Ichthus formally began as the youth ministry of Colonial Presbyterian Church
in 1969.  The initiator, now known as the father of Ichthus, was Richard Beach.
Richard began the ministry grounded on outreach and discipleship.  During
these early years, in what is now referred to in Christian history  as the "Jesus
Movement," hundreds of young people came to Christ through Richard's
ministry.  In the summer if 1971, Richard saw the need to have a program where
many of these new converts could be discipled.  This program is now what is
known as the Colonial Summer Staff.  Three of the original six on Summer staff
are full time ministers.  Bob Lehleitner is the youth pastor at Colonial
Presbyterian Church.  Bob Beltz is the teaching pastor and co-founder of Cherry
Hills Community Church in Denver, Colorado.  Jeff Kirby served as a pastor for
ten years in Vancouver, Canada, and is now back in Kansas City as the pastor
of Vineyard Christian Fellowship.

       As the youth ministry continued to grow, there were more young trained
Christian leaders coming from the Summer Staff ministry.  In 1974, Mike Bickle
went to the University of Missouri with the intent of starting a minitry on his
campus.  As the legend is told, he had thirty-nine people in attendance for his
first Bible study held in his dorm room.  This is what is known as the first Ichthus
meeting.  The ministry at Missouri grew to four-hundred people.  Other 
campuses soon followed in the steps of MU.  There were Ichthus meetings from
KU to Baylor.  Three Ichthus groups have stood the test of time.  They are KU, 
KSU, and SMSU.  Recently new groups have come into the fold.  They are 
Emporia St., and William Jewel.  Groups at MU and TCU have reformed in the
last few years.

       There haas been a continual guidance over the past twenty years from Bob
Lehleitner.  He was a key figure in establishing groups at KU, KSU, SMSU, 
CMSU, UMKC, and Benedictine College.  Because of Bob's work he was given
the title of the "Colonel" by Graig McElvain.  Before attending seminary in 
Vancouver, Jeff Kirby served as the first "in town" college director.  Today there
are full-time directors at both KU and KSU.  Jim Thoburn was the first college 
director to actively supervise the Ichthus ministry.  jim was succeeded by Dave
Ruff, who served on the staff of Colonial for fourteen years.  Dave was followed
by Dave Davies, otherwise known as the "phlegmatic."  Dan Hadley was next in
line and a Billy Sprague look alike.  Dan was followed by a man known as the 
"Ichthus Father," Patrick Wildman, who is still in charge of the college ministries.