Author: Ben Eisenmann

PRAY

• Join the Campus Prayer Walk in June: Campus Prayer Walk
• Pray for students to get their visas and airline flights to study in the US this August
• Pray international students who are supposed to come or who are here will remain healthy
• Pray for more vaccines to be distributed in the US and other countries
• Pray for leaders for the International Wives Group
• Pray for wisdom for IFI staff as they plan welcome events

SERVE

• Serve at the IFI Global Block Party and Picnic on June 12th from 11am-2pm at University Village!
• Meet weekly online with an international as a Virtual Conversation Partner
• Pick a student up from the airport and house them temporarily
• Save the date! Host International Students for Red, White & Barbecue a Fourth of July picnic or BBQ, on 7/2, 7/3, or 7/4
• IFI Reverse Missions Trip: recruit a team of 4-8 others from your church that will do a short term missions trip with IFI for 10-14 days in August. Contact Leila at: l.gardner@ifipartners.org for more info

GIVE

• Donate to IFI Columbus Designated Projects. Set up a monthly (or one-time) donation to help grow our ministry impact!
• Do your shopping and give to IFI at the same time through Amazon Smile and Kroger Community Rewards programs!

Summer activity ideas to do with your international friend in Columbus

• Have a picnic or take a walk in a Columbus park  www.columbus.gov/recreationandparks/Park-Listing/
• Hike Metro parks: www.metroparks.net/
• Invite for smores in your backyard
• Local fireworks
• Visit the Ohio History Center and village open July 7th: www.ohiohistory.org/visit/ohio-history-center 
• The Franklin Country Fair- July 19-25: www.fcfair.org/
• Go to the Art Museum: www.columbusmuseum.org/  (It is free on Sundays!)
• The Zoo and Zoombezi Bay: www.columbuszoo.org/
• COSI: www.cosi.org/
• Visit historic Ohio sites: www.ohiohistory.org/visit

Check out the Every International presentation – Ministry in the Summer

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MnSP9g1OtegarFT4Y8WomugoVUzUTSOZ1KwRFvmgxls/edit?usp=sharing

PRAY

• Campus Prayer Walk  May 1st – June 30th
• Prayer for students to get their visas
• For them to remain healthy
• For more vaccines in the US and other countries

SERVE

• Training on Reaching Muslims 5/22
• June 12th IFI Global Block Party and Picnic at University Village!
• Sahara Challenge Muslim Training- June 8 – 10 | 9am – 2:30pm CST | $99 before June 1st.
  • Sahara Challenge is graduate-level training focused on bridging the Gospel to the Muslim heart and mind.
    • EXPLORE the history, beliefs, and culture of Islam
    • EQUIP yourself or your team with practical tools
    • ENGAGE your neighborhood and the nations
• Save the date for other opportunities over the summer
• Red, White & Barbecue   July 2nd – 4th
  Save the date! Host International Students for a traditional American Fourth of July barbecue in your backyard or a park!

GIVE

• Help IFI Meet the Annual Fundraising goal
• Donate to IFI Columbus Designated Projects. Set up a monthly (or one-time) donation to help grow our ministry impact!
• Do your shopping and give to IFI at the same time through Amazon Smile and Kroger Community Rewards programs!

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…”  (John 14:12)

IFI’s annual annual fundraising event: “2021 Making a World of Difference” was held online on April 24th. The 430 people in attendance heard an inspiring program, were able to video chat with folks at their table and move around in a virtual building to interact with guests at other tables. 

The program was an amazing testimony of the power of God’s love being extended to international students through hospitality!

A current PhD student from India shared that the warm welcome and hospitality he received, from IFI staff and volunteers through home visits and cultural events, was the beginning of his spiritual journey.

From the volunteer point of view there was an inspirational testimony from an IFI family who felt led by God to host 3 different students during the pandemic!

IFI’s CEO, Rich Mendola, passionately talked about how outreach to internationals is an open door to the nations and that when we open the doors of our homes and hearts to internationals this softens their hearts and allows them to be able to hear and receive the gospel.

 

Finally, some former international students from China and Sweden shared how 25 years ago they met Jesus through IFI in Columbus and are now showing hospitality and friendship to internationals in Sweden. Do you want to hear more? You’ll want to watch the 30 minute video of the program and share it with your friends! Visit: ifipartners.org/watch . 

In addition, the donations provided from the event allowed IFI to meet some of its financial goals. There is still time for you to help support IFI’s efforts in Columbus by donating to the  IFI Columbus Designated Projects fund.

A SPECIAL THANKS to our event sponsors:

During the pandemic our Muslim Friendship Team has been experiencing consistent student interest in activities and regular growth in participation.  The WhatsApp group chat has 76 people connected, including 15 volunteers. They have been hiking, bowling, biking and spending time building relationships.  While many of the students have had both vaccine shots, masks are still a common sight at the events, before and after the meal.  (We try to observe the current recommendations for Covid19 safety at all our meetings.)  A year ago, we saw students withdrawing from participation, but now it seems like it is a time for reconnecting. Please pray for God to open doors for spiritual conversations as we connect with more students!

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a period of fasting and spiritual growth, and is one of the five “pillars of Islam.”  The others being the declaration of faith, daily prayer, alms-giving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.  Able-bodied Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from dawn to sunset each day of the month.  Many practicing Muslims also perform additional prayers, especially at night, and attempt to recite the entire Qur’an.  The prevailing belief among Muslims is that it was in the final 10 nights of Ramadan that the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

This year, Ramadan was April 13 through May 12.  Since Ramadan is a period when many Muslims are seeking spiritual renewal and growth, many Christians have started to pray during Ramadan for true spiritual awakening among Muslims.  

At least one student experienced a dream about Jesus!  One of our volunteers was awakened at 2am thinking about this student, so she prayed as the Holy Spirit directed her.  Later in the week, she found out that the student was awakened at the very time she was praying for her!  Since that dream, several volunteers have had opportunities to share about faith in Jesus.  A significant number of the conversations have been about forgiving people who have wronged her.  Before the dream, this student was not open to forgiving others–After the dream, she has forgiven many people who have wronged her.  This has also led her to ask about Jesus’ power to forgive, since she is seeing it at work in her own life.  Please pray for this student “E” to experience the true power of faith in Christ!

Part of the Ramadan tradition is fasting during the day.  The IFI Muslim Friendship Team has been meeting with their Muslim friends every evening after sunset to connect, share food, and extend hospitality to them. Can you imagine eating breakfast at 9pm?  If you haven’t eaten all day, then breakfast at any time is a great idea!  Both students and volunteers have brought some amazing meals to share.  The students have been eager to get together at the IFI offices to socialize and eat, staying to play games after dinner, sometimes until midnight!  At the end of April, Phil brought out the flags from every nation and gave them an opportunity to share their nationality with each other.  It was exciting to see their joy when they were able to take photos carrying their flags.  Enjoy these photos of the fun times:

Several Muslim students have come to Christ this semester!  It was great to see the amount of joy released into their hearts and the smiles on their faces as they were baptized in the church that they have connected with here in Columbus.  Altogether, we have documented at least 18 internationals who have come to faith in this school year.  Praise the Lord!  It is a time for the angels to rejoice in the presence of the Lord.  

By the way, as you become aware of international students who decide to follow Jesus, please send an email to salvations@ifiusa.org to help us keep track and ensure that they are in growing discipleship relationships.  

A time to celebrate color

IFI recently hosted an Indian Holi party – the celebration of color.  This holiday occurs in March, but it is too cold in Ohio to celebrate the festival.  Imagine a Color 5K run, minus the 5k, but add a water balloon fight!  That is the environment for the Holi party.  

One of the key volunteers, Somita, shared about how she celebrates the Holi festival as a follower of Jesus.  We had approximately 60 people participate, most of whom stayed for the whole event.  We shared a spicy rice biryani dish, samosas and other treats.

A Time for Graduation

It is also a time for rejoicing! Graduations were held on May 9 in the Ohio Stadium.  It was time to return to in-person graduation, but between having 2 sessions for social distancing and rain during the ceremony, the stadium seemed pretty empty.  However, the overall mood was still exciting as students celebrated the end of their studies and beginning the next phase of their lives.  Please pray with us that students will be able to find jobs and connect with churches as they relocate to search for, or begin, new jobs.

How can a simple invitation from one friend to another change the world?  One of the most significant events on IFI’s calendar is the annual fundraising banquet.  This event (normally held in person) brings together 700-800 like-minded individuals who desire to see people from every nation to come to a relationship with Jesus!  While attending they learn how showing hospitality to international students can extend God’s love globally!

All of these people would not be at the event if it were not for table hosts, who invite their friends to join us to hear inspiring testimonies and be given an opportunity to partner with IFI financially and learn other ways to get involved!  Over the years a simple invitation from one friend to another has led to hundreds of new financial partners and volunteers, serving dozens of new staff and church partners.  

This year’s interactive virtual event on April 24th is similar to an in-person event in that people will be sitting together at (virtual) tables with a host.  As an IFI insider, we encourage you to step out in faith and use your influence to invite Christian friends from your church, small group or elsewhere to attend and sit at your table.  You don’t know how God might use your invitation in the life of your friend!  Listen to other table host stories here.  IFI will provide you with training materials, resources, and a coach who will pray for you.  Get more info about hosting or sign up at: https://columbus.ifipartners.org/worldofdifference/group-host-interest/ or contact Leila or Tish. 

PRAY

• Pray with others at the IFI Online Prayer Meeting on April 14th at 7pm. Sign up and list requests using this link: https://columbus.ifipartners.org/events/ifi-virtual-prayer-meeting/
• Pray for God to be glorified, hundreds to attend, and the needed funds to be raised at the “Making a World of Difference” online annual fundraising event on April 24th.
• Praise God for the 30+ students who enjoyed Easter with an IFI host! Pray that the hospitality shown would soften the hearts of those who aren’t Christians and they would want to know more about God and join an IFI Bible discussion group.
• Pray for Muslim students during Ramadan, April 12th-May 12th. Sign up to receive a daily email with prayer requests at: https://www.prayercast.com/love-muslims-landing.html

SERVE

• Attend and invite friends to IFI’s 2021 Virtual (online) Fundraising Event: Making a World of Difference on Saturday, April 24th at 7pm.  There will be inspiring testimonies from current and former international students, interaction with others via video chat, and an opportunity to give a financial gift. Email Leila for more info about inviting friends. Request an invitation at:  https://columbus.ifipartners.org/events/2021-ifi-banquet/
• Sign up to attend the upcoming zoom (online) training: “Befriending Students from a Muslim Background” on May 22nd at 11 AM.
• Meet weekly online with an international as a virtual conversation partner.

GIVE

• Attend “Making a World of Difference”, IFI’s virtual fundraising (online) event on Saturday, April 24th at 7pm.There will be inspiring testimonies from current and former international students, interaction with others via video chat, and an opportunity to give a financial gift. Request an invitation at: https://columbus.ifipartners.org/events/2021-ifi-banquet/
• Donate to IFI Columbus Designated Projects. Set up a monthly (or one-time) donation to help grow our ministry impact!
• Do your shopping and give to IFI at the same time through Amazon Smile and Kroger Community Rewards programs!

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked…”  Luke 12:48

Why would you want to attend IFI’s “Making a World of Difference”, annual fundraising event? The top 5 reasons are below:

1. God will be glorified and you will be blessed as you hear about His amazing work in and through the lives of international students from India, Sweden and China!
2. You will be spurred on to greater service by the hospitality of an IFI host family who had different internationals students stay with them 3 different times during the pandemic.
3. The funds raised at the event will help allow outreach events and activities for international students and scholars at Ohio State and expansion to reach students on other campuses. 
4. You will be challenged to grow in generosity. Giving is an opportunity to be faithful stewards of what God has given us. As we are faithful with what God has entrusted us with, we will be given more.
5. It is an easy way to involve others at your church, or in your circle, to reach the nations with you. More laborers are needed to reach every international–Come and invite friends!

To request an invitation visit: https://columbus.ifipartners.org/events/2021-ifi-banquet/ 

Making a World of Difference Together!

“Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…”  Jn. 14:12 NIV

Covid has changed many aspects of our ministry at IFI over the last year, yet with your help we have been able to serve students from over 100 countries.   See this map showing where the students were from:

IFI started in Columbus 42 years ago in 1979 on the OSU campus with 3 staff members.  Over the last 8 years, we have expanded to over 125 staff with locations on over 30 campuses in 10 states.  The Columbus team has expanded to around 35, with an additional 6 key volunteers leading ministry to Muslims, International Wives and Moms.  

With all these physical changes and growth, our mission remains the same:

On April 24, we will gather virtually for our 15th annual banquet and hear a ministry report.  We are sorry that COVID again prevents us from gathering in person for a banquet.  This year we are providing an interactive virtual table platform that is very easy to use and will give you the ability to interact with people at your table, as well as see the main presentation from the virtual stage!

This is our 15th banquet, and it provides about a third of our year’s funding needed to continue reaching International students here in Columbus, so please join us for an inspiring ministry update and to join IFI’s ministry financially!