
“God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another,” 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many,” Matthew 20:28 (NLT).
Within our ministry, we are blessed to have thousands of people working lovingly behind the scenes to offer students the opportunity to meet and know Jesus Christ. From our staff members, to our more than 24,000 volunteers, it’s amazing how much effort and dedication goes into reaching students!
It’s humbling to think about all those who have prepared food, coordinated activities, prayed for students, helped with transportation, and so much more! Our ministry friends do so much without expecting anything in return. The following is an encouraging letter one of our staff members received from a former student. It really highlights how much impact we can have in the lives of students. The student writes:
“Hey dear Jesse,
Long time, no see! How have you been? I became a Christian and my spiritual birthday was on January 2! I want to thank you for your attention and solicitude and for the countless fancy foods and everything. If not for everything you did from the very beginning, I am sure I would not have experienced God’s love or seen His grace and glory! Thank you. When I think back and connect the dots of things that have happened in my life, I believe God had His plan arranged for me from the beginning. He brought me to where I am today, step-by-step, according to His plan. God has changed my life. I hope my story encourages you. I have also tried to share God’s message with my friend who still lives in China. I wish they could receive God’s love as well. I wish you a great day tomorrow. Thank you again for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with me.
Affectionately, your brother in Christ,
Chang”
In ministry to others, we serve with the hope that someone who does not yet know Jesus will one day trust in Him. And we trust that God will do the work in that person’s heart. As in the story of Jesse and Chang: A follower of Jesus reached out to an international student and the ripple effect of the Good News began—again!
I love seeing how God does His part by laying the groundwork for what will happen when somebody plants the seed and tells another person how they can be saved! Let us lift our staff members and volunteers up in prayer as they continue serving others, behind the scenes, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many,” Matthew 20:28 (NLT).
For More Information
Interested in ministering to students? By their interaction with international students, ISI Friendship Partners receive cultural experiences which enrich their lives. Many become lifelong friends with their international students.
Learn more about how to reach out to international students.