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Category: ISEED Interns

  • International Graduates Hope to Join the ISEED Discipleship Program (July 2021)

    If you recall in the June newsletter we told you about a returned graduate of the IFI internship/discipleship program, ISEED, who as a result of the training she received is now back home in China sharing her faith. This summer we have received requests from 7 newly graduated students from Rwanda, Ghana, Columbia, Uganda, and China to participate in the ISEED program for the 2021-22 school year. However, these students cannot remain in the US to participate unless they have a part- time job in their field of study by August 2nd!

    That is where you come in. Would you join us in praying that God would provide jobs? Can you send me job leads to help find part-time jobs for the following people…?

    Diandry Rutayisire from Rwanda is looking for a job in computer programming (C++, Java, Python)

    Vashni Boamah from Ghana is also looking for a computer programming job (C++, Java, Python)

    Maribel Santoyo from Columbia is looking for a job helping underprivileged peoples, immigration, or social work. Her masters degree is in International politics and an undergrad in business administration. She also has experience in logistics and ESOL.

    Jessie Bakitunda from Uganda is looking for a job helping African refugees or children.  Her masters degree is in International Studies (Africa) and an undergrad in education.

    Rao Jiao from China is looking for a job in Communications & Economics.  She also has a degree in Journalism.

    Kossi Missedja from Ghana is looking for a job working with Latin American peoples.  He has a masters in International Studies (Latin America) and also has a tourism degree. He has teaching experience.

    Resumes can be found here:  https://www.ifipartners.org/iseed?showresumes

    Please contact Mike Krajak at: m.krajnak@ifipartners.org if you have any job leads.

  • IFI Training Prepares Intern to Share the Gospel in China (June 2021)

    We have received exciting updates from a returned international student, Tina, who completed IFI’s discipleship program: International Students as Equipped and Empowered Disciples (iSEED).  

    She returned to a region in China where several ethnic minorities live.  Since her return she has been teaching English to high school and college students.  Thanks to the training Tina received from IFI she is better prepared for the many opportunities she has to share her faith with students.  For example, a student asked her if the class could read CS Lewis’ book “The Chronicles of Narnia”, because of an interest in learning about religions.  Also, she had a chance to tell a student who was struggling with anger and depression that her problem couldn’t be solved by man’s power, but that she could only be free from anger and depression with the help of Jesus.

    While Tina was still in Columbus, she started a weekly Bible discussion with her own family members and some of them came to Christ.  Since being back, God is confirming the vision He gave her to start churches among families, and in three years she has been able to start a few small family churches.

    The statistical diagrams and charts show that since the inception of IFI internships in 1996 over 60 students from 9 different countries have participated. We are blessed to hear regularly from former iSEEDers about the ministry impact they are having. However, your help is needed so that other internationals like Tina can receive this important discipleship training. 

    One of the biggest barriers to international students joining our discipleship training program is being able to remain in good standing with the INS by finding part time jobs in their major field of study.  For example, Tina graduated with an applied linguistics degree and tried for 2 months to find a job, but was not able to do so.  Thankfully IFI was able to hire her to help with some translation work so she could stay in the US legally.  However, IFI can’t hire all students and some have been unable to participate in the iSEED program because they have not found a job.

    Do you know of employers who might want to hire this coming years’ iSEED program candidates?  The current needs are for jobs in Communications, Computer Science, Nursing, and International Politics/Studies.  If you may be able to help a student find a job, please contact Mike K., IFI Internship Coordinator at: m.krajnak@ifipartners.org .  Would you please join us in praying for all of these students to be able to find a job and participate in the program?

     

  • The Disciple’s Cross

    Growing through the lens of God’s love, words and truth, has become a powerful instrument of self development for me.

    Coming to understand the disciple’s cross, through the ISEED Master Life Series, continues to guide me in the line of purpose and the enabling power of God’s grace. I am grateful for the opportunity to come to a deeper understanding of my personality in Christ, own my emotions (which are God given),  and check them according to Godly values in order to honor Christ.

    “What describes Christian maturity is how much we love”. These are the words spoken by David Albright during one of our ISEED classes. I keep these words in my heart. They remind me that the disciple’s cross is to love, and to love is to love the way Jesus loved. To carry the disciple’s cross is to pray, meditate on his words, fellowship, and to show of his love to others.

  • Vision Conference – 2021

    We started the year off attending the virtual “Vision Together” Conference January 1-3 with about 1300 international students, volunteers and staff from 82 countries of the world.  IFI had about 60 students, volunteers and IFI staff from Columbus participating.  This conference was organized by CRU Bridges Ministry to International students.  Our partnership grew stronger this year–they asked one of our student leaders, ‘M’ from India, and one of our IFI staff, George Chow, now Area Mobilizer for Houston, TX, to be 2 of the 4 emcees for the conference. 

    We had some great discussions about dealing with anxiety, stress, and matters of science and faith.  The group was made up of students from China, India, Indonesia and several volunteers who work with Muslim students.  The photo above shows one of the IFI virtual family groups meeting to discuss Genesis 1.  The people in our group were really invested, including one woman who dialed in from China, so she was 13 hours ahead of the rest of us!  Attendees were vulnerable and authentic, sharing pressures for studying and family issues, as well as how Jesus gives them hope and encouragement. 

    One international (who is an intellectual, genetics genius) in our group shared an interesting insight about the order of creation– specifically where Genesis says man was formed first, then woman was formed from a part/rib of man.  Science does not necessarily confirm or prove the Biblical account, but from a genetics perspective, it can corroborate that the first woman’s genetic code (XX) could have come from the man’s (XY) DNA, but it wouldn’t have worked the other way around, with a man coming from part of a woman, without something extra, the Y chromosome, being added.  The biblical writers didn’t have access to all the genetic stuff we know now, but science supports what we read in the Bible, that woman could have come from man. 

    We also had the chance in a breakout room to talk with International students about the opportunity to consider joining IFI and our iSEED Discipleship program.  One woman from China had heard about the program from a former intern and came eager to learn more.  She will graduate in 18 months and is looking forward to joining the program.  She says:

    “I can’t believe that there is a program like this that exists and has everything I am looking for: work experience, spiritual development and mentoring!”

    –Future IFI Intern (iSEED) participant