynamic church in Hong Kong with a vision to reach our generations and releasing into the nations.
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