Meeting New students

Praise God!  It was so good to see students on campus again.  We met so many new students and had so many unique experiences in the last two weeks through various events:

The Welcome Picnic (8/14)

During the picnic, I met an International student who was interested in the activities with IFI, but what he really wanted to know was “is there a Bible study group that he could join?” It is always refreshing when the Jesus catches me off guard like this to make one thing plain and clear: the goal of all these events and activities is to build relationships with international students where they can encounter Jesus. Thank God for the 145 students who participated.

The Indian Independence Day Celebration (8/15)

I was thankful to meet many international students from all over South Asia as well. Over ninety students came to the Indian Independence  Day Celebration.  For the first time in my ministry with IFI, the largest group of students we met were from India (typically, the largest group is from China).  A part of this shift seems to be lingering effects of COVID-19 at the university, considering that the Chinese students have been the most cautious regarding interaction and isolation during the pandemic.  In the past, I have felt that an overwhelming majority of Chinese student participation in our events has stifled the participation of other ethnic groups.  It is great to know that all nations are accepting the invitation to connect with IFI. Our hope is that they will experience life changing relationships with the Almighty God.

The OSU Student Involvement Fair (8/22)

I’ve also noticed a trend recently: there is an increase of American Christian students who want to get involved with IFI because they have a heart for the nations. Several of our Columbus staff have also mentioned to me that they have encountered more Christian students than ever before. I was talking to one young woman who said she had met some of our OSU staff in the Ohio Union last spring.  She was intrigued and thought “I should get involved with IFI”.  Over the summer, back in her home in Grand Rapids, MI, our local staff person spoke to this woman’s church about IFI’s ministry.  Again, she thought, “I should get involved with IFI.”  Finally, at the Student Involvement Fair, the first booth where she stopped was the IFI table.  I saw her looking at our sign with “Welcome,” written in a dozen languages.  Guessing that she was an American, I skipped my normal introduction about the upcoming events and activities and just asked what was drawing her to stop and learn about our group.  She told me about her previous encounters with IFI and how she felt that God was calling her to participate now.  I asked if she lived on campus.  She replied that she lived on North Campus, right behind Curl Market (one of the campus cafeterias).  I could sense the very presence of God, because we had been praying for God to bring us someone who lived on North Campus who could help us reserve a room for our Bible study that was near Curl Market.  God has been drawing her to IFI for many months and now she seems ready to engage in activities with us.  I can’t wait to see what else God does this year.

The International Student Welcome Party (8/24)

Finally, we had over 525 people come to our International Student Welcome Party this year.  As we were wrapping up the program, I noticed three young Malaysian Muslim women who went to our English Conversation Program table to get information on how to sign up.  After they finished, they stopped by the table to get a Bible in your language.  I was excited to see that there was interest in reading the Bible and ask that you pray with me that these women would find the truth in the Bible.

A Look Back

It has been a joy to welcome new faces and new nations to the table of God. Still, as we wait expectantly for what God will do this new school year, we want to take a moment to praise Him for what He did through IFI last school year.  Though we were connected with fewer International students because of COVID-19 related flight restrictions, we still touched a significant number of students, and regularly saw students making a choice to follow Jesus.  

Moving Forward

One last thing: I feel led to pray that the number of weekly Bible discussion groups would double from 17 last year to 35 this school year.  I also pray that we would again have over 400 International students in Bible discussion groups and see new students coming to Christ every week, with faith that increases and reproduces through the year.  Showing hospitality opens the door for many long term relationships; establishing a conversation partnership often provides the relational foundation for sharing the good news.  Even so, the greatest transformation happens when students encounter the Bible and they experience the power of the Word of God.

Please join me in these specific prayers.