International Student Ministry

The Challenge and the Opportunity

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 15:18:57 +0000

Gordon Govier

The Challenge and the Opportunity

For the first time ever, more than one million college students from abroad are studying on U.S. campuses. The Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2016 Report says the international students come from 219 countries in all, but most are from China and India.

Marc Papai, ��ñ��’s director of International Student Ministry (ISM), observed that international students offer an opportunity to reach the whole world. “It’s hard to point to a demographic that’s more important or more strategic,” he said.

International students have been part of Marc’s work on campus from the beginning, although not always his main focus. He started an international student outreach as part of his first ��ñ�� assignment at Kent State University 29 years ago. Over the years he’s observed the proportion of undergraduates to graduate students gradually increasing in the international student ranks, and has seen steady growth in numbers as globalization continues to open the door to more and more students from other countries.

Marc first connected with ��ñ�� before he became a student at Ohio State University (OSU). As a fairly new believer, he benefited from a weeklong retreat at ��ñ��’s Cedar Campus the week before classes started. “My entire vocational life and values, the shape of who I am, was profoundly impacted that week by ��ñ��,” he recalled. “I remember realizing that Christianity was not something I was adding to my life; it was going to be my life.”

The following week when he arrived on the OSU campus as a freshman he immediately connected with the ��ñ�� chapter and then held several leadership positions as a student, serving as chapter president his senior year. Following graduation, he worked as a chemical engineer for a consulting firm for eight years, but then returned to campus to join ��ñ��’s ministry. He has been with ��ñ�� ever since, serving most recently as Ohio division director, before becoming ISM director two years ago.

While more than 100 ��ñ�� staff ministers primarily focus on ISM, and 50 fellowships exist specifically for international students, more than half of the international students involved in ��ñ�� are not in ISM-specific chapters. Marc and his team are developing new resources, including a new booklet called Starting International Small Groups. Marc said, “We hope to see every chapter in the U.S. have at least one international small group. There’s no reason why they can’t.”

Hospitality has always been a high value in international student ministry; to help newcomers adapt to an often strange culture and offer a friendly person to talk with. Marc encourages those who have never befriended an international student to seek out opportunities. “The gospel is intrinsically cross-cultural,” he said. “Reaching across cultures seems to be close to the heart of God.”

And while hospitality is a good starting place for anyone, especially during the holiday season, he encourages Christians to avoid being pushy about their faith while at the same time not avoiding talking about it when the right opportunity comes. “[International students] come from different perspectives but there is a lot of curiosity about Jesus,” he said.

One of the most unique aspects of ministry to international students on many campuses is the unusually high level of cooperation among staff working for different organizations. “It’s one of the most pleasant discoveries I made since becoming director,” Marc said. “The degree of partnership in international student ministry exceeds significantly the partnership I experienced when I was a division director, working with American students.”

Other ISM tools that are being developed include resources to help internationals in student leadership development and resources to help students grow in their faith following their return to their home country. One of the most challenging ISM issues is the large attrition rate among students who begin following Christ in the U.S. A group of eight international student leaders is currently involved in a project designed to reveal more of the dynamics of returning students. They are receiving extra training in discipleship practices and cross-cultural leadership skills.

��ñ�� has one further important ISM resource: a partner movement—affiliates of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students—in 168 countries. Marc is working on building relationships with IFES, including developing an exchange program with the German movement. He’s looking forward to learning how international student ministry is done in other countries.

“We have a unique opportunity in history to influence the world through international students,” Marc said. “I don’t know how long this window will be open. The best and the brightest are coming to the U.S. above any other country. We cannot be indifferent to this opportunity.”

News Keywords

Ohio State University

ISM

International Student Ministry

Ministry along Montana’s Interstate

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 21:57:32 +0000

News

Gordon Govier

Ministry along Montana’s Interstate

The number of international students on college campuses across the country is growing, and ��ñ�� students in Montana have noticed. Montana Area Director Dave Oberly says the amount of student-initiated international student ministry is one of the most exciting developments in his area.

“More than anything it’s God,” Dave said. “He is moving and students are responding. It’s been fun to watch staff and students work together to develop outreach to international students.”

International student ministry starts with making friends. Those friendships often lead to invitations to Bible study. But friendships can lead to many different activities. “It’s important to be flexible and open to new things,” Dave said. Friendships can lead to lives that are permanently changed when international students are introduced to Jesus Christ, as illustrated by the story of Wai Wai, a pharmacy student from Myanmar who attended the University of Montana.

Dave supervises staff on three campuses: the University of Montana in Missoula, and Montana State at Bozeman and Billings. From Bozeman, where Dave lives, Missoula is three hours one way, and Billings is two hours in the opposite direction. That can lead to some long drives, but Dave doesn’t mind. It’s an asset to ministry.

“Montana is beautiful,” he said. “And it’s a good time to think and pray.” Dave meditates on Scripture and prays for his staff team and his family as he drives. Without distractions, other than the scenery, he finds it easy to listen to God’s guidance for his ministry.

Dave didn’t have much interest in Christianity as a student at the University of Montana. At least not until the girl he wanted to date let him know how important it was to her, and invited him to ��ñ��. There he met students who were willing to let him ask some tough questions about the Christian faith. “I found a lot of hope and love, and that really helped turn me toward a relationship with Christ,” he said.

His new faith was challenged by his teammates on the rugby team, but they eventually noticed a change in his attitude and lifestyle as he grew in his faith and invited them to study the Bible together. Having another believer on the team to mentor him was helpful.

His faith grew through several other leadership experiences as well as participation in a Global Project one summer in Kenya. Montana students have been involved in ��ñ��’s Kenya Global Project for almost 20 years. They have the opportunity to live with Kenyan families and work with a variety of local ministries. The experience gives them a new global perspective on the Christian faith. “I see a dramatic difference in the students who go, when they come back, compared to the students who don’t go. It’s huge,” he said.

Dave now supervises Brian Lee, the staff person who invited Dave to go on that first Kenya Global Project. While Dave finds that just a bit strange, Regional Director Scott Anderson says Dave’s leadership has been just what the Montana schools have needed.

“Dave is sensitive to the Spirit, principled in his leadership, mature in his faith, sensible in his decisions, and compassionate towards people,” Scott said. “He does an excellent job anticipating what might be needed in his area and providing for that before it is even known that it is needed. He is good at thinking ahead and making a plan for the future. Dave’s team appreciates the family feel of the area, but also the way that he helps them with their job responsibilities. They feel like he is available to them and encouraging. They know him to be laid back, yet efficient—quite a combination.”

Dave graduated in 1999 with a degree in marketing and management, and began working as a stockbroker. He liked working with numbers and helping people meet their financial goals. Dave volunteered with ��ñ��’s ministry in his spare time. The more he thought about it, though, the more he realized that he could help people best by devoting more time to campus ministry. So four years after graduation, he joined ��ñ�� as a full-time Campus Staff Member.

“I love working with students,” Dave said. “I love hearing their stories and talking with them. Staying connected with students is what keeps me motivated.” Even after becoming Area Director five years ago, Dave finds time to mentor a small group of male students at Montana State in Bozeman.

In particular Dave enjoys seeing students follow the call of God to reach out to new groups on campus. “I’ve been getting a sense through students and staff of the desire to serve Native American students,” he said. Noting that there are 13 tribes in Montana, many of whom are represented in the college student body, he expects to see Native American student ministry grow significantly in the years ahead in Montana.

Campus ministry has a bright future in Montana, thanks to committed staff and students under the leadership of Dave Oberly.

News Keywords

Montana

International Student Ministry

International Student Ministry Still Growing

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:31:58 +0000

News

Gordon Govier

International Student Ministry Still Growing

A little more than 4 percent of all U.S. undergraduate and graduate school enrollments are international students, and the number continues to grow. ��ñ��’s ministry to international students is also continuing to grow.

The just-released Open Doors 2014 report from the Institute of International Education tallies 886,052 students who came to the U.S. from other countries for their college education in the 2013-2014 academic year. That’s the highest number ever. China sends the most—more than 31 percent of all internationals—followed by India and South Korea.

��ñ��’s International Student Ministry actively works to welcome these students to campus, introducing them to the local community, and sharing the good news of the gospel with them. During the 2013-2014 school year, staff across the country worked with 4,829 international students.

Over the last five years, 13 ISM chapters have been planted and overall international student participation has increased by 32%. At least 523 ��ñ�� chapters around the country have international students involved.

California is the state with the most international students on its campuses. An ��ñ�� staff member at one California school was amazed this fall when hundreds of international students stopped by the table he had set up on campus. Since then students from all over the world have been attending this chapter’s large groups, conferences, and weekly events.

��ñ�� has 129 staff members, plus hundreds of additional volunteers, who are dedicated to working with international students. Sixty-one of our campus fellowships are focused specifically for international students. Marc Papai, who was recently named director of ��ñ��’s International Student Ministry, said, “What group of people has more power to impact the world for Christ than these wonderful students from overseas? Seeing them welcomed genuinely and developed fully as disciples and leaders is the heartbeat of our ministry.”

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are perfect opportunities to show hospitality to international students. ��ñ�� has traditionally invited internationals to experience American-style holidays at our retreat centers at Toah Nipi in New Hampshire, Cedar Campus in Michigan, and Bear Trap Ranch in Colorado. But many volunteers also open their homes to students, developing friendships that last for many years and across long distances.

The Bible instructs us to welcome the stranger in our midst. Working with international students can be fun and rewarding but also has a long-term impact on the students. The opportunities to enjoy international friendships with eternal impact continues to grow on and around U.S. college campuses.

News Keywords

International Student Ministry

Faith That Changes Lives

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 19:56:44 +0000

Alumni Profile

News

Lisa Rieck

Faith That Changes Lives

The distance from Myanmar to Missoula, Montana, is over 7,000 miles. ��ñ�� alumna Wai Wai Tun traveled the distance in 2007, hoping to gain a great undergraduate and post-grad education in pharmacy at the University of Montana.

She got that and so much more.

The warmth and friendliness of Montana’s second largest city immediately drew her in, as did its beauty. People in Myanmar don’t generally talk to strangers, so having others—even those she didn’t know—smile at her and say hi was a welcome change. The colors of fall delighted her as well. “Fall in my country is not like here, compared to Missoula,” she said. “I always wanted to see the real fall. Here it’s real. And it’s beautiful.”

A Faith of Her Own

Even more, Wai Wai discovered a faith of her own, turning from the Buddhism she’d been raised in to faith in Jesus. “[In Myanmar,] once you’re born into a family you’re automatically a Buddhist,” she explained, “even though you don’t know what it really means to you. But being a follower [of Jesus,] I think the main difference is that you have to believe from your heart. You have to have faith. That will change your life.”

Wai Wai was not the only one who changed as a result of her faith, however. God used her to bring about change in the lives of many other international students on campus as she became involved in ��ñ��, led Bible studies, discipled friends, and influenced classmates.

Being Used by God

Now a licensed pharmacist in Washington State, Wai Wai longs to see her coworkers make the same decision she did regarding Jesus. “You can be in ministry anywhere,” she said. “God can use you in so many ways.”

In Missoula, in Washington, and in Myanmar—where she plans to return at some point to work in healthcare and education—God is clearly doing just that with Wai Wai.

Watch the video above to hear more of Wai Wai’s story.

God can use you in the lives of international students too! Find an International Student Ministries ��ñ�� chapter near you!

Or read about other ��ñ�� alumni who are integrating their work and faith, like this Detroit environmentalist and this businessman whom the Lord is using to change lives in Honduras through his toy company.

News Keywords

University of Montana

International Student Ministry

��ñ�� alumni

Building a Strong Faith in College

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 18:18:57 +0000

News

Amy Hauptman

Building a Strong Faith in College

“I know why you’re here,” Keith’s friend said. “It’s because you’re a Christian and you want to show other people love as Jesus did.”

Keith was speechless. Earlier, he had had an overwhelming sense that he needed to visit one of his friends. To share his faith.

“I wasn’t sure what I was thinking, but I had this feeling that I needed to visit her. And that was a starting point in our friendship to talk about Jesus,” said Keith.

For fifteen minutes Keith and his friend talked about faith. His friend shared that she had grown up in a Buddhist family, spent some time in a Christian church, but now described herself as a "lost sheep.” Keith shared that the point of believing in Jesus Christ is not what we can do to get to God, but what God has already done to show his love to us.

Keith also shared some of his own testimony—how he had struggled with negative opinions towards others, looking down on them. He shared how he had prayed that God would change his heart—that he would see others with His love—and how God had answered that prayer.

Growing Through Spiritual Disciplines

At Michigan Tech, Keith learned the importance of spiritual disciplines through ��ñ��.

“I would say that I had a relationship with God when I came to college,” said Keith. “But I would also say that my relationship with God has become more important to me since coming to college.”

��ñ�� has helped Keith realize the importance of prayer, Bible study, evangelism, and Christian fellowship. Once a friend of Keith’s challenged him to read the entire Bible, which he had never done before. Keith now studies the Bible regularly and has experienced God’s transformation through His Word. Also, at ��ñ��’s Chapter Focus Week (CFW) Keith learned about the power of prayer.

“I remember a speaker prayed for his son’s healing,” said Keith. “Another student prayed for students struggling with depression, self-image issues, and fear. I’d never seen such boldness before.”

During the next school year, excited by what he had experienced at Chapter Focus Week, Keith started regularly attending ��ñ�� prayer meetings and started to see the impact prayer made in his own life. Though he admits that he sometimes struggles to make time in his schedule to pray, the power of prayer is something that he can never deny.

Becoming a Student Missionary

Next month, Keith will graduate as an environmental engineering major. No one would probably expect to hear that Keith is moving to another country. To teach English. And to share the gospel.

While at Michigan Tech, Keith spent three years learning another language as well as helping international students practice English. Keith found that he not only loved teaching English, but he also wanted to share the gospel with his international friends. So he started an international students’ Bible study.

“When I share the message of the gospel with others, I see what an amazing message it is, and how it's able to transform lives,” said Keith. “This motivates me to want to share it with others.”

Around November, with graduation nearing, Keith looked for teaching opportunities—teaching English. He hoped to take what he had learned through ��ñ�� into the real world.

“I wanted to find a job that would give me the opportunity to teach and share the gospel in a cross-cultural context,” said Keith. “So a friend from high school connected me with a job that combines my love for teaching English, tutoring, and sharing the gospel in another culture.”

The college years are an opportunity to prepare students for a lifetime of service to God’s kingdom by sharing the love of Christ with those around them. In ��ñ��, we’re honored to invest in students like Keith, who continue to look for opportunities to invest and share the love of Jesus with their friends, wherever they are at on their spiritual journey.

News Keywords

Michigan Tech

International Student Ministry

Chapter Focus Week

Remembering Lu Lingzi

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:54:32 +0000

News

Alec Hill, President of ��ñ��

Remembering Lu Lingzi

Boston Bombing

Two days after the Boston Marathon bombing, the media released the name of the third victim, Lu Lingzi, a Chinese student. As I read several articles, my heart stopped: I recognized the background of many of her photos—Toah Nipi, our camp in New Hampshire. This tragic story had suddenly become very personal.

Lingzi came to Boston University (BU) last fall as a graduate student in statistics. Her roommate, another Chinese student, was a Christian involved in our International Student Ministry (ISM) graduate student chapter. As roommates often do, she invited Lingzi to come to a weekend conference. One of our staff at BU, Tim Leary, hosted a lunch to explain the nature of the retreat to Lingzi and others.

By all accounts, Lingzi had a wonderful time that weekend. Her Facebook photos show a smiling, engaged student soaking up her surroundings. In the photo above, Lingzi is in the center (in white), with her friends at Toah Nipi last fall

Fast-forward to the night after the bombing. When Lingzi failed to return to her dorm, her roommate went from hospital to hospital. In another attempt to find Lingzi, Tim posted a prayer request for her on Facebook.

As a result of that posting, Tim received a flood of media requests to identify the third victim. Out of respect for Lingzi’s family in China — they initially had requested that her name not be made public — Tim refused to disclose her name.

In the days that followed, Tim and his wife, Sarah — also on staff — ministered to international students at BU. Sarah was particularly close to Lingzi’s roommate. Reflecting on those difficult days, Tim observed, “It was an honor to minister to students in the midst of pain.”

BU held a ceremony honoring Lingzi and her family, 1200 people participated. As a recognized BU chaplain, Tim was asked to read from the book of Revelation. By all accounts, the most moving aspect of the event was a eulogy given by Lu Jun, Lingzi’s father. Of his only child, he lamented, “She was the joy of our lives.” Afterwards, Tim handed him photos of Lingzi from the fall retreat (see below) as well as a Chinese/English New Testament.

Personal Reflections

First, as the father of two daughters who are about Lingzi’s age, my initial response has been to deeply grieve for her parents. I simply cannot imagine their pain. A month before the Boston Marathon, my eldest ran a similar event in Washington DC. Her fiancée was standing at the finish line with flowers. Had she run in Boston, her time would have put both of them very near the blasts.

Second, as president of ��ñ��, I am incredibly proud for our BU staff. Not only have they been missional in engaging international students with the Gospel, but they have also demonstrated high character by protecting a grieving family. Rather than draw media attention to themselves, they chose to honor others.

Lingzi is the face of so many Chinese students today — bright, engaging, and open. Currently, nearly 200,000 Chinese are studying in America (out of a total of 750,000 international students). Our State Department estimates that 25 percent of all of the world’s future leaders are studying in the United States right now.

International students are a very high priority for ��ñ��. One out of every nine of our students comes from abroad. As our ISM Director Lisa Espineli Chinn says, our motto is “First to Welcome.” We want all students to be recipients of our hospitality and love.

I am so thankful that our community has been part of Lingzi’s story. In her memory, may we redouble our efforts to minister to internationals through student leaders, volunteers and staff.

Additional Photos of Lingzi at Toah Nipi

News Keywords

ISM

International Student Ministry

Boston University

From Atheist to Chapter Planter

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:45:30 +0000

News

Sharon Messmore

From Atheist to Chapter Planter

When Pranny Xie and her family moved to the United States from China, she had no interest in religion. A Buddhist grandmother and non-religious parents never impressed on her the importance of faith. When a friend invited her to come along to a meeting of International Christian Fellowship (ICF), Pranny initially turned it down. Out of a desire to avoid religion Pranny also avoided social situations until she was unable to stand feeling lonely and isolated anymore.

Finally, after six months of rejecting her friend’s invitations, Pranny attended an ICF meeting. She didn’t like the Bible study and wasn’t interested in the worship service, but she liked the people in the group. That kept her coming back. Their interest in her, their friendliness, and their love surrounded her. Pranny became curious about these people, and about Jesus.

While Pranny enjoyed spending time with ICF, she still wasn’t convinced about their faith. “I thought Christians were fake and that they were nice to me because they had some purpose for me," she said. Eventually she began meeting and talking with ICF staff worker, Eric Wu, about Christianity.

She confronted him directly with her doubts. She still remembers Eric’s answer, “Hey, Pranny. I’m a Christian and I feel blessed by having God in my life and I think it’s a great thing. So now I just want to share this blessing with you. Even though I have this purpose for you, do you think that’s bad?”

A New Journey of Faith

These conversations resonated with her. In 2007, one year after she started going to ICF, Pranny accepted Christ and began a new journey of faith. She met with her friend Angela every week to pray, growing in her devotion and trust in God. She learned more about her new faith in Bible studies of Mark's Gospel, saying they greatly impacted her spiritual growth.

Pranny visited a church and experienced the Spirit of God filling her – the first time she spoke in tongues she was overcome by the reality of God! The more she felt the presence of God the bolder she became in inviting classmates to attend church or studies with her.

One thing Pranny found helpful in discovering more of God was telling other people about Him. This caused her to reflect on God’s person and consider what He means to the world.

At a conference for Chinese Christians, Pranny learned more about obedience to God and how to effectively spend time with Him. She began to have a regular Quiet Time to build her relationship with God. She continued to meet weekly with both Angela and Eric, who discipled her during her time in school.

Invited to Join ��ñ�� Staff

Eventually, Eric asked Pranny if she would consider going on ��ñ�� staff after graduation. She was shocked! Staff was for the wise Christians, she thought, the ones who did everything at a high level, not for her.

After others continued to encourage her, Pranny decided to fill out an application. Almost immediately she began to be discouraged again. She felt more disqualified for the position with every page she filled out.

Then she felt God speaking to her one Sunday at church. Just as Jesus could feed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, so too could He use her resources, no matter how small, to do His work. Pranny prayed that God would use her – and she was accepted on staff.

Before beginning her work on campus, Pranny needed to have 80% of her financial support raised, as is common with ��ñ�� field staff. She knew that meeting students early would be vital in planting a new chapter, so her prayer request was to be fully funded by September when the students arrived on campus. However, international students coming from non-Christian backgrounds often find it difficult to develop enough partnerships, much less to do so quickly.

Building a Team for Campus Ministry

She began building her team in April, finding friends, co-workers, ICF alumni, and church members to pray for her. She sent weekly updates to her prayer team, informing them of her progress and her prayer requests. Pranny says her church was a great resource at this time, supporting her and covering her with their prayers. She met with Eric and the pastor of her church to practice development talks. She reached full funding in September, just before the students arrived.

Pranny began planting an ISM chapter at Cal Poly Pomona right away. Her first step was to take a walk around campus, praying for students and for the school year. She and her supervisor, Tim Hsieh, ran information tables at the beginning of the year, and she started a Bible study in the library during the first quarter.

Even with everything beginning well, Pranny had times where she felt underqualified for staff work. She was still a Chinese woman placed in American culture. Every so often she became frustrated with attempting to explain what she meant to others using a language still somewhat foreign to her. Sometimes she struggled with accepting her identity in contrast to those around her.

Speaking at Urbana 12

Transitioning from student to staff also required a pespective shift that didn’t always come naturally. As a student, Pranny would attend conferences intending to receive and be filled. Now she thinks about what the new students will receive and how it will impact them. She is also taking a greater role in leading and planning than she did before entering staff, which included speaking at the Urbana 12 International Students Track (listen to the audio of her talk.)

For the second quarter, the international chapter had a small team running the information tables and grew to two Bible studies meeting weekly. Pranny had invited students to her non-Christian study, but was struggling and feeling self-doubt at the beginning of the term.

��ñ�� staff were led one particular week to pray about conversions. The power of prayer was revealed as one Bible study participant accepted Jesus, the first new Christian of the young chapter! “It’s about God’s timing,” Pranny said, “Not about what you can do.” God’s Spirit worked unseen, revealing itself when Pranny was disheartened.

The majority of the Cal Poly Pomona ICF chapter is from China, but Pranny hopes to add more diversity to the group. She continues to pray for her students and for God’s call to be heard and followed in their lives.

News Keywords

ISM

International Student Ministry

Cal Poly Pomona

International Influence

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:05:34 +0000

News

Gordon Govier

International Influence

Every year hundreds of international students from all over the world graduate from Portland State University (PSU) not only prepared for a career in their field but often with an understanding of the Christian faith that would be unlikely in their home country. FOCUS (Friends of Overseas Citizens and University Students) is part of ��ñ��’s ministry at PSU, working closely with campus officials, five other campus ministries, and local churches to make sure that internationals feel welcomed and have the opportunity to meet members of Portland’s Christian community.

A Ministry of Hospitality
FOCUS offers free airport pickups for newly arriving international students and scholars plus home stays for those who need a place until they secure housing as well as those who want to learn more about American culture. English language classes, and spring workshops to provide tax form assistance are also offered. More than 100 members of Portland’s Christian community, from more than 40 churches, are involved in providing these services.

“The best outcome is seeing these students come to faith, being built up in their faith and trained as leaders, and then being sent out,” said Ron Riesinger, who lives in Portland and is Area Director for ��ñ��’s International Student Ministry (ISM). “They go anywhere in the world.”

Ron well remembers a young couple who came to PSU from Germany 15 years ago. “They were new Christians,” he recalled. “They were only here for one year but they committed themselves to ministry. We had a wonderful time together. The wife came to our International Coffee House every Friday night, ministering to non-Christians. We met every week for prayer and Bible study together. Today the husband is the Chancellor of the University of Tubingen.”

Dedicated to Student Ministry

Growing up in a retail family involved in the jewelry trade, Ron appreciates precision in small details. However his heart isn’t in jewelry. “I had seen what God had done in my life as a student at Oklahoma State University,” he said. “My experience with ��ñ�� changed my life and took me a lot deeper in my faith than through the other campus groups I had experienced.”

In 1991, after serving on campus staff for six years, and then working in a jewelry store for another six years, he was ready to rejoin ��ñ��. A short-term mission trip to Ecuador through his church gave him a new focus. “That really whetted my appetite for international student ministry,” he said.

Some friends invited him to Portland, to climb Mt. Hood, and check out the employment situation. He spent the week discussing international student ministry with Oregon ��ñ�� staff Fred Wagner and never got to the mountain. Ron ultimately accepted Fred’s job offer. He’s been in Portland ever since and now oversees ISM at seven campuses across the Northwest Region.

Keeping the Vision Strong
As a hotbed of liberalism, PSU is hostile to faith in many ways. But FOCUS has such a strong relationship with the campus that PSU officials often ask for additional assistance in dealing with international students. About ten years ago the university realized that students were having trouble filling out IRS tax forms. Fred recruited an accountant, Greg Steward, who eventually joined ��ñ�� staff after volunteering for several years. “In the past few years hundreds of students at PSU have benefitted from Greg’s training sessions,” Ron said.

Lisa Espineli Chinn, ��ñ��’s ISM Director, credits Ron for making the Northwest ��ñ��’s most active ISM region. “Ron has been faithful in keeping the vision of ISM strong in the Northwest Region,” she said. “He has seen growth in the number of staff and is currently overseeing the planting of two new ISM chapters in the region.”

Ministry to international students at PSU predates ��ñ��’s arrival on campus. But today PSU is home to the largest International Student Ministry in the country.
Every year FOCUS has contact with 600-800 international students, about half of the international student population. Ron said ISM started to flourish when the campus Christian groups began to work together and got more of the community involved.

“It’s a very diverse group,” he said, with everyone from Pentecostal churches to Lutheran churches involved. “It’s a lovely expression of the community, a beautiful picture of God’s grace, and God’s mercy, and his eternal family.”

Ron keeps working to expand ISM to more campuses because its significance is undeniable. “These are the movers and shakers of society,” he said. “These are the top five percent from most of these countries. They are going to be the ones that remake their country.”

News Keywords

Ron Riesinger

Portland State University

International Student Ministry

International Student Ministry

The Challenge and the Opportunity

The Challenge and the Opportunity

Ministry along Montana’s Interstate

Ministry along Montana’s Interstate

International Student Ministry Still Growing

International Student Ministry Still Growing

Faith That Changes Lives

Faith That Changes Lives

Building a Strong Faith in College

Building a Strong Faith in College

Growing Through Spiritual Disciplines

Becoming a Student Missionary

Remembering Lu Lingzi

Remembering Lu Lingzi

Boston Bombing

Personal Reflections

Additional Photos of Lingzi at Toah Nipi

From Atheist to Chapter Planter

From Atheist to Chapter Planter

A New Journey of Faith

Invited to Join ��ñ���� Staff

Building a Team for Campus Ministry

Speaking at Urbana 12

International Influence

International Influence

Invited to Join ��ñ�� Staff