The International Coalition of Apostles (ICA) was conceived in Singapore in 1999 by a group of apostles that discussed how God could use the combined efforts of global apostolic leadership to advance the Kingdom of God more rapidly and effectively.

In order to accomplish the mission, establishing a communication center would be essential. During the discussion, John P. Kelly was asked to assume leadership as Presiding Apostle for the new coalition and to establish an office in Fort Worth, Texas. He was directed to organize a council and to begin inviting apostles to join the ICA fellowship network. The first Annual Meeting was held near Dallas, Texas in 2000.

That year, John Kelly was directed by the Lord to ask C. Peter Wagner to assume the roll of Presiding (Convening) Apostle. In 2001, ICA moved into the offices of Global Harvest in Colorado Springs, Colorado. John Kelly continued to serve ICA as the Ambassadorial Apostle, representing ICA globally and conducting ICA Regional Summits throughout the United States.

In 2009, on the eve of his 80th birthday, Peter Wagner was directed by the Lord to ask John P. Kelly to again assume the roll of Presiding (Convening) Apostle over ICA. ICA was transferred back to Fort Worth, Texas in the spring of 2010. With an official handing of the baton ceremony at the 2010 Annual November Gathering, Dr. Wagner became the Presiding Apostle Emeritus of ICA and John P. Kelly the Convening Apostle.