Baptized in a Love Like She’s Never Known
Jesus was an abstract concept for Mandy when she met Xia, a staff member at IFI. Lonely and anxious after her arrival from China in August of 2019, the economics major accepted Xia’s invitation to church and Friday night Bible discussion. “My initial Bible discussion gave me an interest in learning more about Jesus,” says […]
From Fruit Pie to True Friendship
Zifei, a Chinese logistics management student, was excited to learn to cook American food. After discovering IFI at a welcome party in Columbus, Ohio last year, she joined IFI for apple pie making in the fall. Slicing apples and rolling dough was a new experience, but what made the biggest impression on Zifei was the […]
Impressed by the Kindness of IFI Staff and Volunteers
Almost everything felt strange to Leo when he first came to the US from China in November 2019 to work toward earning a PhD in management. Thankfully, he connected quickly with David, his conversation partner through IFI. “David has helped me quite a lot to learn US culture.” Leo soon learned that David followed Jesus. […]
5 Ways to Connect with your Conversation Partner’s Family
In many cultures, the family unit is an essential institution. Even as other traditions and values become outdated, the family is still considered the most important part of life in many societies worldwide. In some cultures, it is common for children to grow up having a strong involvement with both immediate and extended family from […]
God Sought Me
Carmen’s interaction with IFI began when she arrived from China in 2011 to study Theoretical Mathematics and was hosted by IFI volunteers. She saw these strangers inconveniencing themselves to make her feel welcome. “I was amazed by what hospitality meant to them.” When she first started attending IFI Bible discussion groups, Carmen’s questions were sometimes […]
Bridging Cultural Prejudices with International Students
Throughout history, people have held prejudices against others from different ethnicities. The issue continues in today’s society, including among students on university campuses. Defined simply, prejudice is a preconceived opinion not based on reason or actual experience. Prejudice can lead to discrimination, hatred, and even hostility. Subtle forms of intolerance may also occur, such as […]
Tips for Connecting Online with Students Overseas
Have you experienced the joys of getting to know international students during their campus stay – and the sadness when they return to their home country? Yet do you struggle with long-distance communications, like many? The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly shown the value of online communications. We caught up with experienced IFI staff and volunteers […]
A Vision of Truth
Krishna traveled from Indonesia to the US in 1981 to study Science and Engineering. Despite much academic success, Krishna experienced relational and financial troubles after graduation that drove him to search for answers. Coming from a traditional Muslim family, Krishna prayed five times a day but became frustrated when he didn’t receive any guidance from […]
When Academics Proved Empty, God Came Through
What’s the purpose of life? Ming* thought she knew the answer: academics. She was going to college in China, working hard, and almost finished with her undergrad. But God soon orchestrated events in her life that led her down an unexpected path. Ming suddenly grew very sick and was forced to drop her classwork. “I […]
How Logical Thinking Led to Taking a Leap of Faith
Growing up in Singapore, Kenneth followed his parents to church but never really believed in Christ. “I only turned to God in times of desperation when all hope was lost,” he says. Kenneth knew only one person when he came to Ohio in 2017 for his first job. When that person invited him to an […]