Celebrating Rich’s Legacy and a New Chapter for IFI Initiatives
In 2024, the leadership of IFI was passed from Rich Mendola, IFI CEO, to Ryan Finke, the leader chosen to take IFI forward in the coming years. Ryan was already at IFI, being an internal hire. He worked on the National Communications Team as their Director and later as the Strategy Director. He has had […]
Growing ISM by Training Others
Expanding the ministry has meant expanding the infrastructure of IFI. In 2012, Jerry Shellhaas, who had been on the campus ministry staff, accepted the position of Facilities Manager to care for IFI’s building and oversee the apartments above it. A trained accountant was hired to oversee the Finance Department, and God brought Columbus a full-time […]
New Staff Positions
With the growth in staff outside of Columbus, IFI leaders realized they needed help in overseeing, encouraging, resourcing, guiding, and inspiring new staff. A National Field Director position was created for those purposes in 2013, and Bruce Fulcher, a professional counselor with many years of experience serving refugees and immigrants, was hired to fill the […]
New Ministry Locations
Around 2008, IFI leaders began talking about and asking God to multiply IFI. God is answering those prayers abundantly! As international student ministries realized they could be a part of God’s love being experienced over the whole world, more people are catching the vision and joining IFI’s work as volunteers or staff. Ohio beyond OSU. […]
2000s: Expansion of Sites and Services
By 2000, IFI had grown to the point that we needed to relieve Rich and others of administrative duties so they could continue to work directly with internationals. IFI hired a part-time Financial Director and Development Director positions that became full-time within 10 years. God also brought a volunteer to relieve Rich of the management […]
1990 – 1999: Growth!
The 1990s were a time of tremendous growth. In 1991, God brought Rich Mendola to the campus ministry staff in Columbus from ISM work at Ohio University in Athens. God led Rich to form the International American Fellowship (IAF), a group of American Christian volunteers and international followers/seekers of Jesus. The IAF had two goals: […]
Early Ministry Development
In the 1980s, God grew IFI and taught us more about building relationships and sharing God’s love cross-culturally. He blessed IFI with a solid core of volunteers who committed themselves to serving internationals. Some of these volunteers are still active today! Others have moved on to other service opportunities, retired, or gone overseas to serve […]
IFI is founded as a 501(c)(3) non-profit
Phil and Ruth Ann Saksa (Co-founders)
While the people of Covenant Baptist Church had a heart for reaching students, there was no emphasis on reaching international students until around 1977. By 1979, the church’s desire to work with international students had grown so strong that some members began to discuss incorporating a nonprofit to work toward that goal, and International Friendships […]
Mabel Bahler (Co-founder)
In 1976, the people of Covenant Baptist Church decided to formalize their vision for reaching the internationals at OSU who were searching for truth and longed for friendship with Americans. Mabel Bahler was a key person in this thrust, leading the ministry for almost three years. She became the face of International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) […]