 This Easter, let us celebrate the new life He has given us!
“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying,” Matthew 28:6 (NLT). “The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all,” Act 4:33 (NLT). “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay,” 1 Peter 1:3 (NLT). What Jesus did on the cross for us, His sacrifice for us and the cleansing of our hearts, is above and beyond anything we could ever deserve. It was a gift born of complete and unadulterated LOVE. And, friend, we know that the story doesn’t end there. Three days later, following His gruesome and humiliating crucifixion, Christ rose from the dead. Though I have been a Christian for many years, this significant victory still amazes me. Aside from Jesus Christ, no other figure in history has ever conquered death. As we approach Easter, I find myself in constant gratitude that by His “great mercy” we have been born again through Jesus Christ. His victory over death is what sets Christianity apart from all world religions. Friend, we have a gift worth more than anything this world could ever offer us. In fact, as Scripture indicates, we have a “priceless inheritance.” “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay,” 1 Peter 1:3 (NLT). One of our ministry friends sent in the following testimony that includes a sweet Easter story involving the sharing of Christ’s love. She writes: “Only days before the big event, we had no idea who, if any international students, would attend the annual Easter celebration put on by two mega-churches in area. In spite of our doubts, we arranged for a passenger bus to transport students from one of the nearby campuses bright and early on Easter morning. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, a young student from Germany whose heart had begun to soften and tune in to God’s presence, set out to personally invite other students everywhere she went! Regardless of whether she knew them or their religious beliefs, Hilda boldly reached out to draw others to this event. Lo and behold, by Easter morning, 55 international students filled the passenger bus we had reserved! Out of this group of 55 who heard the Easter message that morning, a handful began attending our weekly Friday night International Christian Fellowship and Bible study event. Hilda continued her quest, and invited unbelieving students to Sunday evening worship, as well. Due to her efforts, our numbers have increased and Hilda has transitioned to become a member of our leadership team. Her passion for reaching out and making Christ known among the nations has led many into our midst who, before, might never have come.” Hilda’s fervent love for the Lord led her to boldly reach out to others. I love how the love for her Heavenly father not only blessed her life, but radically changed those around her. Think of all the people who now know of His “priceless inheritance” because of Hilda’s passion. This Easter, let us celebrate the new life He has given us. Let’s celebrate the fact that no matter what earthly circumstances we face here in our temporary home, He has created a “priceless inheritance” for those who believe. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay,” 1 Peter 1:3 (NLT). For More Information Learn more about the Son of God by reading ISI’s “Who is Jesus?” informational essay. Want to learn more about how you or someone in your church can help launch a powerful, local outreach to internationals? Please visit our site at to get started in a greater world missions impact right from your own community.  International students need a sincere and caring person to walk alongside them during their journey toward an American education.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up,” Philippians 1:1-2 (NLT). “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home,” Matthew 25:35 (NLT). Like most international students, when Raj steps off the plane into a new and unfamiliar world, he is at his most vulnerable. Surrounding him are signs and advertisements that are likely not in his native language. Everywhere he goes, he sees myriad images and people that are completely new to him. And this is just the beginning! Here at International Students, Inc., we hear many stories about students like Raj. The best part is this: The students we hear about somehow got connected with one of our ministry volunteers or staff members. This makes a world of difference in their “American experience.” International students long for a warm, caring friend who will help them adjust to “the way Americans do things.” They need a sensitive, empathetic person to walk alongside them in their exciting, sometimes scary, journey toward an American education. An inviting host can assuage many of their fears and help them deal with the typical loneliness international students feel. Here’s something that sometimes comes as a surprise to people: international students are as eager to get to know you and your family as you are! They want to be included in your routine, no matter how mundane you think it is. For them, seeing your normal, day-to-day life is the relaxed hospitality they long for. They seek a comfortable, “homey” place that says: “Join us today. Relax, watch television, play with the children, wash your clothes, bring a friend, take a nap, or do whatever else you like. We offer you friendship. Come and be with us, just as we are.” The great tragedy is that very few ever get to experience this! Most international students return home without ever seeing the inside of an American home—or church. This is where the dedication of our countless volunteers and staff members makes a huge difference! One of our ministry friends shared a story about Aden, an international student from India, that he and his family got to know. It’s amazing what a blessing Aden and this family were to each other. Our ministry friend writes: “As one of Aden’s mentors, we agreed to spend time with him each month, so he would better understand American culture. The first time we picked Aden up from his apartment, we got to meet his three roommates. We ended up inviting Aden and his roommates out to dinner that night! In the months that followed, we had them over to our home often and included them in a variety of outings. They needed community service hours for their education, so we regularly ‘volunteered’ them at our church. One day, Aden announced that his mother would be coming for a visit. He beamed when we offered to have a dinner party with his friends in her honor. When the day finally arrived, the dinner party took on a life of its own, as Aden and his friends helped plan and serve the meal. We still treasure that day and the time we got to spend with Aden and his mother. She obviously loves her son and his friends and greatly appreciated our role as his ‘host parents.’ Sometimes we take our ‘sharing Christ’s love’ for granted. We just do what God has called us to do and forget what a big deal it really is. The love we share with these students reverberates around the world as parents hear how their children are being cared for far away from home. When they find out that we do what we feel Jesus would do, they come face-to-face with the Savior of the world. This is more than just a job or a volunteer opportunity—we live out an adventure in faith with God orchestrating the details.” As the story above demonstrates, reaching out and sharing Christ’s love with just one student can quickly lead to sharing with others. Lives, particularly non-western ones, end up intertwining! Friends and loved ones share experiences for the benefit of others. The good deeds we do in Jesus’ name plant seeds that one day blossom into personal relationships with Jesus Christ. Let us continue to reach out to fulfill our mission to reach every international student for Christ! “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up,” Philippians 1:1-2 (NLT). For More Information Want to reach the world from your doorstep? Listen to some of our ISI audio recordings to learn more! Watch this video to learn more about how you can get started volunteering with ISI.  Befriending international students changes their lives—and ours!
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples,” John 13:35 (NLT). “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son,” Romans 5:10 (NLT). Though it’s true that many countries around the world have laws in place prohibiting Christian missionaries, the “welcome mat” to the world’s future leaders cannot be stopped! Our university and college doors are wide open, accepting more than 1.3 million of the world’s best and brightest students, from every nation. These students, scholars and researchers are tomorrow’s leaders. International students are preparing for critical roles in the development of their countries, representing nearly every major field of study, including health, law, government, sciences, business, computer science and education. These men and women will soon be inheriting leadership around the world! As they pursue their studies here in the United States, they are looking for someone like you, a caring American friend! Often, these friendships last much longer—many turning into lifelong friendships! More importantly, these relationships often serve as a platform to share the love of Jesus Christ. One of our ministry volunteers writes, “When we meet new international students, we never know how our meeting will change their lives or our own. Many in the ministry can describe friendships with students that have become lifelong. For three years Tony, a Chinese neurosurgeon, honed his skills at the university, and we became great friends. We practiced pronouncing nouns and verbs together in hospital cafes. We caught fish from a canoe on warm summer evenings. We huddled in deer stands trying to keep warm on crisp mornings. We worked our way through Mark’s gospel, and wondered why a man wielding God-like powers allowed himself to be killed by mere mortals. And we spent a lot of hours together just working through life’s challenges. Imagine how I felt when Tony invited me to join him and his fiancée Reagan in China to be a part of their wedding. He said that he wanted to pay for the flight. ‘Please don’t worry about the money,’ he said, ‘I can earn the money back, but I could not get another valuable friend like you.’ When Tony left the States, I gave him a big bear hug. I thought it was the last time I’d see him. Now, I am so excited at the thought of embracing my friend once more and talking again about the One who surely summoned him as the Greater friend.” What a blessing when our friendships become this important. We know that the impressions we’ve made on our friends are due to the One whose love abides in us. And these friendships open the door for us to share with them their Forever Friend. “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience… Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony,” Colossians 3:12, 14 (NLT). For More Information Through ISI’s Churches Reaching Nations initiative, we can come alongside you and your church, helping you effectively fulfill the Great Commission without ever leaving the US, or even your own community. The impact and influence you have will reach nations and world leaders in the countries most closed to the Gospel message! Learn more here. |
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