Equipped by Faith
You may have heard the saying, “God doesn’t call the equipped— he equips the called.” What does this mean? It means that no matter how equipped someone might feel, God calls his people, ordinary as they may be, to faithfully serve and lead in extraordinary ways– just as He did with Paul*, an IFI volunteer […]
Guided by Friendship, Grounded in Faith
When Zac arrived in the U.S. in 2022 to pursue a marketing degree, he was immediately overwhelmed. Coming from England, he was struck by how vast everything seemed and how far apart places were. “I thought, what have I come to?” he recalled. Adjusting to life on his own proved difficult, and he deeply missed […]
Welcomed into an Eternal Family
Amy* arrived in Florida from Asia in August of 2023. Although familiar with the culture in the U.S., as she’d done one year of undergrad in Michigan, she still experienced loneliness. “I often felt homesick,” Amy said. “It’s hard to connect with others in your second language, even more so when you’re an introvert. It […]
Beyond the Bike Trail
When Luke, an enthusiastic IFI volunteer from Columbus, proposed a bike trip to three international students in the summer of 2023—Shane, Brandon, and Aaron*—it seemed like the perfect opportunity for adventure. “The plan was simple,” Luke said. “We’d ride from London to Loveland, Ohio, and back, covering about 150 miles over two days.” Each of […]
How to Teach International Students to Drive
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A Love Like No Other
In 2022, Jade* moved from Asia to the States for her master’s degree. She’d always been curious to travel and see the world, so when she got the opportunity to study in the US, she was thrilled. But there was sorrow in the joy, as it meant leaving her family and everything she ever knew […]
The Cross Unveiled
David* left his home in Central Asia to pursue his PhD in 2023. It was his first time in the US and he was excited to start his program. However, the newness of it all was overwhelming. David felt deep loneliness, so much so that he was admitted to a hospital. One week after he […]
The Magic of Hospitality and Friendship
This article is by one of our IFI students, Amita* from South Asia. Read how an IFI volunteer, Ms. Jenny, made all the difference to Amita’s journey to the US. My time at Ms. Jenny’s was nothing but magical. Her warmth and kindness enveloped me when she greeted me at the airport. Her home gave […]
Caring Through Cars
About 30 international students gathered at the Car Care Workshop hosted by Hope Church and IFI Cincy. This wasn’t your typical IFI life group or sharing a meal… but teaching and helping students to change a tire and all things car-related. Mike Millard, IFI donor and volunteer, set a specific goal when he retired: to be […]
Cultural Humility (pt. 2)
Cultural Humility In Personal Interactions & Spiritual Conversations Last post, we learned about cultural humility – what it is and how to develop it through the cultural humility wheel. This month, we want to give you some practical tips on how to make use of cultural humility in your personal interactions and in spiritual conversations. […]