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About ICM

KIU is the educational arm of International Chapel Ministries, a conservative Christian missionary organization recognized as a non-profit organization by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

A Brief History of ICM

International Chapel Ministries (ICM) is a Protestant, evangelical group begun in 1981, through the work of Jim and Barbara Blocksom.

The senior pastor, James Blocksom, began his ministry in Japan as an evangelical missionary in 1962. After working in a denominational mission for 18 years, Pastor Blocksom envisioned the kind of church he wanted to see established in Japan: one that was attractive and interesting to young people, one that would be effective in reaping a harvest among both Japanese nationals and those from other countries who live in Japan, one that would help disciple new Christians and help them be truly vital, growing Christians, and one that would be self-supporting and teach its members how to become missionaries, evangelists, teachers, leaders, and workers for God's Kingdom. In order to establish such a church, Pastor Blocksom left his mission in 1981, and founded ICM.

In the beginning, the church held its bilingual services in a rented a room in Kyoto on Sunday mornings. Over the past 19 years, ICM has grown to include church services in Kyoto and Nara in buildings owned by ICM. The average total attendance on Sundays at these churches is over 320, and over 20% of these regular attendees are non-Christians. ICM has a staff of over dozen people (including pastoral staff) who work and serve the church free of charge (even the pastors are self-supporting). The church consists primarily of younger people, and the atmosphere in our churches is characteristically bright and friendly.

In order to help and encourage the churches and Christians of Japan, ICM is working hard to provide vital Christian literature by writing, translating and publishing a wide variety of Christian books, Bible studies and tracts.

Theologically, ICM has its roots in the free church movement of Europe and America. We believe in godly living and believer's baptism by immersion. ICM is not charismatic, nor do we have anything to do with the ecumenical movement.

James Blocksom - President and Senior Pastor

James Blocksom, the founder, president and senior pastor of ICM, has been a missionary in Japan since 1962. He was saved in Japan, and returned to Japan when the Lord called him to serve here after graduation from Trinity Seminary (now Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) in Chicago, Illinois.

Pastor Blocksom established ICM for the reasons stated previously, and he has been actively working toward those goals to this day. Having served in church planting ministry for almost four decades, he is well aware of the need for new Christians to receive training in living a fruitful Christian life. For this reason, he wrote the New Life Studies follow-up series, and other books, so that Japanese churches and Christians would be strengthened and encouraged. Pastor Blocksom is still pouring his time and energy into this ministry.