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ICC Co-Founder Laid To Rest

photo showing Alcyon holding MariaOn December 24, 2015, we all lost a very dear person who was a treasured member of the ICC family. Robert S. Folkenberg, or Bob, as many of us knew him, led a full life and ministered in many ways and in many parts of the world.

Most of our readers are familiar with Bob and his inspiring life as a pastor, preacher and church leader. But Bob also played a pivotal role in the history of ICC.

In 1976 a terrible earthquake devastated much of Guatemala City. Thousands died, and many children were left homeless. Elder Bob Folkenberg, president of the Adventist work in Central America at that time, quickly went into action.

He was able to get a pledge of funding to start a work for orphaned children in Guatemala, and then he contacted my parents, Kenneth and Alcyon Fleck. They had been missionaries in Central America, so Bob talked with them about starting a special work for orphaned children in Guatemala.

Bob and my parents met several times until he was able to convince them to lead out in this initiative. He helped to develop a new organization, International Children's Care, with a board of directors. They first met in my parents' home in St. Helens, Oregon, where my dad was pastoring.

Bob's leadership and initiative was key in setting up ICC as a pseudo-church organization. It was not owned or managed by the Adventist Church, but agreements were in place where it would operate independently, yet key employees in the Guatemala Los Pinos project would be considered denominational employees with full retirement benefits.

This was a new way of looking at "supporting" institutions, something that Bob continued to develop over the years. When Bob became president of the Adventist Church, he promoted the concept that everyone should use his/her gifts to work for the Lord.

He also encouraged and promoted the growth of "supporting" institutions. That opened doors for ICC to tell about our ministry and find more funds to help children around the world.

Bob loved children and was passionate about helping the helpless. He would take those little children into his arms as he visited the ICC children's villages. He especially liked to talk about how there will someday be a large gathering of children in the kingdom of Heaven where we can be reunited and joyfully live with our Creator forever!

We so look forward to that day when together with Bob we can join hands at our Savior's feet. Bob would often remind us of the words of Jesus: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matt. 25:40 NIV


International Children's Care is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, USA. We can be reached by phone at 800.422.7729 between 8 am and 5 pm Pacific Time. Our address is: 2711 NE 134th Way, Vancouver, WA. 98986. Our general email address is: info@forhiskids.org.

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