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Serving as the chief steward of the KICS Vision, Mission and Values has and continues to be such a great joy. When the Lord called us into this role in 2014, amidst much uncertainty as a family around Susie’s health, and at a time of significant transition for the KICS community, we had no idea all that God would have in store.
In these last 9 school years, we’ve seen God heal Susie of brain cancer, stabilize and grow KICS into living out her Vision and Mission, establishing KICS to stand for Christ for generations to come, achieving reaccreditation and becoming the first school outside the US to be a full member of CESA, stewarding KICS to purchase 21 acres of land for her future campus within the Kigali city limits, finishing my doctorate and giving birth to B2THEWORLD. All of this while growing deeper in love with our Savior, filling our lives with deep relationships from around the world and the most meaningful relationships with brothers and sisters from Rwanda, growing as a family, giving us the opportunity to build and live in a dream home on a beautiful piece of the earth, and growing the importance and opportunity for us to serve with our local church at Christian Life Assembly. And so much more. Running the hills, being an employer, leading through Covid, and countless conversations and experiences in one of the most amazing countries in the world.
God is faithful and we are so grateful. Grateful to Him for His presence and love. Thankful for each board member, leadership team member, staff member, parent and for each student that we’ve journeyed with. The gift of these relationships has filled our cups and our hearts are full.
In a few weeks, the KICS board will formally begin the search for the next Director. This past May, as we signed our next contract at KICS, we confirmed to the Board we would conclude our service at KICS in May 2024 at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. This will mark 10 years of service of this vision. This decision was the culmination of a process that began in November 2019 and continued in a discernment stage with the B2TheWorld, KICS boards, other mentors and our prayer partners in the years that followed.
We shared this decision and process with our KICS community at that time. As the search moves to a public stage we wanted to take a moment and share with you.
In June 2024, Team Thomas will move to the US, and we believe to the NY area. Susie will continue to live out her call as a teacher and our 3 younger kids will be entering 11th, 9th and 7th grades. Our eldest will be making the leap to university. I’ll be able to fully focus on leading B2TheWorld, after a 6-year stretch of leading both KICS and B2TheWorld simultaneously.
We are grateful that the Lord’s call has been clear, both boards have affirmed our direction and our family and friends are fully supportive. We’ve seen God at work in a few clear ways already. While there are some details to be finalized, we believe God has opened the door for Susie and the kids to be at a fantastic school that will continue their growth in a loving environment. We also believe God has opened the door for B2TheWorld to set-up our U.S. operation in the NY area through a partnership with a local church.
In the meantime, we will do all we can to run through the finish line of our service at KICS and prepare to pass the baton to the next leader. KICS is in such an incredible spot: full members of council of CESA, a 21-acre virgin piece of land to develop, a master plan completed and accompanying funding and building plan to be completed in the coming months, and an incredible community to steward as leader. The staff, parents and students at KICS are those who you can develop lifelong friends with. They have been such a gift to us and are so gifted. We will miss each one of them as these are relationships that have been central to our thriving here.
The KICS Board has put together a stellar search committee and process to identify who the next leader might be. If you know anyone that would be a great candidate who is called and equipped to lead KICS to its next stages of growth, please do let us know. We are excited to see who the Lord has already prepared and stand ready to cheer them on while we pray for them each step of the way.
If you have any questions about our upcoming transition, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
What a joy it is to serve this incredible vision:
To impact the world for Christ by preparing servant leaders who choose character before career, wisdom beyond scholarship, service above self and a lifestyle of participation over apathy.
Strength & Courage,
Ben & Susie.
