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Faithfulness in Prayer Moves Mountains in ISI!

12/28/2015

As we approach the new year, let us praise God for His generous blessings.

"You don’t have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible," Matthew 17:20 (NLT).
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As we approach the end of the year, I want to remind you of the multitude of blessings our Heavenly Father has so graciously bestowed upon our ministry here at International Students, Inc. In the last full Academic Year, (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015):

69,587 international students were introduced to ISI
25,826 relationships were cultivated with international students
9,228 international students were estimated to have accepted Christ through ISI contact (includes scientific survey results).
4,897 students were discipled
796 international students started newly sharing their faith either in the U.S. or overseas

What an incredible journey we find ourselves on here at International Students, Inc.! This year, we were able to reach one student per hour for Christ. How exciting to know that the same is very possible for 2016. In fact, with our increasing expansion, it's possible to exceed this incredible feat for Christ!

I would like to share with you a personal salvation story to highlight the way the Lord is reaching international students through our ministry. It reminds me of how our faithfulness in prayer can move mountains.

One of our ISI friends shared with us the story of Kyle, an international student from China. When Kyle first began attending events for international students, he said he "went for the free food." Things changed though, after Kyle attended the graduation ceremony of a mutual friend of our ISI contact. Kyle and the ISI volunteer met at the ceremony, and the rest, as they say, is history. Our ISI contact writes:

"We invited Kyle and our friend to join us for the Christmas Eve service at our church, followed by dessert at our house afterwards. It was a wonderful evening! As our friends were leaving, Kyle asked me to pray for his job interview, which was to take place two days after Christmas. I prayed for Kyle and asked for God's blessings and favor. Well, he got the job! When Kyle and I met for dinner the next week, he told me that I had a special connection with God because He had answered my prayers and provided the job for him. I told Kyle that I wasn't anything special, and that we can all have a personal connection with God through Jesus Christ. He was very interested, so we agreed to meet the next day so I could give him a Bible and tell him more about Jesus. The next day, January 4th, I shared the Gospel with Kyle as we sat in my car, and he opened his heart and trusted Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Praise, thanks and Glory to God! He used that answered prayer to touch Kyle's heart, give me favor in his eyes and open the door to share the Gospel with him."

As we prepare to head into the New Year, I encourage you to take a moment to thank God for all the blessings He has given us and to you! I encourage you to pray for Him to move great, unfathomable mountains this upcoming year. Let us pray and have faith that the Great Commission can continue to spread like wildfire across the globe!

As Jesus says: "If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible," Matthew 17:20 (NLT).

For More Information
Learn more about becoming an ISI Ministry Partner.

Read more testimonies from students affected by ISI staff and volunteers.

See a list of world leaders who were once international students.

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The Most Beautiful Time

12/22/2015

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Learn more about a young man who found he wasn’t too busy to learn about Christmas.

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps,” Proverbs 16:9 (NLT).
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It is not difficult at all, especially during the Christmas season, to find ourselves tangled in the unrelenting web of busyness. It’s easy to find ourselves overwhelmed with plans that really don’t have anything to do with Jesus or remembering His birth. Our culture, in fact, inundates us with images and advertisements that often paint nothing more than a commercialized snapshot of the most beautiful time of year.

However, we need not succumb to the busyness of the season. Let us remember that, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps,” Proverbs 16:9 (NLT). Let us take a deep breath—that reverie in the midst of chaos—and focus on taking time for what really matters.

As I write this blog, I am reminded of a story one of our ISI family members sent in. It wonderfully highlights the beauty and importance of slowing down.

It was during the Christmas season when this individual invited a group of international students to come see a church drama presentation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

Nick, a postdoctoral research student, showed up at the group’s meeting location. But he came only to deliver a message: He was too busy to join the group. He would not be able to attend the play because he had to work in his lab. He just came by to say “hi” to everyone.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go, Nick?” our ISI friend asked. “It’s really a good story.”

“I wish I could,” Nick replied, “but I just really don’t have time. By the way, what is the play about?”

Our ISI friend responded with a smile, saying that “It’s about a guy who was too busy to explore Christmas.”

“No way,” Nick said. “Really? You’re not just making that up?”

“Really,” she assured him. “You should come with us. After all, it is Christmas time.”

Here is what happened next, in our ISI friend’s own words:

“Curiosity began to replace Nick’s reluctance and I silently praised God when he changed his mind and agreed to come join us for the play. As the story portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge’s encounters with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, the crotchety main character began to realize how his past had jaded him from that which is really good and meaningful—caring only for one’s fellow man; not just getting ahead in a worldly sense. By the end, his heart had thawed, and he got another chance to make his life count. Throughout the play, I noticed that Nick seemed transfixed. During the intermission, he confided to me that this play was really speaking to him and was exactly what he needed to hear. He thanked me over and over again for talking him into going. In my heart I knew that God wanted him there. It also made me wonder if I’m sometimes too busy to hear what He has to say to me as well.”

What a wonderful story of God’s hand at work! I want to thank all of our ISI colleagues and volunteers who make the time to reach out to international students! The best and brightest students continue to travel far to seek learning and truth. And thanks to the Lord and the work of our staff members and volunteers, they still find far more than they expected.

They have real encounters with the Son of God. And they get the gift of this encounter when we give them the gift of time.

These amazing connections and testimonies occur because people took the time to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are blessed to know so many lives are touched each year!

So, as we approach the celebrations of the birth of our Savior, I pray that the Lord will determine your steps today—and everyday! I pray that none of us is so busy that we might miss a message from Him. I pray for all of us to live our days with open ears and open hearts to hear what He has to say to us.

For More Information
Learn more about blessing the life of an international student by becoming a Friendship Partner though ISI.

Learn more about becoming a Prayer Intercessor for ISI.

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Faithfulness in Prayer Moves Mountains in ISI!

12/14/2015

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As we approach the new year, let us praise God for His generous blessings.
"You don’t have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible," Matthew 17:20 (NLT).
_________________________________________________________________

As we approach the end of the year, I want to remind you of the multitude of blessings our Heavenly Father has so graciously bestowed upon our ministry here at International Students, Inc. In the last full Academic Year, (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015):

69,587 international students were introduced to ISI
25,826 relationships were cultivated with international students
9,228 international students were estimated to have accepted Christ through ISI contact (includes scientific survey results).
4,897 students were discipled
796 international students started newly sharing their faith either in the U.S. or overseas

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ISI Goes to Washington!

12/8/2015

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In this second blog detailing ISI's early years, the ministry experiences some exciting changes!

"They were completely amazed and said again and again, 'Everything He does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak," –Mark 7:37 (NLT)

Here at International Students, Inc., we have been so incredibly humbled by the more than 60 years of service from staff members and volunteers. We wanted to take some time to share with you our eventful and blessed beginnings to highlight how God has been changing hearts and minds through ISI since 1953.

Today's installment is the second story in this series. (Click here to read the first installment.):

A year after Betsy Guffey joined International Students, Inc. at its Philadelphia headquarters, the ministry made a big move—to Washington, D.C.

"It was a natural move," Betsy said of the 1954 transition. "We rented a floor of the building used by Billy Graham Films and Youth for Christ, right on Connecticut Avenue. We had a great outreach."

ISI staff developed good relationships with the military, diplomats, World Bank staff, several international organizations and local international students. The only problem with this: There was no one to coordinate all this activity.

"My roommate and I remembered that a year earlier we met Hal Guffey, a midshipman at the US Naval Academy," she said. "Hal later went to Vanderbilt in Nashville as our key contact person there."

Betsy and her roommate convinced ISI Founder Bob Finley to invite Hal to join the Washington, D.C. staff. Not only did Hal accept, the man had already trained himself for the work ahead.

"Hal showed up in an old car the next day with a couple boxes of books, a suitcase of old clothes, and no support," Betsy remembers, saying he was "ready to work." ISI staff members found him a roll-away bed. He lived in the office.

"That was convenient since all the office staff did bookkeeping and all the usual paper trail work during the daytime," Betsy said. At night and on the weekends they "metamorphosed" into field staff.

Around that time, new staff members Zulay and Sheila Hargreaves started a ministry to Latin Americans; staffers Ted and Leona Choy started one for Chinese students.

"It was a good time and a fruitful outreach for us all," Betsy said. Hal was then sent to Boston to work for ISI.

But he decided he wanted to take Betsy with him. So the couple "squeezed in a wedding" between Christmas and January 19, which was the staff conference.

"Nothing could stand in the way of staff conference," Betsy shared. "It was our favorite event of the year—kind of like Christmas when 'the family' comes home."
Before the newlyweds left for their new home in Boston, Bob told Betsy some surprising news. Because ISI didn't have any contacts in the Boston area yet, he told Betsy she would need to speak in churches, and to women's groups.

"Me?" she thought.

"I was ready to get an annulment!" she joked. "But the day that we left for Boston, in my devotions, Mark 7:37 spoke to me: 'He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak!"

God miraculously provided for her and her new husband, she said. He supplied them with an apartment, a car and even an office with a secretary. God also blessed the Guffeys with "families and ministry opportunities that were amazing." But after two years, the couple was transferred back to the headquarters in D.C.

Please join us next week as we glean more insight from Betsy Guffey, regarding ISI's exciting first years. This will include ISI's move from D.C. to Colorado Springs!

For more information
Read the first installment of ISI's history series here.
(link to previous week's blog)

Read a season's greeting letter from the Guffeys.

Learn more about the History of International Students, Inc. from a 1962 brochure.

Read a letter of encouragement from previous International Students, Inc. President, Bob Finley.

Learn how to reach the world from your doorstep!

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History 1: Shine - ISI Beginning Years Show God’s Blessings, Provisions for Bright Future

12/1/2015

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Join us as we delve into an exciting blog series highlighting ISI’s history!

“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever,” Daniel 12:3 (NLT).
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As you may know, the concept for International Students, Inc. began more than 60 years ago with a vision from a young, ambitious follower of Christ. During a mission trip to China and Korea with Billy Graham and other evangelists, Bob Finley noticed that many world leaders had trained in the US. So, Bob, a staff member of InterVarsity and Youth for Christ at the time, listened to that "still, small" voice and took action. The ways in which God has used Bob and so many other believers in the early days of ISI, which was officially founded in 1953, have been a huge blessing to us.

We are very excited to begin sharing the story of ISI’s humble beginnings and miraculous, continual growth! ISI staffers dug into our historical archives to research and review some of the major events in our ministry’s history. We are also blessed to have the living testimony of a former ISI employee who joined the organization in 1953: Betsy Guffey. During our 60th anniversary celebration in 2013, Betsy graciously shared with us her story of being a part of ISI in the early days. We have combined her testimony with historical research to create a series of blogs outlining our beginning years.

Hopefully these stories will bless you and remind you of God’s amazing provisions for our past—and future. Our history reminds me greatly of how: “Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever,” Daniel 12:3 (NLT).

Today’s blog is the first in our historical blog series:

When Betsy Guffey joined International Students, Inc. in 1953, she thought she was unqualified. The young woman spoke no foreign languages and felt unprepared for the journey of unknown variables ahead of her. Looking back, though, after more than 60 years with ISI, Betsy says that God often uses unlikely people to do His work.

“Think of their responses,” she said, pointing out that Amos replied to God’s calling by claiming he was just a fruit picker. Saul proclaimed, “Not me! My family is the least of the tribe!”

And then there was Jonah, she says, who fled from the Lord when He asked him to preach against the wickedness of Nineveh. But God had other plans for Jonah, just as he did for Amos and Saul. And Betsy.

“And then it was my turn,” Betsy said, noting that she reacted much like these men from the Bible. She questioned the practicality of joining a staff that worked 24-7, where her pay was to be $200—when it’s available. She didn’t think she was a candidate—at all. “But, God said, ‘My power shows up best in weak people.” So, Betsy decided to listen.

The vision for ISI began following the vision of a young man who saw a need—a huge need right in our own country. Bob Finley was a staff evangelist for InterVarsity and Youth for Christ in the early 1950’s. While on a mission trip during this time to China and Korea—with Billy Graham, Dawson Trotman of the Navigators and Bob Pierce of World Vision—Bob discovered that the leaders of those nations had been trained in the US.

“We, the American churches at the time, had them right at our doorstep,” Betsy said, “and none of them had been reached for Christ. Some of them had a negative experience.”

After returning home from the mission trip, Bob asked InterVarsity if they realized the incredible opportunity they had to reach international students on college campuses throughout the US.

Betsy continued, “They replied, ‘You do it. It’s your vision. Bob went to Billy Graham and Billy Graham said, ‘You do it.’” When Bob approached Dawson Trotman of the Navigators, Dawson said the idea was great. Dawson also suggested that, “‘Bob should do it.’”

Bob then moved to Berkeley, California, got a house, and started meeting international students at the San Francisco docks. It was the early 1950’s, before air travel was common, and most students traveled by ship. Families from local churches graciously opened their homes to these students. Bob named the outreach FOCUS—“Fellowship of Overseas College and University Students.”

“The problem,” Betsy said, “was that students kept asking for ‘friendships,’ so it was changed to ‘Friendship,’” making it “Friendship of Overseas College and University Students.” Max Kershaw and Carroll Lindman joined Bob in the FOCUS ministry soon after.

Read one of the early ISI brochures for FOCUS!

In 1952, Bob moved from Berkeley to Philadelphia following an invitation from Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, who was pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Dr. Barnhouse saw what was happening in Berkeley and asked Bob to start an East Coast outreach. He did—and the FOCUS office was located right on the Penn State Campus.

A year after the FOCUS office opened in Philadelphia, the ministry saw some exciting changes. In 1953, it was officially established as International Students, Inc. That same year, ISI moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C. Betsy joined the staff; Lindman moved to Berkeley and Kershaw joined the Chicago staff to head FOCUS, which remained an ISI-sponsored ministry.
Betsy recalls how an “unusual opportunity” evolved into a popular program with international students.

“Students had been asking us to help them find places to stay with families when they traveled anywhere in the US. That became so popular, but wore out the staff.”

“We had a great team,” Betsy said. “It was going so well that the time came to divide…and only a couple of us remained at headquarters.”

With it’s new official name and exciting new headquarters in the nation’s capital, ISI created a new program in 1954: the ACROSS ministry, American Citizens Residing Overseas for Study and Service.

“We were as good as the government was in naming projects,” Betsy said with a smile. “It was a very successful program.”

In the ACROSS ministry, American ISI staffers were able to enroll in the American Universities in Beirut and Cairo, where they served as witnesses for Christ.

Read some of ISI’s historical newspaper articles from the 1950’s documenting some of the amazing testimonies made possible through the ACROSS ministry.

“Another program called ‘Assisting Indigenous Developments’ or AID produced some good partnership overseas,” Betsy explained.

AID allowed Christian nationals who wished to serve Christ in their respective countries the opportunity to do so. ISI provided material assistance making it possible for them to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Read more about the AID program from a 1958 ISI newsletter.

With these successful and growing ISI-sponsored ministries, Betsy knew God’s blessing was upon ISI.

“Now we were really grown up,” she said, “and ready to be ‘big time.’”

Please join us next week as we continue our series highlighting ISI’s exciting beginning years and continual blessings. We look forward to sharing more of Betsy’s insight, which includes more details about ISI’s move to Washington, D.C., among other blessed events, including Betsy’s marriage to an ISI employee!

For More Information
Read “Bring the World to Your Home,” a magazine article Betsy wrote for Child Evangelism in the 1960’s.

Learn more about becoming a Friendship Partner through ISI.

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Faithfulness in Prayer Moves Mountains in ISI!

The Most Beautiful Time

Faithfulness in Prayer Moves Mountains in ISI!

ISI Goes to Washington!

History 1: Shine - ISI Beginning Years Show God’s Blessings, Provisions for Bright Future

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