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  • 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).

  • Staff Highlight: Karlos Smith

    We are blessed with an amazing staff team at IFI in Columbus!

    Each month we shine the spotlight on one of the Columbus team members, so you can meet them up close and personally. There are so many staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help IFI remain prepared to serve.

    Karlos Smith is a new addition to the IFI Columbus team, having stepped into the role of Content Writer at the beginning of August 2021.

    As the Columbus team’s Content Writer, his focus is on pushing IFI’s ministry forward by gathering and sharing its stories. He interviews students, volunteers and staff to write stories that testify about the impact God is having on the lives of international students.

    A Columbus, OH native, Karlos considers himself a writer, actor, and professional goofball.

    As a young man, he read a lot of stories, and loved to share them in multiple forms, including poetry and playwriting. He considers writing to be his best and most complete skill, one of his gifts from God.

    Karlos encountered IFI as he was searching for a writing career, and was drawn to the opportunity to do so in the context of his Father’s business. He sees his work with IFI as an opportunity to honor God by articulating His vision for a world full of lost souls to return to their Father, and is excited to have a front row seat as God transforms the lives of international students.

    Karlos asks for prayers as he steps into an unfamiliar role: that the Lord gives him the patience, strength, and joy necessary to accomplish His will.

  • OSU Update: Welcome Back!

    IFI OSU Campus Ministry Director, Wen Cao, provides an update on what she see God doing on campus!

    This year, the word “Welcome” has a rather fresh meaning.

    Not only do we “welcome” the new international students who just arrived to Columbus, but also we shout out, “welcome back!” to the existing students who are also coming back to in person study.  How great it is that we are able to gather together again!

    Hosting and airport pickups have increased this year compared to the last: a total of 86 students! Our welcome events also gradually gained momentum once again.  Over 280 came to the Welcome Picnic, 131 attended the Indian Independence Day Party, and over 450 attended the Welcome Party at the Ohio Union.  It was good to be with the internationals again!

    One key theme that appears in many students’ feedback for IFI is appreciation for connection. A student from Nigeria shared with us: “I really enjoy the opportunity to meet so many different people.” We pray that the students continue to connect with us and each other in order to create a sense of community for them to call home.

    Many students also have expressed the desire to join or continue to meet for Friday dinner and Bible discussions.  

    Our staff and volunteers are following up with them.  Please pray for the small group formation of these Bible discussion groups to lay a foundation for spiritual discussions and for the Gospel to be shared during this coming month.

    Finally, God is answering our prayers by bringing five more workers to join the OSU Campus Ministry Team. Praise God for His faithfulness!

     

  • You Have No Idea

    Bible study leader finds hope in an unexpected surprise.

    David Albright – affectionately known as “the man who keeps going” – was worried.

    A new fall semester was approaching, which meant it was almost time for one of his favorite opportunities as an Ohio State campus minister with International Friendships Inc.: hosting a Bible discussion group. But would there be anyone to discuss with? Limited public interactions  had limited students’ attendance to the groups during previous semesters. The online discussions weren’t much better. So David, understandably, was very worried that this semester would be much of the same.

    “I was beginning to lose hope.” says David, shrugging his shoulders. “So I went to God and asked Him, ‘what do you have in store?’”

    The reply:

    “You have no idea.”

    David got a taste of what God meant when he arrived at the Columbus Airport to pick up a student from India arriving from Mumbai. He expected the typical agenda: find the student, greet the student, drive the student where he needed to go. This time, this was a key step missing: he couldn’t find the student!

    “I stood at the baggage claim with my sign waiting for the student to see it. After a while, there is no more luggage, and the conveyor belt just stops!”

    So David, instead of shrugging and going home, walked to the terminal’s  information desk and asked the attendant to page for the student, hoping he had just missed him. The student still did not come; he must have missed the flight.

    Now it was time to go home, right? Maybe not.

    As David was leaving the terminal, to go home, he noticed two Chinese students leaving as well. He greeted them and asked if they were studying at the Ohio State University. They said yes. He shared IFI’s heart for international students and invited them to the annual student Welcome Party, as well as his bible discussion group. They graciously accepted and went to catch their bus.

    Now it was time to go home, right? Definitely not.

    David soon encountered another student from Thailand, carrying two big luggage pieces, with a backpack almost as big. “The man who keeps going” couldn’t resist greeting this young man who seemed like he needed some help. He greeted the student, asked where he was studying (OSU), and shared IFI’s heart for internationals. The student related the busy day he had planned, including a trip to the bank, his apartment’s office and a phone store. He planned to take a taxi everywhere, leaving his luggage in the taxi while he ran his errands.

    David’s jaw dropped. He explained that this plan would cost the student hundreds of dollars. So David offered an alternative: he could drive the student to run his errands and drop him off at his apartment.

    The student accepted the offer and they got started. So what could have been a wasted trip to the airport, turned into a very long day of little adventures, the most notable being a lunch where the student had the first turkey sandwich of his life, and loved every bite. David and his new friend also had multiple conversations about American and Thai culture, realizing one distinct similarity: “everyone is in a hurry, going nowhere.” 

    After the student accomplished everything he needed for the day, he and David exchanged contact information. David invited this student to the IFI Welcome Party, as well as to his Bible discussion group. With a smile, the student replied, “I’m looking forward to coming!”

    David smiled back, and kept his smile as he got back into his car to go home. Then it clicked. He had invited this Thai student and the two Chinese students to his discussion group. His wife had also been serving a Muslim student who expressed interest in studying the Bible. As it turns out, God had been slowly building his group all along; he just had to keep going. David remembered God’s reply to his prayer: “You have no idea.” So without a clue, David is ready to see what else God has planned, believing the words of his namesake:

    Those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10)

  • Newsletter – Sept. 2021: Meeting New Students

    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.

  • Newsletter – Aug. 2021: Outreach and Prayer

    Outreach and Prayer

    IFI is preparing for an environment that is constantly changing.  As we prepare for our fall activities, we’ve tried to keep a dual focus in mind. 

    It seems that the COVID season is coming to an end, and OSU has decided to have in-person classes.  We have been preparing to have our typical Welcome Picnic a week before school starts and the International Student Welcome Party the evening of the first day of classes.   Despite the fact that COVID outbreaks pop up around the world and travel restrictions are changing constantly.  God sits enthroned in the highest heavens.  He is not worried.

    We are asking God to show us how to effectively reach returning International students and connect with new students.  We are looking for ways to engage the International students that minimize risks. Please prayerfully consider… which events you feel comfortable participating in as a family or individual. We will be working with our Columbus team to outline some precautions.  Our love for God compels us to take action, since the plague of sin has a 100 percent mortality rate. Some of us will sense God urging us to participate in activities out of a desire to impact the hearts of International students and invite them to know the God who loves them. 

    We don’t know how many international students will be at OSU and other area campuses this fall.  Yet we do know that the mandate we have from God is still necessary:  

    To extend life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students out of reverence for Jesus.

    As King Jehoshaphat faced a vast army beyond his ability to respond, he called the people to pray.  “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you,”  (2 Chronicles 20:12b).   

    Would you join us in praying during August, which is a critical time for outreach to new and returning international students?  IFI has created a daily prayer guide for you to use. 

    Please sign up here to receive a PDF download of the “IFI August 2021: 31-Day Prayer Guide.” 

    Would you like to provide financial support to help us respond quickly to the emerging opportunities/challenges that we have not budgeted for?  Use this link: https://www.ifipartners.org/give/columbus-ministry-fund

  • You Make a Difference (August 2021)

     “Don’t neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” (Hebrews 13:2)

    We have an amazing opportunity to show hospitality to international students this August.  Only God knows how many we will be able to touch.  We could use your help with “Making the World Feel at Home!”

    Quite often when we hear testimonies of international students who have come to faith, they talk about the hospitality they received through IFI staff and volunteers when they first arrived.  One such student, Guanlong, said “When I came to an unfamiliar country to start my life in a totally different culture, my hosts, John and Cyndi, helped me to make the first step and made me feel like home…. Airport pick-up and temporary housing are definitely helpful to me, but they gave me more than that, which let me have a strong faith in my future student life in America. They are really nice people!”

    Below is a list of some of the upcoming opportunities to serve. To sign up and for a complete list visit:  columbus.ifipartners.org/events

    Airport Pick Up & Temporary Housing

    Since mid-July we have received a few new requests from students arriving in August who need assistance from the airport and/or a place to stay for 1-4 nights. Will you be the first American an incoming student meets?

    Welcome new students at the airport or host them for 1-4 nights.

     

     

    Welcome Picnic

    Saturday 08/14/2021 at 4-8pm outdoors

    We still need help! Come early to drop food (salads, fruit or a side dish) or help with set up and stay to meet new students.  Or come at 7:30 to meet students and stay around to help with clean up till 9:00pm. 

     

    Indian Independence Day Celebration 2021

    Saturday, Aug. 15th from 1:00-6:00pm outdoors

    We still need donations of homemade food dishes that serve 10-12 people and drinks. Help Indian students celebrate one of their most important holidays!

     

    Welcome Party

    Tuesday, Aug. 24th from 6-9pm at OSU at the Ohio Union

    Come early to help with set up from 4-6pm and check-in students from 5:30pm-7pm. Students will enjoy conversation, games, line dancing and food. Come and meet new students and join the fun!

     

    Host a Labor Day Picnic or Barbecue!

    Choose your date on Labor Day weekend Sept. 4th, 5th, or 6th. 

    Host International Students at a park or your backyard for a traditional American Labor Day barbecue or picnic!

     

     

     

    Training Opportunity: Finally, you can be ready to study the Bible with a current international friend or a new friend that you will meet this Aug. and Sept. IFI Campus Staff, Russ Sermon, is offering a hands-on workshop on Saturday, Aug. 7th from 9:00am-12noon (breakfast served) for those who want to learn to use “The Discovery Bible Study Method”. This method has been a very effective tool for studying with internationals. To reserve a spot or for more info, contact Russ at: r.sermon@ifipartners.org 

     

  • OSU Update: Bi-Monthly Prayer Walk

    IFI OSU Campus Ministry Director, Wen Cao, provides an update on what she see God doing on campus!

     

    Bi-monthly Prayer Walk

    We had a wonderful prayer walk at the campus in July, with several small groups of campus staff and volunteers praying at the OSU campus. 

     

     

    Some of the areas we prayed over were dormitories, engineering buildings, and locations that international students frequently gather.

    May the Lord continue to “soften” the spiritual ground before the students’ arrival for the fall.

    We invite you to join us each month. We meet every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 11 am – 1 pm. 

    For more information, contact: Wen Cao (w.cao@ifiusa.org) or Michele Kurfees  (m.kurfees@ifiusa.org)

    Bible Discussion Groups

    This summer, we have about a dozen groups meeting together, in person or online. Many groups want to continue to meet in homes or small settings, so we have decided to continue the decentralized meetings throughout the summer and the fall.  

    One student G., who received Christ last winter and is now back in China…, continues to meet with our campus minister online for Bible discussion so that he continues to grow in his faith. His new bride also joined the meeting. May the Lord continue to build a good foundation of faith in them! 

    Hiring Positions in OSU Campus Ministry

    Praise God that he has answered our prayers for Returnee Coordinators, and Bob and Karen Mack are filling this role!  

    We continue to ask God to bring more workers as the field is ripened for harvest.  The roles are:

    Discipleship Coordinator – to coordinate and grow Bible study groups, 1-1 discipleship, annual student retreat, etc.

    Campus Ministry Liaison – to build and maintain good relationships between IFI, the university, and strategic student groups.  

    Student Org Coach – to mentor IFI student organization officers engaging with international students, the university, and the IFI non-profit.

    (Each position requires the person to raise funds for their salary)

  • Staff Highlight: Phil Foell

    We are blessed with an amazing staff team 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.

    There are so many staff who work tirelessly to reach out to internationals and support the efforts of staff and volunteers.  Phil Foell, IFI City Director in Columbus, is a servant leader who provides direction to and cares for the staff team. Phil has served in this position since 2018, but has been with IFI in various roles since 2010… 

    In addition to leading a Bible discussion group and befriending internationals, he wears many hats, such as, overseeing a team of more than 30 people, establishing connections with campus and ministry leaders and churches, and raising funds. 

    Before joining the IFI team, Phil earned his undergraduate degree in Management and Computer Science from Case Western Reserve and worked for Xerox for 15 years. He then transitioned into ministry where he served as a pastor at a local church for five years until officially joining IFI. 

    Phil started as a Campus Minister and slowly took on more responsibilities, such as the ISEED coordinator and event coordinator, until full time positions were established for those roles. He has brought a spirit of organization, structure, and process to the IFI team. Phil values IFI’s strategic approach to mission and reaching the nations as they come into our nation.

    Phil frequently says, “Jesus’ last command should be our first concern.” 

    He has seen God move through the lives of students and felt God’s presence while serving international students. He remembers a time when a student asked him, “What should we say when we pray to God?” In taking a moment to pray for help in answering the question, the Lord reminded Phil that Jesus’ disciples asked the very same question. Phil was able to tell this student about the Lord’s prayer, the disciples and Jesus. 

    Phil would love to one day visit the underground church in the Muslim world and an effective India church that ministers to Hindus. 

    He asks for prayer that he would be able to effectively keep up with the size of IFI ministry as it continues to grow. He also asks that the Columbus team be focused on balanced ministry and aligned in their approach to mission.

    More help is needed–have you considered filling a staff position as a volunteer or paid worker?  See https://www.ifipartners.org/careers or contact Phil at phil@ifiusa.org for more information on job opportunities.

     

  • Pray, Serve, Give! (August 2021)

    PRAY

    • Join a Prayer Walk on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 11-1pm. (see OSU Campus Ministry Update for more info)  
    • Sign up to pray daily in August! Receive the 30 days of Prayer Guide.
    • Pray for students to get their visas and for safe travels to Columbus.
    • Pray for good connections with the students met through hosting the August welcome events.
    • Pray for leaders for the International Wives Group and Mom’s groups
    • Pray for wisdom for IFI staff as they plan welcome events
    • Continue to pray for jobs for internationals who applied to IFI’s Iseed (internship and discipleship program) for this school year. 
    • Pray for more Bible Study group leaders and helpers.

    SERVE

    GIVE

     

     

     

     

    Summer activity ideas to do with your international friend in Columbus

    Check out the Every International presentation – Ministry in the Summer

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