We are a community of people who have experienced God's love and we want to share His love through service and friendship with internationals on university campuses and beyond.
ICO is a not-for-profit ministry serving international students and refugees in Oklahoma and the Czech Republic. International Community Outreach exists to glorify God by meeting practical and spiritual needs of international students and refugees through acts of service and sharing the hope and love of Christ.
We are currently active in Oklahoma at the University of Tulsa, University of Oklahoma - Schusterman Center (Tulsa), and Oklahoma State University (Both Tulsa Campuses) and have established community with International Students at Oral Roberts University. Since 2022, we also have two new international student ministry sites; one at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK, and our first international site in Prague, Czech Republic. We are also active in partnering with other ministries to care for refugees in Tulsa, OK and the Czech Republic.
As of 2019 Oklahoma has 7935 international students studying on university campuses. These students are some of the brightest and best from all across the world. Many of them return to their homes, and then become a part of shaping their countries and a generation. In the greater Tulsa area, we have thousands of international students - 846 students at the University of Tulsa alone. We have the privilege of engaging in meaningful community with international students, and through caring friendship, bringing the hope and love of Jesus to many who have never heard the Good News.
As of 2020 Prague, Czech Republic has over 50,000 international students earning their degrees at various universities. That is over six times more international students than in all of Oklahoma! This is a big task to share vision and bring on board the many international and national churches so we can significantly engage this large student community.
ICO sponsors the campus ministry called International Student Ministries on university campuses. Our volunteers are most important in sharing God’s love and care for the students. We need volunteers who have a passion to engage students, establish friendships, help students with things that we would consider every day things, and be a family away from home for them. It is in these meaningful relationships that we find the Holy Spirit orchestrates conversations about faith and the hope that we have in Jesus.
ICO was founded in 1993 by Jerry and Ann Lout. Jerry and Ann served as board members and directors of the ministry until 2012. They have created a legacy of many students coming to know Jesus as rescuer, and a team of volunteers that is as diverse denominationally as they come. We all, however, share one purpose, and that is to be witnesses of Jesus to the nations and share God's love for the world.
International Community Outreach is served by an Executive Board comprised of the following members:
Karen Winfrey Krista Holland Jerry Lillard Glory Christian