SBCV Mission Trip to Haiti

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The REALITY for International Students

Dear friends,

According to a report from an International Education NGO, in 2012 there are 764,321 international students (IS) studying in the US.

The top-5 countries are China (194,029), India (100,270), South Korea (72,295), Saudi Arabia (34,139), and Canada (26,821).

Among the top-25 leading countries in 2012, list of countries with a double digit IS enrollment POSITIVE growth (comparing 2011) are

1. Saudi Arabia (50.4 %)

2. China (23.1 %)

3. Iran (24.1%)

4. Venezuela (14.4 %)

5. Spain (13.7 %)

(IMAGINE THE OPPORTUNITIES!!! SOME OF THESE COUNTRIES ARE CONSIDERED VERY HARD TO PENETRATE THE GOSPEL WITH)

While countries (in the top-25 leading countries with the most sending IS in the US) with a significant IS enrollment DROP (comparing 2011) are

1. Thailand (-7.4 %)

2. Nepal (-6.6 %)

3. Taiwan (-6.3 %)

4. Japan (-6.2 %)

5. India (-3.5 %)

(WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC CRISIS IMPACTING NOT ONLY US BUT ALSO ASIA)

One study suggests that 80% of Internationals have never been invited into an American family home which I assume, American families who open and are brave/willing/passionate to welcome foreigners are Christian families. It means in the US, as many as 600,000 Internationals would go back to their countries WITHOUT any contact and experience with American families.

While in our area (Williamsburg to Va Beach), according to the NGO report, there are at least 2,000 International student enrolling in ODU and other local colleges. As many 1600 Internationals in our area have never been invited into a loving and friendly American homes! They too will leave this area or go back to their home countries without having any contact or intimate relationship with American families/friends.

Would you be praying with us to change this reality?

ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL

Dear friends and colleagues

I received an email last week from a friend who is a very respected leader in International Student Ministry in the US.

The message touches me so much, and I hope it will encourage you as well to serve and reach out to the Internationals, strangers, and foreigners

It's an honor to serve the nations with you for God's glory.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends.

Blessing in Christ,

Kurnia

AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL

LORD JESUS, you've told us to take your Gospel to all peoples of all lands. But we find this too hard! We're required to leave families, friends and familiar culture and go to a strange land to tell your message in a foreign language to an alien people. Most of them already have a religion which is interwoven into their whole culture and lifestyle. Besides, we Christians aren't welcome in some parts of the world, and are forbidden to teach your message (or even to go) to some lands. And the cost! If we really tried to reach the world in this generation, it'd bankrupt us all.
So we propose an alternative plan: you send the world to us! Have them come at their own expense - and learn our language before they come! Make them hungry for our friendship, anxious to come to our homes and willing to go to church with us. Send the young, teachable ones. Send those who are bright and vigorous, who'll someday be leaders in their home countries. Arrange for them to stay for several years so we can win a hearing for the Gospel and have time to teach them well after they become believers. Especially send many from places where missionaries are forbidden to go, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and Mainland China. How many, Lord? Oh, some 700,000 perhaps, well spread around the country so many churches and individual Christians can take part.
Now, if you'll do this, then we promise to make sharing Christ with these people one of our highest priorities. We'll get to know them, win a hearing through extending friendship and try to learn how to explain your Gospel to them clearly. We'll work and pray. It might sound like a lot to ask, but you can do it, can't you?

Glen Zumwal

Source: http://www.intervarsity.org/ism/article/104

God bless,

Kurnia Foe
Global Student Friendship

"Serving Internationals with the love of GOD" ( Lev 19:34 )

Website:

http://orgs.odu.edu/gsf  
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22423003856

http://globalfriendshiphouse.org/

St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children - November 18th

We are greatly excited about the opportunity to love and show the hands and feet of Jesus to the children and staff at St. Mary's on Sunday, November 18th at 2PM. If you will be attending please let me know so we can give a list of volunteers to the staff prior to our visit and we can plan accordingly. When we first arrive we will be assisting the staff with their afternoon recreational activities. We will than divide into groups and have an opportunity to visit and read to the children in their rooms. We are very excited about having new volunteers join us at St. Mary's. Similar to VBS each adult (18 and older) need to have had a TB test within the past year.
     The current list of volunteers that we have are as follows: Luann Hoessley, Lynne Twiford, Jimmy Bruff, Ashlyn Hockman, Christine Marsh, Alicia *Hanaczewski*, and Lynn Gordon.
     If you previously communicated that you were able to come and cannot come, please let us know so we can modify our list. We greatly look forward to hearing from each of you and pray that you will be able to join us for this blessing. Please continue to pray for and let others know about this great opportunity to show love to our neighbors at St. Mary's.

Blessings,
Sara Horning

24 / 7 Newsletter for NOV / DEC

247serve Newsletter Novdec