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Author: Ben Eisenmann

  • Pray, Serve, Give! (Mar 2021)

    PRAY

    • Pray for 3-5 new campus ministry staff in Columbus and for the other open positions: https://www.ifipartners.org/careers#open
    • 2021 Online Annual Fundraising Event on April 24th- wisdom for the the planning committee, for many to attend, and for the needed funds to be raised.
    • Ask for good relations and favor with the administration of the campuses where IFI serves.
    • Praise God for the 140+ volunteers and students who meet weekly as virtual and in-person conversation partners! Please pray for a bond of trust and friendship to develop, and for natural conversations about spiritual topics.
    • Praise God for the 19 internationals who have come to Christ since early 2020! Please pray they would have an opportunity to be discipled and grow in their faith.
    • Pray staff connect with more students as COVID vaccine is spread and there are more in-person opportunities

    SERVE

    • Attend and invite friends to IFI’s 2021 Virtual (online) Fundraising Event: Making a World of Difference on Saturday, April 24th at 7pm.  It will be an inspiring, fun, and interactive experience. For more info visit: ifipartners.org/worldofdifference .
    • Share the true meaning of Easter with a few internationals by inviting them to join a socially-distanced dinner on April 2nd, 3rd or 4th .
    • Sign up to attend one of the upcoming zoom (online) trainings: “Helping Returned Chinese” on March 24th and “Befriending Hindu Students” on April 3rd.
    • Landscapers are needed! IFI is looking for people who are interested in helping care for it’s flower beds and other landscaping at the office, email Leila if interested.
    • Meet weekly online with an international as a virtual conversation partner.

    GIVE

  • Staff Highlight: Viviane Kirezi

    Since Fall 2020 Viviane Kirezi has been serving as the National Training Assistant helping the National Training Manager to develop, coordinate, and implement new training programs for staff and volunteers.

    Before joining the IFI team, Viviane moved from her home in Rwanda to California and studied Architecture. She first heard about IFI while studying for a Master’s degree in Theology from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. This led her to join the ISEED, IFI’s internship/discipleship program. Her time in ISEED was enlightening, and she learned how to tell people who have never heard about God about her faith.  

    “The biggest reward is seeing students’ lives changing and them testifying about it,” says Viviane

    Viviane was drawn to join the IFI Staff because of her passion for the mission of IFI and because believers reached out to her, leading her to faith. In her new position as the National Training Assistant, she hopes to fulfill the mission by equipping and encouraging others with knowledge and training to effectively and intentionally reach out to students.

    One of her favorite experiences has been watching a student/friend grow and begin to walk with the Lord. Watching her learn about her roots in Christ, realize her fears and learn to pray has been an example to Viviane of Christ’s love and faithfulness.  

     She asks for prayer that IFI would be able to better support and connect with students here and back in their home countries to provide them opportunities to grow in faith.

     For info about joining Viviane’s prayer or support team, please visit: https://www.ifipartners.org/team/viviane-kirezi

    More help is needed–have you considered filling a staff position as a volunteer or paid worker?  We are currently looking for a Social Media Specialist and Campus Staff (at OSU, Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Columbus State).  See https://www.ifipartners.org/careers or contact Phil at phil@ifiusa.org for more information on job opportunities.

     

  • We Want to Encourage and Equip You!

    “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
    12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…” Eph. 4:11-12

    One of IFI’s core values is “resourcing, mobilizing and partnering with churches” (and volunteers) to show hospitality and befriend international college students, scholars and their families.

    One of the ways IFI resources and equips volunteers is to host an annual training day. On Jan. 30th this year we held a 1½ hour zoom event: “Caring for Internationals During a Pandemic” which included international worship, an inspiring message on the topic by IFI CEO, Rich Mendola, and panels of students and volunteers talking about their experience. Click here to watch the whole event. This PDF, “Ideas for Activities to do with Students (During the Pandemic)” is also a good resource to download.

    This year IFI will present a series of one hour zoom training sessions to help volunteers increase their cross-cultural IQ by building more skills for friendship with students from various cultural backgrounds. The first webinar was held on Feb. 25th when volunteers from Columbus and other IFI locations attended the webinar: “Befriending African Students”.

    The one hour Zoom training was fast moving and participants learned interesting facts about Africa and the diverse cultural backgrounds of African students. They also discussed ways to initiate informed conversations with African students and met (2) African students who shared their experience. There was also an interactive Q & A and time to pray for African students using the simultaneous prayer method that is commonly practiced in the African churches.  

    Future topics to be covered include:

    • Helping Chinese Returnees on Wednesday, Mar. 24th, 7pm ET – Abby Zou, IFI Returnee Ministry Coordinator 
    • Befriending Hindu/Indian Students on Saturday, Apr. 3rd, 1pm ET – Danny Walker, Campus Minister & Somita Bucklew, Volunteer Leader on Hindu Ministry Team

     Click here to sign up and to see the complete list of upcoming webinar trainings.

  • Sowing in the Lunar New Year

    On February 12th, IFI had a successful hybrid Lunar New Year Party!  Over 90 international students joined, online or in-person social distancing on the day that OSU opened for students to meet.  It was much needed by many international students, to celebrate in such a time as this, with great food, games, and being able to connect with others.  

    For students especially who are from China, Vietnam, Korea, Thailand and Taiwan, this day was very meaningful, because it is a major holiday in their home country.  Wen Cao, OSU Campus Leader, says “Through this IFI event, many experienced the feeling of ‘home’ in Columbus.”   

    In addition to the celebration, these international students had the opportunity to hear about a message delivered from IFI CEO, Rich Mendola, who has contextualized the Gospel into the Lunar New Year theme. May the Lord continue to use the Gospel and the love of Christ to impact the hearts of each student.  

     

  • Newsletter – Mar 2021: Preparing For Plenty

    Preparing for the Plentiful Harvest!

    “Then he said to his disciples,
    ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
    Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,
    to send out workers into his harvest field.’”     Matt 9:37-38

    “Aslan is on the move.”  That is one of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  Though ministry has been different for the last year due to covid, we know of at least 19 Internationals who decided to follow Jesus last year.  As vaccines begin to be available, and restrictions at OSU are lessened, we see signs that hope is rising among the International students.  We anticipate that students will flock to events once restrictions are lifted.  

    “When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.”
    John Wooden

    Meanwhile, IFI grew by 50% last year adding 26 staff members nationally.  We have another 30 open positions posted, including a dozen openings here in Columbus.  Check out https://www.ifipartners.org/careers for more information.  

    We are asking the Lord of the Harvest to add to our team so that we are ready to catch a huge increase in students looking for meaningful relationships who have been in isolation for a year and are craving interpersonal relationships.  Please join with us in prayer that God would grant us wisdom as we look at various candidates.  Please also join with us in asking God to provide the funding for each of these staff members.  (Most of the staff at IFI are responsible for raising the funds necessary to support their role on the team.  You could be part of God’s provision by clicking here https://www.ifipartners.org/team#columbus )

    —Phil (IFI Columbus Area Director)

  • A World of Grandchildren

    “I love having grandchildren from all over the world!” 

    –Norma, IFI Volunteer

    We interviewed an IFI volunteer, Norma Foell.  She lives with her son, Phil, who is a member of the IFI staff.  She interacts with students weekly during the Bible discussion group.  When asked about her relationship with students, Norma said, “I love having grandchildren from all over the world!  It is a real blessing to me.  They are such loving and wonderful young people.  I like to be able to be family to them when they are so far from their own families.“

    Norma and an international student share a hug, pre-COVID

    She commented that things are different since the pandemic. “The hardest thing right now is not being able to meet with students personally–I love seeing them, giving and getting hugs, which we can’t do over the Zoom screen.  I do get to see a few of them on Zoom, but I don’t get to see them in person, as I most enjoy.  I just got my first COVID vaccine shot, so am looking forward to seeing students again in person later this year.“

    A recent Zoom meeting photo, Norma is in the top right corner

    As Norma reflected on her involvement, she is thankful for IFI.  She remarked, “IFI is a very worthwhile program and it gives you an opportunity to show the world that we are a loving and accepting country, and to show the love of Jesus.  I receive many more blessings by being a grandmother to so many awesome young people.  The students have changed over the years.  It is as much a blessing to me as it is hopefully a comfort to them to feel that they have family here.“

    The IFI staff are thankful for volunteers like you and Norma who reach out to students in friendship with God’s love!

    Last group meeting in our home, March 2020, just before the shut down

  • New Year’s Celebrations Around the World

    IFI will be helping Asian international students who are far from home to celebrate one of their “most significant holidays of the year” the Lunar New Year, on Friday, Feb. 12th.  The Lunar calendar is so named because it follows the changes of the moon.  Lunar comes from the Latin word luna, meaning moon.  More interestingly, many countries who have a Lunar New Year holiday consider it more important than January 1st! 

    In China they designate an animal as the symbol for the year.  They rotate though 12 animals, using a new one each year.  Since this year is the Year of the Ox, there will be decorations depicting an Ox.  Many people are familiar with the Chinese Lunar New Year; however, it is also celebrated in many Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and other countries, for many years.  

    Over time different cultures have found their own way of honoring the holiday.  For example, in China they make and eat dumplings with a coin in them for good luck, but in S. Korea they eat soup with thinly sliced rice cakes that have the round shape of coins, which follows the tradition of putting a brass coin in the rice cake to wish people a fruitful year.  In Japan they eat Mirror Rice Cakes with a large mocha middle and citrus at the top to bring good luck.  Also in both China and Vietnam they clean and decorate the house in special ways to get rid of bad fortune or spirits.  

    If you want to learn more about how people from other cultures such as India and the Middle East celebrate, watch for posts on the IFI Columbus Facebook page.

    Korean New Year’s meal
    New Year’s decorations in Thailand
    City-wide Songkran (New Year’s) water fight in Thailand
    Tet (New Year’s) decorations in Vietnam

    “Sweeping away the dust” to welcome the New Year

  • Newsletter – Feb 2021: Another New Year!

    Happy New Year, Again!

    “There is a time for everything, and a season for
    every activity under the
    heavens…”     Ecc. 3:1

    Were you aware that there are dozens of New Year’s celebrated throughout the world?  The next one I know of is the Chinese Lunar New Year coming up on Friday, February 12.  It’s a big deal in China, where businesses, schools and stores are closed for 1 to 4 weeks!  Some say it is the largest annual human migration event in the world with over 400 million people traveling to their hometown–under normal circumstances.  Not much movement was able to happen last year because of Covid-19 and most travel is still prohibited in China for this year.

    For those of us who experienced the smallest Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas in our lifetime (our Thanksgiving was 10% of the normal size and Christmas was 25% of the size it normally is!)  Imagine being ‘stuck’ 10,000 miles from home all alone in a dorm room during the largest global pandemic in 100 years and having a mid-term on Christmas eve!  If you can imagine that, then you will get a tiny glimpse of the loneliness that some of our Asian friends are experiencing as they get ready for what should be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’.

    Just as food, gifts, and conversations with relatives that we don’t see on a regular basis are all key elements to our Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays in the US, the food and social aspect are a huge part of this event for the Asian world. Read more about these traditions in the article in this newsletter, “New Year’s Celebrations Around the World” to learn more.

    IFI is planning an event on Feb. 12th to help students celebrate by having a mix of virtual and small in-person gatherings.  We are following the University and governor’s guidelines and only having small groups of 8-10 people, limiting mixing and mingling and requiring masks when not actively eating the dinner.  Please pray for safety and wisdom as we do our best to follow the guidelines to keep everyone safe as we plan to celebrate this important holiday with the students!

    —Phil (IFI Columbus City Director)

  • Staff Highlight: Junshuo Yang

    We are blessed with an amazing staff at IFI in Columbus!  Each month we shine the spotlight on one of the IFI team members so you can meet them up close and personal.  During the pandemic God opened the door for new international staff to raise support and join the Central Ohio Campus Team!

    Junshuo has been serving as a Campus Minister for the IFI Columbus team since fall of 2020.  He has been focusing his time and efforts on building relationships, organizing activities, and serving and discipling students. 

    Before he joined the IFI team, Junshuo studied in China and then came to the United States to earn his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire.  After graduating, Junshuo moved to Columbus and joined the IFI Internship (ISEED) program.  Through this experience, Junshuo witnessed effective ministry and discipleship and knew the Lord was calling him into ministry. 

    “I have the same vision as IFI: sharing the gospel among all nations, bringing students to Christ and helping them grow their faith in the Lord,” says Junshuo.  

    As a Campus Minister, Junshuo is excited to get to know internationals, especially Chinese students.  One of his favorite memories with IFI was the Chinese Spring Festival Celebration.  IFI provided food, planned activities and invited many within the community.  What was most impactful was the way the IFI team connected with students and connected Chinese culture to the Lord.  International students encountered the gospel in a way that resonated with them. 

    Junshuo wants to go wherever the Lord would call him.  If called, he would one day love to go back to China where he could visit old friends and family and share the Good News of Jesus with them! 

    He asks for prayer that God would guide the Columbus team to make connections with international students in such uncertain times.

     

    More help is needed–have you considered filling a staff position as a volunteer or paid worker?  We are currently looking for a Social Media Specialist, Content Writer, Campus Staff (at OSU, Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Columbus State).  See https://www.ifipartners.org/careers or contact Phil at phil@ifiusa.org for more information on job opportunities.

     

  • Pray, Serve, Give! (Feb 2021)

    PRAY

    • Please pray there will be no technical issues during IFI’s online Lunar New Year event on Feb. 12th.
    • Please pray for the safety of students and the staff and volunteers who are interacting with them.
    • Praise God for the 120+ volunteers and students who meet weekly as virtual and in-person conversation partners! Please pray for a bond of trust and friendship to develop, and for natural conversations about spiritual topics.
    • Praise God for the 18 internationals who have come to Christ in 2020! Please pray they would have an opportunity to be discipled and grow in their faith.
    • Pray for wisdom for the staff planning the IFI Spring Banquet.
    • Pray for God to raise up staff to fill open positions: https://www.ifipartners.org/careers#open

    SERVE

    • Meet weekly online with an international as a virtual conversation partner.
    • Sign up to attend a quarterly Prayer Meeting on Feb. 18th at 7-8pm
    • Sign up to attend a training on “Befriending and Understanding Anglophone (English-Speaking) African Students” on Thursday, Feb. 25th, 7-8pm – Samson Wasao, IFI National Training Manager
    • Help other volunteers to pray for IFI! Join the IFI Columbus Prayer Team. To learn more email Leila.

    GIVE