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ISI Launches Church Mobilization Campaign!

3/28/2016

Learn more about our exciting plans to reach more churches and pastors across the nation!

“So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: ‘O Lord, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission,’” Genesis 24:42 (NLT).

I'm so excited to announce that we have launched our Church Mobilization Initiative through the Churches Reaching Nations campaign! As part of our S.A.L.T. Initiative, a 3-year initiative focused on accelerated ministry impact through Church Mobilization, Outreach and Technology, and our M:28 Global Discipleship model, we are contacting pastors and churches to talk with them about their interest in getting involved in international student ministry and receiving M:28 Global Discipleship training in order to impact nations with the Gospel!

I encourage you to visit and share our new website:

www.ChurchesReachingNations.org.
The site, designed to introduce pastors across the nation to International Students, Inc., is an important component in this exciting Church Mobilization Campaign!

This strategic initiative is an expansion of our successful Church Mobilization project with the goal to train and equip the US church for effective outreach and long-lasting ministry impact.

We currently have 2,630 partnering churches from several denominations. Our objective is to add 1,000 new church partners over the next three years who will be trained in M:28 Global Discipleship and ministry to international students. Our approach will include live and online training events, personal follow-up and key resources and tools for effective ministry.

Friend, please join us in prayer as we move forward with “success on this mission” to increase our church partners. I look forward to updating you on the ways in which God is blessing churches through this new campaign!

For More Information
Watch this ISI video to learn more about the Churches Reaching Nations campaign.

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ISI Approaches the 'Throne of Grace' with Abounding Hope!

3/21/2016

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Learn more about how the M:28 Discovery Bible study is growing overseas and here in the US.

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most,”
Hebrews 4:16 (NLT).

Hebrew 4:16 speaks of boldly approaching the throne of grace––and this spring, that throne radiates hope. It brings me great joy to be able to share with you the many ways we here at International Students, Inc. are experiencing His grace, which leads us to the gift of incredible hope.

First, I want to share with you the great hope we hold in Australia. Our staff members recently trained ministry leaders in three major cities in how to use the M:28 Discovery Bible study; these leaders are now implementing the M:28 Bible study to reach the country’s 400,000 international students. You may have heard of Australia’s small Christian population and even smaller Christian worker base. I want you to know that despite this, hope abounds in the Land Down Under! I encourage you to take a moment to pray for these city leaders as they begin their M:28 journey. I truly believe that the M:28 study will change the hearts and minds of many, many Australians who desperately need to hear the Good News!

I am thrilled to let you know that incredible hope also abounds in Kenya, Africa, where the M:28 study will be shared over the airwaves to radio listeners!

Such hope also abounds in the United States. A foundation asked what we were doing to invigorate and incite the US church for reaching international students. We told them of our calling to equip churches burdened for international students, churches who seek help and training to reach them. As a result of our in-depth discussion, they committed to three years’ funding to accomplish that goal! We have accepted that challenge, and pray for a great harvest of churches to volunteer and let us walk alongside. This unexpected blessing will help us continue our goal to reach every international student for Christ!

We are also blessed, here at International Students, Inc., with the addition of laborers to the harvest! We praise God for more and more brothers and sisters joining our staff, which now approaches 400-strong in team members plus the multiplied impact of over 24,000 cherished volunteers.

Another praise related to our bountiful harvest is the“fruit preservation” in conserving our leadership. To that end, we just completed a course on ministry attrition to understand and learn the top reasons why ministry leaders drop out. Conducted by a leading Christian resource expert, this course helped us recognize our own risk factors and spot early signs of ways we can recognize our peers’ needs and minister to them while there’s still time.

Finally, but most definitely worthy of great praise, is our continued outreach to Muslims. More and more Islamic students voluntarily seek us out to engage with our ministry. Recently, our staff was invited to help a Muslim women’s group at one of America’s largest universities with English language instruction as well as cultural and social guidance. In only the second meeting, our staffer looked out at the group and said, “I want you to know that we Christians love you. We love Muslims.” Astonishment swept across the room. Within hours, the group’s leaders were discussing the formation of a model to bring a similar outreach to other campuses.

Friend, we are truly excited and overcome with joy at what the Lord is doing in our ministry! I look forward to keeping you updated on our efforts to reach every international student for Christ!

For More Information
Learn more about the M:28 Global Discipleship Initiative by watching this ISI video.

Learn more about how your church can request training in the M:28 Initiative.

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ISI: God Continues ‘Doing Something New’ Everyday!

3/15/2016

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Join us as we celebrate a bouquet of fresh spring Hallelujahs!

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland,” Isaiah 43:19 (NLT).

Maliyah, a Russian native, was fascinated by the Good News of Jesus Christ. She was equally fearful, though, about living the Christian life in her home country. She told her ISI mentor that she could imagine following Jesus in America, where “people are so moral.” Maliyah believed that living out her faith would prove impossible in Russia, a nation so ethically-lacking that even basic services require bribes––where single women are routinely intimidated and victimized.

During her next visit to her ISI mentor, Maliyah reported a vivid dream. Alone in a strange new city, she was held by powerful arms. They belonged to a man so tall that she could not even see his face. In his arms, Maliyah had felt incredibly safe and protected. When she awoke, it was as if her fears had disintegrated into the air. They were gone! She knew right away that Christ would always stand beside her! Maliyah trusted Him for salvation that very day!

This sweet snapshot of how Jesus' kindness and grace replaced Maliyah’s fears and insecurities brings smiles to our faces and praises to our lips! We call testimonies like this fresh Hallelujahs––the kinds of stories that brighten the air with a fragrance of rejoicing. As the new season makes its first arrival, I bring you a fresh bouquet of spring Hallelujahs.

This bouquet comes straight from the words of Isaiah 43:19 and God’s promise to “do a new thing:”

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland,” Isaiah 43:19 (NLT).

We see God doing New Things all throughout the ministry! In fact, Our M:28 Global Discipleship model brings New Things almost daily. We are now a vital part of America’s fastest growing Chinese church, which has asked us to train key leaders and bring our training to their 24-hour Chinese television channel!

We continue receiving similar reports from around the world. We heard from an international student from Nepal, where areas of the country are still dealing with severe devastation––earthquakes, mass homelessness and displacement. What’s more is that a declaration of secular status ended all aid from India––leaving Christians as a last remaining source of help. Nevertheless, this student returned home from studies in India and devoted himself to traveling from village to village planting M:28 churches across Nepal. No matter how remote, no matter how challenged, our efforts yield fruit in season! What a blessing to be able to celebrate yet another fresh Hallelujah!

Friend, I want you to know that your prayers and support help us greatly to “make pathways in the wilderness” in our goal to reach every international student for Christ. I pray you have a fruitful week and that the Lord continues “doing something new in you” as we move into the spring season!

For More Information
Learn more about our M:28 Global Discipleship Initiative.

Learn more about our M:28 Discovery Bible Study.

Learn more about the M:28 Ministry Cycle.

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ISI Paves Path into Closed Countries with Good News and God's Grace

3/7/2016

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Learn more about our outreach and technology expansion!

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety,”
Psalm 18:2 (NLT).

“For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory,” Psalm 32:7 (NLT).

As you may have heard, our ministry has been blessed with the resources to move forward with ongoing expansion in our outreach and technology efforts. Increasing our social media presence will help us reach even more international students for Christ!

This expansion involves working with students and gaining access to fruitful outreach opportunities. This includes utilizing the technology they use, such as specialized evangelism and discipleship websites and targeted Smartphone Applications. These opportunities will help International Students, Inc. reach students specifically in restricted access countries with whom we otherwise could not engage. Our Global Media Outreach (GMO) evangelism website shares Christ’s love with student seekers on the web and offers discipleship with online missionaries.

We’re growing our online missionaries to help even more students learn about Christ and receive discipleship! Many site visitors are from closed countries and we’re excited for an opportunity to reach them! It’s so encouraging to see how the website’s presence has already touched the lives of so many students. In the last 24+ months, the GMO Website has led to:

141,796 Gospel Presentations
7,174 Decisions for Christ
6,729 Discipled Students

Friend, it is truly inspiring and humbling to hear how the Lord is working in the lives of international students who come from countries where being a Christian—or associating with Christians—can be potentially dangerous. Our continuing online expansion will open doors for God’s Word to make its way into these places.

I am reminded of the power of the Gospel in the lives of students from such places when I think of a story one of our staff members sent in. It reflects the kindness of one of our volunteers, Joe, who deeply affected the lives of two students from an Islamic country.

When Joe first met the students, Aaron and Amy, he found out they were just traveling through Colorado, but that they would be moving to Texas soon to study. He knew they had come from a strict Islamic country because one of them was completely covered. Joe was planning to travel to Texas soon, and they quickly invited him to visit while there. Amy prepared a huge dinner and they shared their lives very openly. Here is the rest of the story, as written by our staff member:

“Joe offered to find an American friend for them during their stay in Texas. That friendship flourished, and upon completion of Aaron’s studies, they returned home to work in the oil business. They had to cut off all communications at that point because of security concerns.

Several years later, Aaron returned to study in another state. He called Joe and asked to be connected with Christian friends. ISI was able to connect them with a church and friends in their new city. Joe did not hear from Aaron and Amy again. However, years later, he was at a conference in Japan and met a pastor from the church where Aaron and Amy attended during their graduate studies. Joe asked the pastor if he happened to know them. He shared with Joe that both Aaron and Amy had put their faith in Christ. They were able to experience a wonderful time of discipleship while doing graduate work before returning home. Because of the extreme danger to Aaron and Amy, they returned as secret believers. When we think of them, we always say a prayer that God will protect them.”

Friends, I truly believe that Aaron and Amy, and other students who must return home as “secret believers” are walking safely in the Truth of the Gospel. There is no greater freedom than resting in the Good News of Jesus Christ. No one can take away your faith. No one can challenge the power of God. I am reminded of Psalm 18:2 (NLT): “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.”

Friend, would you take a moment to lift up our Outreach and Technology expansion initiative in prayer? Would you also pray for the students in restricted access countries who desperately need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ—that they will visit our site and get at least a glimpse of our Heavenly Father?

I want to thank you for being so intentional in praying for our ministry and the students with whom we are blessed to share the Gospel. You understand that despite your physical distance, you’re one of the most vital parts of everything ISI does! I pray you have a joyful week and look forward to sharing more exciting news with you in the near future.

For More Information
Visit our GMO evangelism website

Learn more about International Students, Inc., mobile app

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ISI Launches Church Mobilization Campaign!

ISI Approaches the 'Throne of Grace' with Abounding Hope!

ISI: God Continues ‘Doing Something New’ Everyday!

ISI Paves Path into Closed Countries with Good News and God's Grace

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