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Category: Helpful Thoughts

Topical pieces that generally or loosely relate to other blog categories (“Top 5 lists”, cultural background, etc.)

  • Raising the Flag

    It’s your first day on campus.

    Everything is so big, new and mysterious. You’re in a new country. You’re awestruck at how different everything and everyone is from you and where you grew up. All day, it seems like you’re constantly reminded: ”I’m not home anymore.”

    Then, surprisingly, as your day comes to a close, you see the American flag. It’s not raised nor waving in the wind like you remember; it’s not even very big. It doesn’t stand out to anyone but you…because it’s yours.

     

    The flag is one of the most universal objects of symbolism throughout the world. Flags typically are used to represent communities, nationalities and/or ethnicities. The vast majority of people groups in the world have a flag that represents their shared values, beliefs and identity as a nation or tribe. Even the different elements of a flag (color, images, shapes etc.) speak to specific moments and ideas that communities cherish and draw inspiration from. The key, though, is that this collection of symbols unites the individuals in the community. It not only carries meaning, but helps those who understand its meaning to feel connected to each other. This mutual understanding and connection creates a space of safety and sense of home in each member of the group.

    But what happens when an individual is physically separated from the group?

    For most, if not all, international students, being separated from the familiarity and safety of their home countries has multiple negative effects. Despite being surrounded by people, they can feel very lonely. They have to face the anxiety of trying to learn the nuances of a new environment. Some even lose hope that they’ll ever be able to adjust.

    So how can we help? Well, we can start by sharing a little piece of home.

    Every year, IFI Columbus hosts a Welcome Party for international students on the Ohio State University campus. Hundreds of students join us for dancing, food, and games. But the main attraction by far is the photo booth, where students can find and take a picture with their home country’s flag. The excitement on each face is remarkable, reflecting an appreciation to see their homes recognized, represented, and celebrated!

    But the value of making these flags available doesn’t end at the party.

    “…When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” – Isaiah 59:19

    A former OSU student who had attended multiple IFI events often saw the Ukraine flag on display. When the conflict in Ukraine began, she planned to participate in a protest demonstration in the US. She reached out to our staff to request to borrow the flag for the protest. We gladly shared the flag, recognizing the significance of the request. Flags are used in wars to represent each of the nations in conflict; raising the flag on the battlefield symbolizes preparation to fight. Raising the Ukrainian flag at the protest helped Ukrainians in the US both identify with their countrymen in battle, and support them. 

    So the significance of sharing the flags of so many nations goes beyond decoration, or entertainment. Seeing their communities’ values and identity represented makes students feel at home  in the US, and helps them stay connected to the other members of their community, even when they’re miles apart.

    And IFI is happy to do its part to make that happen for every international friend we meet.

  • Journal of a Campus Minister: Jesus & Culture

    “You’re more Indian than I am.” 

    A misconception of many Indians who are not from Christian backgrounds is that to be Christian, one must be westernized and give up their Indian cultural roots. When I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord, I had the same misunderstanding.

    I thought to follow Jesus, you go to a church wearing a white dress and a white hat: that’s following Jesus. But that was very different from what I saw in the Bible. I had this misunderstanding that I could not follow my culture and felt afraid to follow it. And yet I really missed my culture. I told Jesus that I was sad but that I would follow Him no matter what, even if it means I’d have to give up my culture. I was willing to do that because I knew how much He had sacrificed for me, and how much He loved me. But there was a sadness that I could no longer be tied to my Indian roots. Going to church felt foreign but I wanted to grow with Jesus, so I went.

    I talked to some fellow believers and went to the Yeshu Satsang, and I realized that the Bible doesn’t tell me to change my culture but within my culture to glorify Jesus. Yeshu Satsang was like going into a temple (the smell, sounds etc.) but there were no idols of other deities. We were worshiping Jesus, but culturally, it was  totally Indian. It felt like something that I experienced growing up. It felt like I was going back home. They then showed me 1 Corinthians 8. When you’re doing cultural things, are you doing it to honor God? Does it go against your conscience? And does it impede someone else from following Jesus? I realized  there’s so much more freedom than I thought we had.

    I’ve seen how the misconception that Christianity is a western religion can create barriers and cause fear about the possibility of accepting Jesus as Savior or of following Him.

    The fears are wide ranging: do I have to worship and dress like Westerners? Will I alienate my family and community? Can I have an Indian wedding or celebrate Indian holidays? To break this initial barrier I try to model what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:20-22: “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might win some.” The result has been an Indian believer of Jesus, who maintains and is proud of their Indian culture, but loves Jesus.

    People have become curious. 

    August, 2018:

    *Ray was surprised. He had been coming to Christian fellowships for a while, but in front of him was a volunteer who knew Indian history and culture and was a proud Indian. In his eyes, I was more Indian than other Indians, yet I was just as passionate about Jesus. For the first time, it hit him: it’s possible to be both! This intrigued him. He said, “I want to be like that.” Since then, he started spending time with the India Friendship Team, learning about Jesus, and later on accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. 

    November 2020:

    *Hannah, introduced to various Christians and churches, heard about the IFI Diwali event. She came and, over the next year, created a friendship with us. Hannah said “I love what Jesus did on the cross. And I would love to accept that. But I don’t want to lose my culture.” 

    I asked her “Have I given up my culture?”

    She said “Oh, yeah! You didn’t.”

    We then talked a little bit about how every culture has things that go against the Bible or honor the Bible. It doesn’t matter if you’re American or Indian, or Chinese. So I accept the things in my culture that honor Jesus and I believe and follow Jesus as my only God, way to salvation and my teacher. 

    Within a week, she said “I want to accept Jesus as my Savior”.  

    Within a year, she said, “I want to follow Jesus and I want to live this life of being a Hindu, culturally, but following Jesus as my only Lord and Savior because he’s awesome, and he’s provided so much for me and I’m so grateful for him.”  After six months, she wanted to start her own Yeshu satsang online to invite friends and family from India.

    March 2022: 

    I saw *Holly at the 2021 Indian Independence Day celebration. I felt drawn to pray for her. I didn’t see her after that until Christmas. She came over to a volunteer’s home where we were celebrating Christmas. We all had a really great time. When I met her, it definitely felt like she was someone who’s very grounded in her Punjabi culture. 

    I saw her again for the Holi event. For Holi, I did a classical dance from my region of India showing how we celebrate Holi culturally. Then I gave a little talk about the cultural significance of Holi throughout India, and how, as somebody who follows Jesus, I celebrate the concept of good overcoming evil. 

    She brought up how she was amazed at all the different Indian regional dance styles I knew and how much I knew about Indian culture. I talked to her about the different dance forms that I’ve learned, and I still do in honor of Lord Jesus.

    She said, “This is amazing. You are more Indian than I am.  It’s just you know so much about your culture and our culture that I don’t even know.”

    It was an honor to hear that from her.

    I’m really grateful that God (through various people, experiences and His Word) broke those barriers. He showed me the freedom I can have and that He wants me to abundantly enjoy in ways I hadn’t considered before. And He wants me to share Him and that abundant life with others.

    *Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the students involved

  • IFI Buddy Partner Program

    “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” (I Corinthians 1:14)

    We are thankful for you! It has been a privilege to serve alongside you during the ever-changing COVID-19 season.

    We appreciate your flexibility and heart to serve by providing airport rides, helping with grocery trips, maintaining Virtual Conversation Partnerships and more. We look forward to partnering with you this school year in every opportunity that allows us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to international students from all over the world.

    As we have met more students who are native English speakers from India and African nations, such as Ghana and Kenya, we realize that we must be creative and think of new ways to meet students’ felt needs for friendship and help with cultural adjustment. We have had an English Conversation Partner program for over 30 years, but this opportunity would not appeal to these students.

    Our desire to connect English speaking students with IFI staff and volunteers has birthed the IFI Buddy Partner program. Being an IFI Buddy will allow you and/or your family the opportunity to be matched with a student for three months to do activities together at least twice during the month. You would also be available to assist them with practical needs: taking them shopping, answering questions about the U.S. culture, and listening to their concerns as they adjust to their new home. Just like the English Conversation Partner program has done, it is our hope that this new opportunity will help volunteers build a bridge of friendship and lay a foundation of trust so that faith can be shown and shared in natural ways.

    We will continue to offer the English Conversation Partner (ECP) activity. However, there is a growing interest from students to have an IFI Buddy. If you have contributed as an ECP in the past, we ask that you to pray about making yourself available to be used by God in a slightly different way.

    Please read the description for the Buddy Partner activity.

    If you still have questions or desire to serve in this way, contact our Volunteer Coordinator: Julie Wu (j.wu@ifipartners.org).