
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT).
Recently, the person who oversees our ministry’s online footprint showed me a real-time Google-link of Internet ministries, where many ministries, including International Students, Inc., is listed. The combination of these ministries is recording 700 decisions for Jesus Christ––every hour. By mid-morning that day, 7,000 souls had already been saved! That, my friend, is the fruit of God’s power and leadership success!
This summer in Singapore, I was able to meet with 47 key returnees at all levels of power and influence. One key dinner meeting was even addressed by a Defense Advisor to the President of Singapore––formerly an international student ministered to and discipled through International Students, Inc.
Other leaders included speakers from diverse parts of the Body––one mainstream evangelical, one United Methodist and one from the Assemblies of God––each being dynamically used to reach people for Christ. I was impressed to uphold Christian unity after hearing genocide survivors tell the Summit for Persecuted Christians that ISIS asks its victims a single question: “Are you a follower of Jesus?” When it matters most, denominational labels matter least.
But strong leadership also involves mobilizing others. Jesus asked us to pray for laborers in the harvest, and we’re mobilizing church leaders who will in-turn develop student leaders to return home and change the world for Christ. After I spoke at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Annual Conference recently, with over 2,700 of that denomination’s leaders present, its president publicly affirmed the significance of our ministry and encouraged all its churches to consider coming alongside us. We had 150-200 churches immediately respond with a pledge to help reach international students and request international student ministry or M28 Global Discipleship training.
While I was there, a couple video-taped me as I spoke to workshops filled with believers wanting to know more about international students. Eventually, they told me that they volunteer with our ministry! When I asked how they became involved, a remarkable story emerged. This husband-and-wife team had befriended a female Muslim student, hosting and staying in touch with her. Eventually, the student told the couple: “You two are such wonderful people that I want to introduce you to another group that’s meant a lot to me.” She introduced them to International Students, Inc.! The husband-and-wife team came to us from an international student who’d experienced first-hand the power of their witness.
God is moving everywhere, in mighty and mysterious ways. And you are a vital part of that! Your faithful support travels to the farthest nations and the highest pinnacles of power to share the Good News of Jesus.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT).
For More Information
An ISI Ministry Representative is a person who may be both a volunteer and a Friendship Partner®, but who works directly under the supervision of local ISI staff. Their work ranges from direct ministry and evangelism to roles which assist ISI’s efforts to mobilize and train Americans in local churches. Learn more here.